From 13e6af8620dd8f4c9b293add603d0e477ca76d5c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Yo Robot Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2020 14:16:41 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] auto-update week 48 --- africa/ag.json | 8 +++---- africa/ao.json | 10 ++++---- africa/bc.json | 12 +++++----- africa/bn.json | 20 ++++++++-------- africa/by.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/cd.json | 12 +++++----- africa/cf.json | 12 +++++----- africa/cg.json | 22 ++++++++--------- africa/cm.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/cn.json | 23 ++++++++---------- africa/ct.json | 10 ++++---- africa/cv.json | 12 +++++----- africa/dj.json | 10 ++++---- africa/eg.json | 23 ++++++++++-------- africa/ek.json | 19 +++++++-------- africa/er.json | 16 ++++++------- africa/et.json | 20 ++++++++-------- africa/ga.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/gb.json | 17 ++++++------- africa/gh.json | 12 +++++----- africa/gv.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/iv.json | 20 ++++++++-------- africa/ke.json | 22 ++++++++--------- africa/li.json | 16 ++++++------- africa/lt.json | 12 +++++----- africa/ly.json | 8 +++---- africa/ma.json | 30 +++++++++++------------ africa/mi.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/ml.json | 16 ++++++------- africa/mo.json | 24 +++++++++---------- africa/mp.json | 24 +++++++++---------- africa/mr.json | 20 ++++++++-------- africa/mz.json | 34 +++++++++++++------------- africa/ng.json | 14 +++++------ africa/ni.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- africa/od.json | 12 +++++----- africa/pu.json | 10 ++++---- africa/rw.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/se.json | 10 ++++---- africa/sf.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- africa/sg.json | 22 ++++++++--------- africa/sh.json | 6 ++--- africa/sl.json | 16 ++++++------- africa/so.json | 16 ++++++------- africa/su.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- africa/to.json | 22 ++++++++--------- africa/tp.json | 10 ++++---- africa/ts.json | 14 +++++------ africa/tz.json | 20 ++++++++-------- africa/ug.json | 12 +++++----- africa/uv.json | 21 +++++++++------- africa/wa.json | 22 ++++++++--------- africa/wi.json | 2 +- africa/wz.json | 15 +++++------- africa/za.json | 18 +++++++------- africa/zi.json | 12 +++++----- antarctica/ay.json | 4 ++-- antarctica/bv.json | 2 +- antarctica/fs.json | 4 ++-- australia-oceania/aq.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/as.json | 20 ++++++++-------- australia-oceania/bp.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/cq.json | 15 +++++++----- australia-oceania/cw.json | 2 +- australia-oceania/fj.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/fm.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/fp.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/gq.json | 8 +++---- australia-oceania/kr.json | 12 +++------- australia-oceania/kt.json | 2 +- australia-oceania/nc.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/ne.json | 4 ++-- australia-oceania/nh.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/nr.json | 2 +- australia-oceania/nz.json | 16 ++++++------- australia-oceania/pc.json | 2 +- australia-oceania/ps.json | 4 ++-- australia-oceania/rm.json | 12 +++++----- australia-oceania/tn.json | 6 ++--- australia-oceania/tv.json | 12 +++------- australia-oceania/um.json | 4 ++-- australia-oceania/wf.json | 2 +- australia-oceania/wq.json | 5 ++++ australia-oceania/ws.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json | 4 ++-- central-america-n-caribbean/av.json | 11 ++++----- central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json | 14 +++++------ central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json | 10 ++++---- central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/do.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/es.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json | 4 ++-- central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json | 12 +++++----- central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json | 4 ++-- central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json | 10 ++++---- central-america-n-caribbean/nn.json | 10 ++++---- central-america-n-caribbean/nu.json | 4 ++-- central-america-n-caribbean/pm.json | 16 ++++++------- central-america-n-caribbean/rn.json | 2 +- central-america-n-caribbean/rq.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/st.json | 2 +- central-america-n-caribbean/tb.json | 7 ++---- central-america-n-caribbean/td.json | 4 ++-- central-america-n-caribbean/tk.json | 14 +++-------- central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/vc.json | 8 +++---- central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json | 6 ++--- central-america-n-caribbean/vq.json | 12 +++++----- central-asia/kg.json | 13 ++++++---- central-asia/kz.json | 22 ++++++++--------- central-asia/rs.json | 22 ++++++++--------- central-asia/ti.json | 8 +++---- central-asia/tx.json | 12 +++++----- central-asia/uz.json | 12 +++++----- east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json | 19 ++++++++------- east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json | 10 ++++---- east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json | 31 ++++++++++++++---------- east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json | 18 +++++++------- east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json | 16 ++++++------- east-n-southeast-asia/id.json | 37 ++++++++++++++++------------- east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json | 18 +++++++------- east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json | 14 +++++------ east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- east-n-southeast-asia/la.json | 8 +++---- east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json | 6 ++--- east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json | 14 +++++------ east-n-southeast-asia/my.json | 30 +++++++++++------------ east-n-southeast-asia/pg.json | 2 +- east-n-southeast-asia/pp.json | 12 +++++----- east-n-southeast-asia/rp.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- east-n-southeast-asia/sn.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- east-n-southeast-asia/th.json | 28 +++++++++++----------- east-n-southeast-asia/tt.json | 10 ++++---- east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json | 19 ++++++++------- east-n-southeast-asia/vm.json | 27 +++++++-------------- europe/al.json | 22 ++++++++--------- europe/an.json | 6 ++--- europe/be.json | 14 +++++------ europe/bk.json | 20 ++++++++-------- europe/bo.json | 12 +++++----- europe/bu.json | 20 ++++++++-------- europe/cy.json | 32 ++++++++++++------------- europe/da.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/ee.json | 27 ++++++++++++++------- europe/ei.json | 24 +++++++++---------- europe/en.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/ez.json | 14 +++++------ europe/fi.json | 22 ++++++++--------- europe/fo.json | 8 +++---- europe/fr.json | 28 +++++++++++----------- europe/gi.json | 9 +++++-- europe/gk.json | 4 ++-- europe/gm.json | 18 +++++++------- europe/gr.json | 32 ++++++++++++------------- europe/hr.json | 18 +++++++------- europe/hu.json | 18 +++++++------- europe/ic.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/im.json | 10 ++++---- europe/it.json | 20 ++++++++-------- europe/je.json | 6 ++--- europe/jn.json | 2 +- europe/kv.json | 6 ++--- europe/lg.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/lh.json | 18 +++++++------- europe/lo.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/ls.json | 13 ++++------ europe/lu.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/md.json | 10 ++++---- europe/mj.json | 12 +++++----- europe/mk.json | 16 ++++++------- europe/mn.json | 6 ++--- europe/mt.json | 14 +++++------ europe/nl.json | 20 ++++++++-------- europe/no.json | 24 +++++++++---------- europe/pl.json | 20 ++++++++-------- europe/po.json | 22 ++++++++--------- europe/ri.json | 18 +++++++------- europe/ro.json | 20 ++++++++-------- europe/si.json | 21 +++++++++------- europe/sm.json | 8 +++---- europe/sp.json | 30 +++++++++++------------ europe/sw.json | 24 +++++++++---------- europe/sz.json | 30 +++++++++++------------ europe/uk.json | 28 +++++++++++----------- europe/up.json | 28 +++++++++++----------- europe/vt.json | 7 ++++++ middle-east/ae.json | 14 +++++------ middle-east/aj.json | 12 +++++----- middle-east/am.json | 8 +++---- middle-east/ba.json | 12 +++++----- middle-east/gg.json | 22 ++++++++--------- middle-east/gz.json | 2 +- middle-east/ir.json | 13 ++++++---- middle-east/is.json | 20 ++++++++-------- middle-east/iz.json | 18 +++++++------- middle-east/jo.json | 22 ++++++++--------- middle-east/ku.json | 14 +++++------ middle-east/le.json | 10 ++++---- middle-east/mu.json | 2 +- middle-east/qa.json | 10 ++++---- middle-east/sa.json | 21 +++++----------- middle-east/sy.json | 12 +++++----- middle-east/tu.json | 20 ++++++++-------- middle-east/we.json | 4 ++-- middle-east/ym.json | 16 ++++++------- north-america/bd.json | 2 +- north-america/ca.json | 18 +++++++------- north-america/gl.json | 6 ++--- north-america/mx.json | 26 ++++++++++---------- north-america/sb.json | 4 ++-- oceans/oo.json | 2 +- oceans/xo.json | 2 +- oceans/xq.json | 2 +- oceans/zh.json | 4 ++-- south-america/ar.json | 12 +++++----- south-america/bl.json | 22 ++++++++--------- south-america/br.json | 21 +++++++++------- south-america/ci.json | 14 +++++------ south-america/co.json | 16 ++++++------- south-america/ec.json | 12 +++++----- south-america/gy.json | 4 ++-- south-america/pa.json | 10 ++------ south-america/pe.json | 22 ++++++++--------- south-america/uy.json | 14 +++++------ south-america/ve.json | 14 +++++------ south-asia/af.json | 21 +++++++++------- south-asia/bg.json | 20 ++++++++-------- south-asia/bt.json | 12 +++++----- south-asia/ce.json | 30 ++++++++++------------- south-asia/in.json | 27 +++++++++++---------- south-asia/io.json | 4 ++-- south-asia/mv.json | 18 +++++++------- south-asia/np.json | 24 +++++++++---------- south-asia/pk.json | 20 ++++++++-------- world/xx.json | 8 +++---- 242 files changed, 1695 insertions(+), 1699 deletions(-) diff --git a/africa/ag.json b/africa/ag.json index 386a0fc0..9014f773 100644 --- a/africa/ag.json +++ b/africa/ag.json @@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ "text": "Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2018 (next to be held in December 2021) ++ National People's Assembly - last held on 4 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 137, women 7, percent of women 5%  ++ National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 164, RND 97, MSP-FC 33, TAJ 19, Ennahda-FJD 15, FFS 14, El Mostakbel 14, MPA 13, PT 11, RCD 9, ANR 8, MEN 4, other 33, independent 28; composition - men 343, women 119, percent of women 25.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20.8%" + "text": "Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 137, women 7, percent of women 5% ++ National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 164, RND 97, MSP-FC 33, TAJ 19, Ennahda-FJD 15, FFS 14, El Mostakbel 14, MPA 13, PT 11, RCD 9, ANR 8, MEN 4, other 33, independent 28; composition - men 343, women 119, percent of women 25.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20.8%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ "text": "0.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "11.82 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "10.859 million (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ "text": "a limited network of fixed-lines with a teledensity of less than 11 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 109 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 213; ALPAL-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable system in the Mediterranean Sea linking Algeria and the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca; ORVAL is a submarine cable to Spain; landing points for the TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/SeaMeWe-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; MED cable connecting Algeria with France; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; Algeria part of the 4,500 Km terrestrial Trans Sahara Backbone network which connects to other fiber networks in the region; Alcomstat-1 satellite offering  telemedicine network (2020)" + "text": "country code - 213; ALPAL-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable system in the Mediterranean Sea linking Algeria and the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca; ORVAL is a submarine cable to Spain; landing points for the TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/SeaMeWe-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; MED cable connecting Algeria with France; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; Algeria part of the 4,500 Km terrestrial Trans Sahara Backbone network which connects to other fiber networks in the region; Alcomstat-1 satellite offering telemedicine network (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the \"Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic\" which Algeria recognizes; the Algerian-Moroccan land border remains closed; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco. ++  " + "text": "Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the \"Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic\" which Algeria recognizes; the Algerian-Moroccan land border remains closed; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco. ++" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { diff --git a/africa/ao.json b/africa/ao.json index 5e4b8ec5..ea8e5c87 100644 --- a/africa/ao.json +++ b/africa/ao.json @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "15 million (2013)" + "text": "18 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "40.5% (2016)" + "text": "43% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "70.7% (2016)" + "text": "61% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "16% (2016)" + "text": "6% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ "text": "only about one fixed-line per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 47 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 244; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, WACS, ACE and SACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to other countries in west Africa, Brazil, Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29, Angosat-2 satellite expected by 2021 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 244; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, WACS, ACE and SACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to other countries in west Africa, Brazil, Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29, Angosat-2 satellite expected by 2021 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/bc.json b/africa/bc.json index 744a49c6..52df1287 100644 --- a/africa/bc.json +++ b/africa/bc.json @@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments" + "text": "unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 23 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024)" @@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Until the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Botswana maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence in 1966. Botswana recovered from the global recession in 2010, but only grew modestly until 2017, primarily due to a downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. Botswana also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. ++   ++ Because of its heavy reliance on diamond exports, Botswana's economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswana's past economic expansion and currently accounts for one-quarter of GDP, approximately 85% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. In 2017, Diamond exports increased to the highest levels since 2013 at about 22 million carats of output, driving Botswana's economic growth to about 4.5% and increasing foreign exchange reserves to about 45% of GDP. De Beers, a major international diamond company, signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 and moved its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone in 2013. The move was geared to support the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry. ++   ++ Tourism is a secondary earner of foreign exchange and many Batswana engage in tourism-related services, subsistence farming, and cattle rearing. According to official government statistics, unemployment is around 20%, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains." + "text": "Until the beginning of the global recession in 2008, Botswana maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence in 1966. Botswana recovered from the global recession in 2010, but only grew modestly until 2017, primarily due to a downturn in the global diamond market, though water and power shortages also played a role. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. Botswana also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. ++ ++ Because of its heavy reliance on diamond exports, Botswana's economy closely follows global price trends for that one commodity. Diamond mining fueled much of Botswana's past economic expansion and currently accounts for one-quarter of GDP, approximately 85% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues. In 2017, Diamond exports increased to the highest levels since 2013 at about 22 million carats of output, driving Botswana's economic growth to about 4.5% and increasing foreign exchange reserves to about 45% of GDP. De Beers, a major international diamond company, signed a 10-year deal with Botswana in 2012 and moved its rough stone sorting and trading division from London to Gaborone in 2013. The move was geared to support the development of Botswana's nascent downstream diamond industry. ++ ++ Tourism is a secondary earner of foreign exchange and many Batswana engage in tourism-related services, subsistence farming, and cattle rearing. According to official government statistics, unemployment is around 20%, but unofficial estimates run much higher. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens the country's impressive economic gains." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$39.01 billion (2017 est.) / $38.11 billion (2016 est.) / $36.54 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -664,13 +664,13 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "60.7% (2016)" + "text": "59% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "77.7% (2016)" + "text": "71% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "37.5% (2016)" + "text": "29% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)" + "text": "2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".bw" diff --git a/africa/bn.json b/africa/bn.json index 333beea7..0b073069 100644 --- a/africa/bn.json +++ b/africa/bn.json @@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.056 million Abomey-Calavi, 692,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2020)" + "text": "285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.056 million Abomey-Calavi, 692,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { - "text": "dengue fever and malaria" + "text": "dengue fever and malaria" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" @@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ "text": "Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA" + "text": "Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts" @@ -677,16 +677,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "8 million (2017)" + "text": "8 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "41.4% (2016)" + "text": "33% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "70.8% (2016)" + "text": "58% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "18% (2016)" + "text": "9% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line teledensity only about 1 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly, exceeding 88 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 229; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC and ACE fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, and most West African countries; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 229; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC and ACE fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, and most West African countries; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -912,13 +912,13 @@ "text": "the FAB is equipped with a mix of foreign-supplied weapons; historically, France and Russia (including the former Soviet Union) have been the chief suppliers of military hardware (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "250 Mali (MINUSMA) (April 2020)" + "text": "250 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2013)" }, "Maritime threats": { - "text": "West African piracy more than doubled in 2018 to become the most dangerous area in the World; the waters off of Benin saw a dramatic increase in 2018 with five attacks reported compared with none in 2017; three ships were boarded, two were hijacked, and 48 crew taken hostage or kidnapped" + "text": "West African piracy more than doubled in 2018 to become the most dangerous area in the World; the waters off of Benin saw a dramatic increase in 2018 with five attacks reported compared with none in 2017; three ships were boarded, two were hijacked, and 48 crew taken hostage or kidnapped" }, "Military - note": { "text": "Benin participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram along with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; the Benin military contingent is in charge of MNJTF garrison duties (2020)" diff --git a/africa/by.json b/africa/by.json index 8129ad53..aff1f593 100644 --- a/africa/by.json +++ b/africa/by.json @@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ "text": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura" + "text": "etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ "text": "several previous; latest ratified by referendum 28 February 2005" }, "amendments": { - "text": "proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1)" + "text": "proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1)" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -681,16 +681,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "10 million (2017)" + "text": "10 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "7.6% (2016)" + "text": "11% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "49.7% (2016)" + "text": "66% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "1.7% (2016)" + "text": "2% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "with the great population density Burundi remains one of the most alluring telecom markets in Africa for investors; the government in early 2018 began the Burundi Broadband project, which plans to deliver nationwide connectivity by 2025; mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE mobile services to capitalize on the expanding demand for Internet access; mobile penetration is at 52%, and remains low by regional standards; future plans to privatize the national telecoms (2020)" + "text": "with the great population density Burundi remains one of the most alluring telecom markets in Africa for investors; the government in early 2018 began the Burundi Broadband project, which plans to deliver nationwide connectivity by 2025; mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE mobile services to capitalize on the expanding demand for Internet access; mobile penetration is at 52%, and remains low by regional standards; future plans to privatize the national telecoms (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is 58 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ "text": "the FDN is armed mostly with weapons from Russia and the former Soviet Union, with some Western equipment, largely from France; since 2010, the FDN has received small amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the US (2019 )" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (AMISOM) (April 2020)" + "text": "750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (AMISOM) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; the armed forces law of 31 December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the government claimed that no one younger than 18 was being recruited; mandatory retirement ages: 45 (enlisted), 50 (NCOs), 55 (officers), and 60 (officers with the rank of general) (2017)" @@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ "text": "135,058 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1,993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "974 (2018)" + "text": "974 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/africa/cd.json b/africa/cd.json index 0fa58f55..a291e0dd 100644 --- a/africa/cd.json +++ b/africa/cd.json @@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: name taken from the Arab name of a nearby village, Nijamina, meaning \"place of rest\" " + "text": "etymology: name taken from the Arab name of a nearby village, Nijamina, meaning \"place of rest\"" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -669,16 +669,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "14 million (2017)" + "text": "15 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "8.8% (2016)" + "text": "9% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "31.4% (2016)" + "text": "32% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "2.2% (2016)" + "text": "1% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ "text": "the ANT is mostly armed with older or second-hand equipment from Belgium, France, Russia, and the former Soviet Union; since 2010, the leading suppliers are China, Italy, and Ukraine; the US has also donated equipment (2019 )" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,440 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" + "text": "1,450 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age 21; while provisions for military service have not been repealed, they have never been fully implemented (2015)" diff --git a/africa/cf.json b/africa/cf.json index bff3aa10..7a0e763a 100644 --- a/africa/cf.json +++ b/africa/cf.json @@ -443,10 +443,10 @@ "text": "bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every 3 years) ++ National Assembly (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "  ++ Senate - last held on 31 August 2017 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020) ++ National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)" + "text": "++ Senate - last held on 31 August 2017 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020) ++ National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "  ++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 96, UPADS 8, MCDDI 4, other 23 (less than 4 seats) independent 20; composition - men 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9% ++" + "text": "++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 96, UPADS 8, MCDDI 4, other 23 (less than 4 seats) independent 20; composition - men 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9% ++" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -665,16 +665,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "2 million (2017)" + "text": "2 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "56.6% (2016)" + "text": "72% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "74.2% (2016)" + "text": "89% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "22.6% (2016)" + "text": "36% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/africa/cg.json b/africa/cg.json index c27a1e6e..9a0766f2 100644 --- a/africa/cg.json +++ b/africa/cg.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The Kingdom of Kongo ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries. To the center and east, the Kingdoms of Luba and Lunda ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. in the 1870s, European exploration of the Congo Basin, sponsored by King Leopold II of Belgium, eventually allowed the ruler to acquire rights to the Congo territory and to make it his private property under the name of the Congo Free State. During the Free State, the king's colonial military forced the local population to produce rubber. From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and exploitation. International condemnation finally forced Leopold to cede the land to Belgium, creating the Belgian Congo. ++ The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from conflict in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. In January 2001, KABILA was assassinated and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. Presidential, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures took place in 2006, with Joseph KABILA elected to office. ++ National elections were held in November 2011 and disputed results allowed Joseph KABILA to be reelected to the presidency. While the DRC constitution barred President KABILA from running for a third term, the DRC Government delayed national elections originally slated for November 2016, to 30 December 2018. This failure to hold elections as scheduled fueled significant civil and political unrest, with sporadic street protests by KABILA's opponents and exacerbation of tensions in the tumultuous eastern DRC regions. Presidential, legislative, and provincial elections were held in late December 2018 and early 2019 across most of the country. The DRC Government canceled presidential elections in the cities of Beni and Butembo (citing concerns over an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region) as well as Yumbi (which had recently experienced heavy violence). ++ Opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI was announced the election winner on 10 January 2019 and inaugurated two weeks later. This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since the DRC's independence.  ++ The DRC, particularly in the East, continues to experience violence perpetrated by more than 100 armed groups active in the region, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and assorted Mai Mai militias. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world. ++  " + "text": "The Kingdom of Kongo ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries. To the center and east, the Kingdoms of Luba and Lunda ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. in the 1870s, European exploration of the Congo Basin, sponsored by King Leopold II of Belgium, eventually allowed the ruler to acquire rights to the Congo territory and to make it his private property under the name of the Congo Free State. During the Free State, the king's colonial military forced the local population to produce rubber. From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and exploitation. International condemnation finally forced Leopold to cede the land to Belgium, creating the Belgian Congo. ++ The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from conflict in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. In January 2001, KABILA was assassinated and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. Presidential, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures took place in 2006, with Joseph KABILA elected to office. ++ National elections were held in November 2011 and disputed results allowed Joseph KABILA to be reelected to the presidency. While the DRC constitution barred President KABILA from running for a third term, the DRC Government delayed national elections originally slated for November 2016, to 30 December 2018. This failure to hold elections as scheduled fueled significant civil and political unrest, with sporadic street protests by KABILA's opponents and exacerbation of tensions in the tumultuous eastern DRC regions. Presidential, legislative, and provincial elections were held in late December 2018 and early 2019 across most of the country. The DRC Government canceled presidential elections in the cities of Beni and Butembo (citing concerns over an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region) as well as Yumbi (which had recently experienced heavy violence). ++ Opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI was announced the election winner on 10 January 2019 and inaugurated two weeks later. This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since the DRC's independence. ++ The DRC, particularly in the East, continues to experience violence perpetrated by more than 100 armed groups active in the region, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and assorted Mai Mai militias. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world. ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "14.342 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.525 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.478 million Lubumbashi, 1.458 million Kananga, 1.261 million Kisangani, 1.078 million Bukavu (2020)" + "text": "14.342 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.525 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.478 million Lubumbashi, 1.458 million Kananga, 1.261 million Kisangani, 1.078 million Bukavu (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ "text": "rabies" }, "note": { - "text": "note - on 18 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for an Ebola outbreak in the South Kivu (Kivu Sud), North Kivu (Kivu Nord), and Ituri provinces in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person's blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel" + "text": "note - on 18 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for an Ebola outbreak in the South Kivu (Kivu Sud), North Kivu (Kivu Nord), and Ituri provinces in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person's blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last held on 19 January 2007 (follow-on election has been delayed) ++ National Assembly - last held on 30 December 2018" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2, other 18, independent 26; composition - men 103, women 5, percent of women 4.6% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 62, UDPS 41, PPPD 29, MSR 27, MLC 22, PALU 19, UNC 17, ARC 16, AFDC 15, ECT 11, RRC 11, other 214 (includes numerous political parties that won 10 or fewer seats and 2 constituencies where voting was halted), independent 16; composition - men 456, women 44, percent of women  8.8%; total Parliament percent of women 8.1%;note - the November 2011 election was marred by violence including the destruction of ballots in 2 constituencies resulting in the closure of polling sites; election results were delayed 3 months, strongly contested, and continue to be unresolved" + "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2, other 18, independent 26; composition - men 103, women 5, percent of women 4.6% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 62, UDPS 41, PPPD 29, MSR 27, MLC 22, PALU 19, UNC 17, ARC 16, AFDC 15, ECT 11, RRC 11, other 214 (includes numerous political parties that won 10 or fewer seats and 2 constituencies where voting was halted), independent 16; composition - men 456, women 44, percent of women 8.8%; total Parliament percent of women 8.1%;note - the November 2011 election was marred by violence including the destruction of ballots in 2 constituencies resulting in the closure of polling sites; election results were delayed 3 months, strongly contested, and continue to be unresolved" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ "text": "1.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "31.36 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "20.692 million (2012 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -689,16 +689,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "69 million (2017)" + "text": "79 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "17.1% (2016)" + "text": "9% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "47.2% (2016)" + "text": "19% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "0.4% (2016)" + "text": "0.4% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -790,13 +790,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "poorly developed national and international infrastructure; bandwidth is limited; Internet pricing is expensive; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; wars and social upheaval have not promoted advancement; a revised Telecommunications Act adopted in May 2018; govt. only loosely regulates the telecom sector, much of the investment is from donor countries (specifically China) (2020)" + "text": "poorly developed national and international infrastructure; bandwidth is limited; Internet pricing is expensive; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; wars and social upheaval have not promoted advancement; a revised Telecommunications Act adopted in May 2018; govt. only loosely regulates the telecom sector, much of the investment is from donor countries (specifically China) (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line connections less than 1 per 100 persons; given the backdrop of a wholly inadequate fixed-line infrastructure, the use of mobile-cellular services is over 43 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 243; ACE and WACS submarine cables to West and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 243; ACE and WACS submarine cables to West and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/cm.json b/africa/cm.json index 03217c2d..d4b5bb31 100644 --- a/africa/cm.json +++ b/africa/cm.json @@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { - "text": "malaria and dengue fever" + "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact disease": { "text": "schistosomiasis" @@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: founded as a German colonial settlement of Jaunde in 1888 and named after the local Yaunde (Ewondo) people" + "text": "etymology: founded as a German colonial settlement of Jaunde in 1888 and named after the local Yaunde (Ewondo) people" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "9 million (2017)" + "text": "8 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "60.1% (2016)" + "text": "70% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "91.9% (2016)" + "text": "98% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "21.3% (2016)" + "text": "32% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -789,13 +789,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "3G service and LTE service both developing given growing competition, along with a fast-developing mobile broadband sector; govt. supportive of launching programs who's aim is to improve connections nationally; about 95% of electronic transactions carried out through M-commerce services (2020)" + "text": "3G service and LTE service both developing given growing competition, along with a fast-developing mobile broadband sector; govt. supportive of launching programs who's aim is to improve connections nationally; about 95% of electronic transactions carried out through M-commerce services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "only about 4 per 100 persons for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular usage has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of over 82 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 237; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, SAIL, ACE, NCSCS, Ceiba-2, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, South America, and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 237; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, SAIL, ACE, NCSCS, Ceiba-2, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, South America, and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ "text": "18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years; periodic government calls for volunteers (2012)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the FAC is largely focused on the threat from the terror group Boko Haram along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions (as of Feb 2020, this internal conflict has left an estimated 3,000 civilians dead and over 700,000 people displaced since fighting started in 2016); in addition, the FAC has occasionally deployed units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits (2020)" + "text": "the FAC is largely focused on the threat from the terror group Boko Haram along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions (as of Feb 2020, this internal conflict has left an estimated 3,000 civilians dead and over 500,000 people displaced since fighting started in 2016); in addition, the FAC has occasionally deployed units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits (2020)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/africa/cn.json b/africa/cn.json index dc8a651b..d2964ad9 100644 --- a/africa/cn.json +++ b/africa/cn.json @@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ "text": "proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum" }, "note": { - "text": "note: a referendum held on 30 July 2018 - boycotted by the opposition - overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that allows for 2 consecutive 5-year presidential terms and revises the rotating presidency within the islands" + "text": "note: a referendum held on 30 July 2018 - boycotted by the opposition - overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that allows for 2 consecutive 5-year presidential terms and revises the rotating presidency within the islands" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - AZALI takes oath of office 2 June 2019 after 24 March 2019 reelection (2019)" + "text": "President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - AZALI takes oath of office 2 June 2019 after 24 March 2019 reelection (2019)" }, "head of government": { "text": "President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)" @@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote in 2 rounds for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 March 2019 (next to be held in 2024)" + "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote in 2 rounds for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 March 2019 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { "text": "AZALI Assoumani (CRC) elected president in first round; with a 59% of the vote; - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 60.8%, Ahamada MAHAMOUDOU (PJ) 14.6%, and Mouigni Baraka Said SOILIHI (Independent) 5.6%" @@ -432,10 +432,10 @@ "text": "unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 24 members directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed and 9 members indirectly elected by the 3 island assemblies; members serve 5-year terms) (2017)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 19 January 2020 with a runoff on 23 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025) (2020)" + "text": "last held on 19 January 2020 with a runoff on 23 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025) (2020)" }, "election results": { - "text": "seats by party -1st round - Boycotting parties 16, Independent 3, CRC 2, RDC 2, RADHI 1, Orange party 0; note -  9 additional seats filled by the 3 island assemblies; 2nd round - CRC 20, Orange Party 2, Independents 2; composition as of 23 January 2020 men 20, women 4, percent of women 16.7% ++   (2019)" + "text": "seats by party -1st round - Boycotting parties 16, Independent 3, CRC 2, RDC 2, RADHI 1, Orange party 0; note - 9 additional seats filled by the 3 island assemblies; 2nd round - CRC 20, Orange Party 2, Independents 2; composition as of 23 January 2020 men 20, women 4, percent of women 16.7% ++ (2019)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ "text": "Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de premiere instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts" }, "note": { - "text": "++   ++  " + "text": "++ ++" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { @@ -645,17 +645,14 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { - "population without electricity": { - "text": "200,000 (2017)" - }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "77.8% (2016)" + "text": "70% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "92.1% (2016)" + "text": "89% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "72.2% (2016)" + "text": "62% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -753,7 +750,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line connections only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage over 68 per 100 persons; two companies provide domestic and international mobile service and wireless data (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 269; landing point for the EASSy, Comoros Domestic Cable System, Avassa, and FLY-LION3 fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting East Africa with Europe; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion (2019)" + "text": "country code - 269; landing point for the EASSy, Comoros Domestic Cable System, Avassa, and FLY-LION3 fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting East Africa with Europe; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/ct.json b/africa/ct.json index efb5eac8..593c418b 100644 --- a/africa/ct.json +++ b/africa/ct.json @@ -660,16 +660,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "5 million (2017)" + "text": "5 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "14% (2016)" + "text": "3% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "34.1% (2016)" + "text": "7% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "0.4% (2016)" + "text": "0.4% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018)" + "text": "network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018)" }, "domestic": { "text": "very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; with the presence of multiple providers mobile-cellular service has reached 33 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers; cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui (2019)" diff --git a/africa/cv.json b/africa/cv.json index a63fc224..fb7908fe 100644 --- a/africa/cv.json +++ b/africa/cv.json @@ -634,13 +634,13 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "92.6% (2016)" + "text": "96% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "93% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "91.8% (2016)" + "text": "89% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -732,13 +732,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "LTE reaches almost 40% of the population; regulator awards commercial 4G licenses and starts 5G pilot; govt. extends USD 25 million for submarine fiber-optic cable project linking Africa to Portugal and Brazil; major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT) (2020)" + "text": "LTE reaches almost 40% of the population; regulator awards commercial 4G licenses and starts 5G pilot; govt. extends USD 25 million for submarine fiber-optic cable project linking Africa to Portugal and Brazil; major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT) (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "11 per 100 fixed-line and 108 per 100 mobile-cellular; fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998; broadband services launched early in the decade (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 238; landing points for the Atlantis-2, EllaLink, Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 1, 2, 3 and WACS fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Africa, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 238; landing points for the Atlantis-2, EllaLink, Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 1, 2, 3 and WACS fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Africa, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "115 (2018)" + "text": "115 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/dj.json b/africa/dj.json index ec1ad9f4..2a0ab38f 100644 --- a/africa/dj.json +++ b/africa/dj.json @@ -645,16 +645,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "400,000 (2016)" + "text": "400,000 (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "51.8% (2016)" + "text": "42% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "67.4% (2016)" + "text": "54% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "2% (2016)" + "text": "1% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ "text": "4 per 100 fixed-line and 41 per 100 mobile-cellular; Djibouti Telecom (DT) is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 253; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, EASSy, Aden-Djibouti, Africa-1, DARE-1, EIG, MENA, Bridge International, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 253; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, EASSy, Aden-Djibouti, Africa-1, DARE-1, EIG, MENA, Bridge International, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/eg.json b/africa/eg.json index 2b8ec37c..71ce96e3 100644 --- a/africa/eg.json +++ b/africa/eg.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have reaffirmed the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's fast-growing population as it implements far-reaching economic reforms, including the reduction of select subsidies, large-scale infrastructure projects, energy cooperation, and foreign direct investment appeals. ++ Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster in 2011. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new legislature was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Muhammad MURSI won the presidential election. Following protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MURSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MURSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. Simultaneously, the government began enacting laws to limit freedoms of assembly and expression. In January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and in May 2014 elected former defense minister Abdelfattah ELSISI president. Egypt elected a new legislature in December 2015, its first Hose of Representatives since 2012. ELSISI was reelected to a second four-year term in March 2018. In April 2019, Egypt approved via national referendum a set of constitutional amendments extending ELSISI's term in office through 2024 and possibly through 2030 if re-elected for a third term. The amendments would also allow future presidents up to two consecutive six-year terms in office, re-establish an upper legislative house, allow for one or more vice presidents, establish a 25% quota for female legislators, reaffirm the military's role as guardian of Egypt, and expand presidential authority to appoint the heads of judicial councils. ++   ++  " + "text": "The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have reaffirmed the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's fast-growing population as it implements far-reaching economic reforms, including the reduction of select subsidies, large-scale infrastructure projects, energy cooperation, and foreign direct investment appeals. ++ Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster in 2011. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new legislature was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Muhammad MURSI won the presidential election. Following protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MURSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MURSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. Simultaneously, the government began enacting laws to limit freedoms of assembly and expression. In January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and in May 2014 elected former defense minister Abdelfattah ELSISI president. Egypt elected a new legislature in December 2015, its first Hose of Representatives since 2012. ELSISI was reelected to a second four-year term in March 2018. In April 2019, Egypt approved via national referendum a set of constitutional amendments extending ELSISI's term in office through 2024 and possibly through 2030 if re-elected for a third term. The amendments would also allow future presidents up to two consecutive six-year terms in office, re-establish an upper legislative house, allow for one or more vice presidents, establish a 25% quota for female legislators, reaffirm the military's role as guardian of Egypt, and expand presidential authority to appoint the heads of judicial councils. ++ ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ "text": "Cabinet ministers nominated by the executive branch and approved by the House of Representatives" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for 3 consecutive terms); election last held on 26-28 March 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives; note - following  a constitutional amendment approved by referendum in April 2019, the presidential term was extended from 4 to 6 years and eligibility extended to 3 consecutive terms" + "text": "president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for 3 consecutive terms); election last held on 26-28 March 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives; note - following a constitutional amendment approved by referendum in April 2019, the presidential term was extended from 4 to 6 years and eligibility extended to 3 consecutive terms" }, "election results": { "text": "Abdelfattah ELSISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdelfattah ELSISI (independent) 97.1%, Moussa Mostafa MOUSSA (El Ghad Party) 2.9%; note - more than 7% of ballots cast were deemed invalid" @@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ "text": "Senate - first round held on 11-12 August 2020 (9-10 August for diaspora); second round to be held on 8-9 September (6-7 September for diaspora) (next to be held in 2025) ++ House of Representatives - last held from 17 October to 2 December 2015 (next to be held 24-25 October and 7-8 November 2020)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate first round results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nation's Future Party 100, independent 100; composition - NA  ++ House of Representatives (2015) - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Free Egyptians Party 65, Future of the Nation 53, New Wafd Party 36, Homeland's Protector Party 18, Republican People's Party 13, Congress Party 12, Al-Nour Party 11, Conservative Party 6, Democratic Peace Party 5, Egyptian National Movement 4, Egyptian Social Democratic Party 4, Modern Egypt Party 4, Freedom Party 3, My Homeland Egypt Party 3, Reform and Development Party 3, National Progressive Unionist Party 2, Arab Democratic Nasserist Party 1, El Serh El Masry el Hor 1, Revolutionary Guards Party 1, independent 351; composition - men 507, women 89, percent of women 14.9%" + "text": "Senate first round results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nation's Future Party 100, independent 100; composition - NA ++ House of Representatives (2015) - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Free Egyptians Party 65, Future of the Nation 53, New Wafd Party 36, Homeland's Protector Party 18, Republican People's Party 13, Congress Party 12, Al-Nour Party 11, Conservative Party 6, Democratic Peace Party 5, Egyptian National Movement 4, Egyptian Social Democratic Party 4, Modern Egypt Party 4, Freedom Party 3, My Homeland Egypt Party 3, Reform and Development Party 3, National Progressive Unionist Party 2, Arab Democratic Nasserist Party 1, El Serh El Masry el Hor 1, Revolutionary Guards Party 1, independent 351; composition - men 507, women 89, percent of women 14.9%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ "text": "3.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "29.95 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "24.113 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "12.2% (2017 est.) / 12.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "7.86% (2019 est.) / 12.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "27.8% (2016 est.)" @@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ "text": "23.5% (2017 est.) / 10.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$14.92 billion (2017 est.) / -$19.83 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$8.915 billion (2019 est.) / -$7.682 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$23.3 billion (2017 est.) / $20.02 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -783,13 +783,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the biggest fixed-line systems in Africa and the Arab region; one of the largest mobile telecom markets in North Africa; penetration rate of about 94%; LTE launch in late 2017, which greatly helped the capabilities of mobile broadband services, and the beginning of developing the 5G network; recent govt. efforts to fund next generation networks, develop technology parks and extend broadband availability (2020)" + "text": "one of the biggest fixed-line systems in Africa and the Arab region; one of the largest mobile telecom markets in North Africa; penetration rate of about 94%; LTE launch in late 2017, which greatly helped the capabilities of mobile broadband services, and the beginning of developing the 5G network; recent govt. efforts to fund next generation networks, develop technology parks and extend broadband availability (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 9 per 100, mobile-cellular 95 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 20; landing points for Aletar, Africa-1, FEA, Hawk, IMEWE, and the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4 submarine cable networks linking to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2019)" + "text": "country code - 20; landing points for Aletar, Africa-1, FEA, Hawk, IMEWE, and the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4 submarine cable networks linking to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ "text": "the EAF's inventory is comprised of a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern, particularly US, weapons systems; in recent years, the EAF has embarked on an extensive equipment modernization program with major purchases from a variety of suppliers; since 2010, the leading suppliers of military hardware to Egypt are France, Germany, Russia, and the US; Egypt has an established defense industry that produces a range of products from small arms to armored vehicles and naval vessels; it also has licensed and co-production agreements with several countries, including France (naval frigates) and the US (tanks) (2019 )" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "990 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,075 Mali (MINUSMA); 150 Sudan (UNAMID) (March 2020)" + "text": "1,000 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,050 Mali (MINUSMA); 150 Sudan (UNAMID) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation - 18-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; voluntary enlistment possible from age 15 (2017)" @@ -974,6 +974,9 @@ }, "IDPs": { "text": "97,000 (2019)" + }, + "stateless persons": { + "text": "5 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/africa/ek.json b/africa/ek.json index bcfde76c..1d7e35b6 100644 --- a/africa/ek.json +++ b/africa/ek.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule; it is one of the smallest countries in Africa consisting of a mainland territory and five inhabited islands. The capital of Malabo is located on the island of Bioko, approximately 25 km from the Cameroonian coastline in the Gulf of Guinea. Between 1968 and 1979, autocratic President Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA virtually destroyed all of the country's political, economic, and social institutions before being deposed by his nephew Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO in a coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979. He has been elected several times since 1996, and was most recently reelected in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have generally been labeled as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has placed legal and bureaucratic barriers that hinder political opposition. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in late 2004 and has slowly declined since, although aggressive searches for new oil fields continue. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in massive increases in government revenue in past years, the drop in global oil prices as of 2014 has placed significant strain on the state budget and pushed the country into recession. Oil revenues have mainly been used for the development of infrastructure and there have been limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment. The country hosts major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in international affairs, and leadership in the sub-region.  " + "text": "Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule; it is one of the smallest countries in Africa consisting of a mainland territory and five inhabited islands. The capital of Malabo is located on the island of Bioko, approximately 25 km from the Cameroonian coastline in the Gulf of Guinea. Between 1968 and 1979, autocratic President Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA virtually destroyed all of the country's political, economic, and social institutions before being deposed by his nephew Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO in a coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979. He has been elected several times since 1996, and was most recently reelected in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have generally been labeled as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has placed legal and bureaucratic barriers that hinder political opposition. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in late 2004 and has slowly declined since, although aggressive searches for new oil fields continue. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in massive increases in government revenue in past years, the drop in global oil prices as of 2014 has placed significant strain on the state budget and pushed the country into recession. Oil revenues have mainly been used for the development of infrastructure and there have been limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment. The country hosts major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in international affairs, and leadership in the sub-region." } }, "Geography": { @@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ "text": "President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup); Vice President Teodoro Nguema OBIANG Mangue(since 2012)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016)" + "text": "Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister" @@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { - "text": "Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges  organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)" + "text": "Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies; note - judges subject to dismissal by the president at any time" @@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ "text": "Citizens for Innovation or CI [Gabriel Nse Obiang OBONO] ++ Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Andres ESONO ONDO] ++ Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro Obiang NGUEMA MBASOGO] ++ Electoral Coalition or EC ++ Juntos Podemos (coalition includes CPDS, FDR, UDC) ++ National Congress of Equatorial Guinea [Agustin MASOKO ABEGUE] ++ National Democratic Party [Benedicto OBIANG MANGUE] ++ National Union for Democracy [Thomas MBA MONABANG] ++ Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Carmelo MBA BACALE] ++ Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ AYECABA] ++ Union for the Center right or UDC [Avelino MOCACHE MEHENGA] ++ not officially registered parties: Democratic Republican Force or FDR [Guillermo NGUEMA ELA] ++ Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]" }, "International organization participation": { - "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)" + "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { @@ -633,17 +633,14 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { - "population without electricity": { - "text": "300,000 (2016)" - }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "67.9% (2016)" + "text": "67% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "90.8% (2016)" + "text": "75% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "52.6% (2016)" + "text": "45% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -741,7 +738,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line density is about 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is 45 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 240; landing points for the ACE, Ceiba-1, and Ceiba-2 submarine cables providing communication from Bata and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to numerous Western African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 240; landing points for the ACE, Ceiba-1, and Ceiba-2 submarine cables providing communication from Bata and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to numerous Western African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/er.json b/africa/er.json index c2b5cdf4..470a1c42 100644 --- a/africa/er.json +++ b/africa/er.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service – divided between military and civilian service – of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC's 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for Al-Shabaab. The country's rapprochement with Ethiopia has led to a steady resumption of economic ties, with increased air transport, trade, tourism, and port activities, but the economy remains agriculture-dependent, and Eritrea is still one of Africa's poorest nations. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue." + "text": "After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service – divided between military and civilian service – of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense \"no peace, no war\" stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC's 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for Al-Shabaab. The country's rapprochement with Ethiopia has led to a steady resumption of economic ties, with increased air transport, trade, tourism, and port activities, but the economy remains agriculture-dependent, and Eritrea is still one of Africa's poorest nations. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue." } }, "Geography": { @@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ "text": "president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the only election was held on 8 June 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next election postponed indefinitely)" }, "election results": { - "text": "ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS  Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%" + "text": "ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -659,16 +659,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "3 million (2017)" + "text": "3 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "46.7% (2016)" + "text": "47% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "74.6% (2016)" + "text": "95% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "39.3% (2016)" + "text": "13% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "woefully inadequate service provided by state-owned telecom monopoly; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; cell phone use is limited by government control of SIM card issuance; no data service; only about 4% of households having computers with 2% Internet; untapped market ripe for competition; direct phone service between Eritrea and Ethiopia was restored in September 2018; government telco working on roll-out of 3G network; in 2019 11% mobile penetration (2020)" + "text": "woefully inadequate service provided by state-owned telecom monopoly; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; cell phone use is limited by government control of SIM card issuance; no data service; only about 4% of households having computers with 2% Internet; untapped market ripe for competition; direct phone service between Eritrea and Ethiopia was restored in September 2018; government telco working on roll-out of 3G network; in 2019 11% mobile penetration (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscribership is less than 2 per 100 person and mobile-cellular 20 per 100 (2019)" @@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ "text": "Eritrean Defense Forces: Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2019)" }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { - "text": "the Eritrean Defense Forces are comprised of approximately 200,000 personnel (est. 200,000 Army; 1,500 Naval; 500 Air); note – it is unclear how many of the Army's 200,000 are on active duty; reportedly, some units are manned only with cadres during peacetime while many conscripts are not under arms (2019 est.)" + "text": "the Eritrean Defense Forces are comprised of an estimated 200,000 personnel, including about 2,000 in the naval and air forces; note – includes significant numbers of conscripts; it is unclear how many of the EDF's 200,000 are on active duty; many conscripts are reportedly not under arms (2019)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Eritrean Defense Forces inventory is comprised primarily of Soviet-era systems; Eritrea was under a UN arms embargo from 2009 to 2018; prior to 2009, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Russia were the leading arms suppliers (2019 est.)" diff --git a/africa/et.json b/africa/et.json index 0de6f019..0f763bef 100644 --- a/africa/et.json +++ b/africa/et.json @@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "Oromo 34.9%, Amhara (Amara) 27.9%, Tigray (Tigrinya) 7.3%, Sidama 4.1%, Welaita 3%, Gurage 2.8%, Somali (Somalie) 2.7%, Hadiya 2.2%, Afar (Affar) .6%, other 12.6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "Oromo 34.9%, Amhara (Amara) 27.9%, Tigray (Tigrinya) 7.3%, Sidama 4.1%, Welaita 3%, Gurage 2.8%, Somali (Somalie) 2.7%, Hadiya 2.2%, Afar (Affar) .6%, other 12.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (2007 est.)" @@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ "text": "House of Federation - last held 24 May 2015 (next originally scheduled on 29 August 2020 but postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) ++ House of People's Representatives - last held on 24 May 2015 (next originally scheduled on 29 August 2020 but postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic)" }, "election results": { - "text": "House of Federation - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - NA; composition - men 104, women 49, percent of women 32% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - EPRDF 501, SPDP 24, BGPDUP 9, ANDP 8, GPUDM 3, APDO 1, HNL 1; composition - men 335, women 212, percent of women  38.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 37.3%" + "text": "House of Federation - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - NA; composition - men 104, women 49, percent of women 32% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - EPRDF 501, SPDP 24, BGPDUP 9, ANDP 8, GPUDM 3, APDO 1, HNL 1; composition - men 335, women 212, percent of women 38.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 37.3%" }, "note": { "text": "note: House of Federation is responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues and the House of People's Representatives is responsible for passing legislation" @@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [Taha AHMED] ++ Argoba People Democratic Organization or APDO ++ Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Party or BGPDUP ++ Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum or MEDREK or FORUM [Beyene PETROS] (includes ESD-SCUP, OFC, SLM, and UTDS) ++ Ethiopia Citizens for Social Justice or ECSJ Party (formed in May 2019 from 7 other parties, including Patriotic Genbot 7, Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), All Ethiopian Democratic Party (AEDP), Semayawi Party, New Generation Party, Gambella Regional Movement (GRM), Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) Party [Berhanu Negu]) ++ Prosperity Party or PP [ABIY Ahmed] (created in November 2019 from member parties of the former Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF, which included the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM),  Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement  (SEPDM), Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), plus other ERPRF allies ++ Ethiopian Social Democracy-Southern Coalition Unity Party or ESD-SCUP ++ Gambella Peoples Unity Democratic Movement or GPUDM ++ Harari National League or HNL [Murad ABDULHADI] ++ Oromo Fderalist Congress or OFC ++ Sidama Liberaton Movement or SLM ++ Somali People's Democratic Party or SPDP ++ Union of Tigraians for Democracy & Sovergnty or UTDS ++ Tigray Independence Party [Girmay BERHE] (2020)" + "text": "Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [Taha AHMED] ++ Argoba People Democratic Organization or APDO ++ Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Party or BGPDUP ++ Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum or MEDREK or FORUM [Beyene PETROS] (includes ESD-SCUP, OFC, SLM, and UTDS) ++ Ethiopia Citizens for Social Justice or ECSJ Party (formed in May 2019 from 7 other parties, including Patriotic Genbot 7, Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), All Ethiopian Democratic Party (AEDP), Semayawi Party, New Generation Party, Gambella Regional Movement (GRM), Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) Party [Berhanu Negu]) ++ Prosperity Party or PP [ABIY Ahmed] (created in November 2019 from member parties of the former Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF, which included the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM), Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), plus other ERPRF allies ++ Ethiopian Social Democracy-Southern Coalition Unity Party or ESD-SCUP ++ Gambella Peoples Unity Democratic Movement or GPUDM ++ Harari National League or HNL [Murad ABDULHADI] ++ Oromo Fderalist Congress or OFC ++ Sidama Liberaton Movement or SLM ++ Somali People's Democratic Party or SPDP ++ Union of Tigraians for Democracy & Sovergnty or UTDS ++ Tigray Independence Party [Girmay BERHE] (2020)" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UN Security Council (temporary), UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" @@ -702,16 +702,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "58 million (2017)" + "text": "60 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "42.9% (2016)" + "text": "47% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "85.4% (2016)" + "text": "96% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "26.5% (2016)" + "text": "34% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "Ethio Telecom maintained a monopoly over telecommunication services until recently and is now part-private; new expansion of LTE services; in 2019 govt. approved legislations which opened the market to competition and provides much needed foreign investment; one of the tech companies is Chinese company Huawei; govt. reduces tariffs by up to 50% in 2018, the result is an increase in data and voice traffic; govt. launches mobile app as part of e-govt initiative to build tech city (2020)" + "text": "Ethio Telecom maintained a monopoly over telecommunication services until recently and is now part-private; new expansion of LTE services; in 2019 govt. approved legislations which opened the market to competition and provides much needed foreign investment; one of the tech companies is Chinese company Huawei; govt. reduces tariffs by up to 50% in 2018, the result is an increase in data and voice traffic; govt. launches mobile app as part of e-govt initiative to build tech city (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscriptions at 1 per 100 while mobile-cellular stands at 36 per 100; the number of mobile telephones is increasing steadily (2019)" @@ -934,13 +934,13 @@ "text": "0.7% of GDP (2019) / 0.7% of GDP (2018) / 0.7% of GDP (2017) / 0.7% of GDP (2016) / 0.7% of GDP (2015)" }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { - "text": "the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is comprised of approximately 140,000 active duty troops (135-137,000 Ground; 3,000 Air; Navy N/A); note: the Navy was reestablished in 2020 (2020 est.)" + "text": "estimates for the size of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) vary; approximately 150,000 active duty troops, including about 3,000 Air Force personnel (no personnel numbers available for the newly-reestablished Navy) (2020)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the ENDF's inventory is comprised mostly of Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia and Ukraine are the leading suppliers of largely second-hand weapons and equipment to the ENDF, followed by China and Hungary; Ethiopia has a modest industrial defense base centered on small arms and licensed production of light-armored vehicles (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "4,400 Somalia (AMISOM); 800 Sudan (UNAMID); 3,500 Sudan (UNISFA); 2,100 South Sudan (UNMISS) (March 2020)" + "text": "15-20,000 Somalia (includes about 4,400 under AMISOM); 800 Sudan (UNAMID); 3,600 Sudan (UNISFA); 2,100 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2013)" diff --git a/africa/ga.json b/africa/ga.json index 782d4f11..5017d196 100644 --- a/africa/ga.json +++ b/africa/ga.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991, the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, although tensions flared up intermittently during the regime of Yahya JAMMEH. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011. After 22 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, President JAMMEH was defeated in free and fair elections in December 2016. Due to The Gambia's poor human rights record under JAMMEH, international development partners had distanced themselves, and substantially reduced aid to the country. These channels have now reopened under the administration of President Adama BARROW, who took office in January 2017. The US and The Gambia currently enjoy improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported military education and training programs, as well as various capacity building and democracy strengthening activities.   ++  " + "text": "The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991, the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, although tensions flared up intermittently during the regime of Yahya JAMMEH. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011. After 22 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, President JAMMEH was defeated in free and fair elections in December 2016. Due to The Gambia's poor human rights record under JAMMEH, international development partners had distanced themselves, and substantially reduced aid to the country. These channels have now reopened under the administration of President Adama BARROW, who took office in January 2017. The US and The Gambia currently enjoy improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported military education and training programs, as well as various capacity building and democracy strengthening activities. ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Fabakary JATTA] ++ Coalition 2016 [collective leadership] (electoral coalition includes UDP, PDOIS, NRP, GMC, GDC, PPP, and GPDP) ++ Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC [Mama KANDEH] ++ Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY] ++ Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress or GPDP [Sarja JARJOU] ++ National Convention Party or NCP [Yaya  SANYANG and Majanko SAMUSA (both claiming leadership)] ++ National Democratic Action Movement or NDAM [Lamin Yaa JUARA] ++ National People's Party or NPP [Adama BARROW] ++ National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH] ++ People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA] ++ People's Progressive Party or PPP [Yaya CEESAY)] ++ United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]" + "text": "Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Fabakary JATTA] ++ Coalition 2016 [collective leadership] (electoral coalition includes UDP, PDOIS, NRP, GMC, GDC, PPP, and GPDP) ++ Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC [Mama KANDEH] ++ Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY] ++ Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress or GPDP [Sarja JARJOU] ++ National Convention Party or NCP [Yaya SANYANG and Majanko SAMUSA (both claiming leadership)] ++ National Democratic Action Movement or NDAM [Lamin Yaa JUARA] ++ National People's Party or NPP [Adama BARROW] ++ National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH] ++ People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA] ++ People's Progressive Party or PPP [Yaya CEESAY)] ++ United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -684,16 +684,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "1 million (2017)" + "text": "1 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "47.8% (2016)" + "text": "49% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "69% (2016)" + "text": "69% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "15.5% (2016)" + "text": "16% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -791,14 +791,14 @@ "text": "fixed-line stands at 2 per 100 subscriptions with one dominant company and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, is over 140 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country  (2019)" + "text": "1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".gm" @@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ "text": "the GNA has a limited equipment inventory; the only reported weapons deliveries to the GNA since 2000 are second-hand patrol boats from Taiwan (2009) and one aircraft from Georgia (2004) (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "130 Sudan (UNAMID) (2019 est.)" + "text": "130 Sudan (UNAMID) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)" diff --git a/africa/gb.json b/africa/gb.json index a91e8361..355b4cf9 100644 --- a/africa/gb.json +++ b/africa/gb.json @@ -667,17 +667,14 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { - "population without electricity": { - "text": "200,000 (2017)" - }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "91.4% (2016)" + "text": "92% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "96.7% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "55% (2016)" + "text": "39% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -769,13 +766,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fixed-line and Internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices; sufficient international bandwidth due to submarine cable systems, but monopolized by Gabon Telecom; 3G and mobile LTE services and mobile broadband available; govt. commits to XAF 150 billion in backbone infrastructure work through 2020; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)" + "text": "fixed-line and Internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices; sufficient international bandwidth due to submarine cable systems, but monopolized by Gabon Telecom; 3G and mobile LTE services and mobile broadband available; govt. commits to XAF 150 billion in backbone infrastructure work through 2020; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 138 per 100 persons (2019)" + "text": "fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 138 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -909,7 +906,7 @@ "text": "the FDG's inventory is comprised mostly of Brazilian, French, and South African equipment; since 2010, the leading suppliers are France and South Africa (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (April 2020)" + "text": "450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)" diff --git a/africa/gh.json b/africa/gh.json index 4a0f96c8..b76f984f 100644 --- a/africa/gh.json +++ b/africa/gh.json @@ -693,16 +693,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "5 million (2017)" + "text": "5 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "79.3% (2016)" + "text": "85% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "89.8% (2016)" + "text": "93% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "66.6% (2016)" + "text": "75% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "highly competitive Internet market; govt. helped fund programs for telecom services nationally; mobile accounts for how people access the Internet; LTE service launched in 2019; the government invested in fiber infrastructure and set up 600 additional towers to provide basic mobile services; m-money inter-operability launched; international submarine cables and new terrestrial cables have improved Internet capacity and reduced price for end-users; one of the most active mobile markets in Africa (2020)" + "text": "highly competitive Internet market; govt. helped fund programs for telecom services nationally; mobile accounts for how people access the Internet; LTE service launched in 2019; the government invested in fiber infrastructure and set up 600 additional towers to provide basic mobile services; m-money inter-operability launched; international submarine cables and new terrestrial cables have improved Internet capacity and reduced price for end-users; one of the most active mobile markets in Africa (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 1 per 100 subscriptions; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 134 per 100 persons and rising (2019)" @@ -925,7 +925,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Ghana Armed Forces is a mix of Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment; the top suppliers of armaments since 2010 are China, Germany, Spain, and Russia (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "460 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 850 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)", + "text": "140 Mali (MINUSMA); 180 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)", "note": { "text": "note: Ghana has pledged to maintain about 1,000 military personnel in readiness for UN peacekeeping missions" } diff --git a/africa/gv.json b/africa/gv.json index 27f6fc39..7e7bf26e 100644 --- a/africa/gv.json +++ b/africa/gv.json @@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { - "text": "Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)" + "text": "Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; Constitutional Court member appointments - 2 by the National Assembly and the president of the republic, 3 experienced judges designated by their peers, 1 experienced lawyer, 1 university professor with expertise in public law designated by peers, and 2 experienced representatives of the Independent National Institution of Human Rights; members serve single 9-year terms" @@ -685,16 +685,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "11 million (2017)" + "text": "7 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "33.5% (2016)" + "text": "46% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "82.2% (2016)" + "text": "84% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "6.9% (2016)" + "text": "24% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -786,10 +786,10 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "huge improvement over the last ten years; in May 2019, 4G Wi-Fi was launched in the capital; the regional administrative centers all have 3G access; the 2018 set up of an IXP (Internet Exchange Point) reduced the cost of Internet bandwidth and improved infrastructure; a National Backbone Network is nearing completion to connect administrative centers (2020)" + "text": "huge improvement over the last ten years; in May 2019, 4G Wi-Fi was launched in the capital; the regional administrative centers all have 3G access; the 2018 set up of an IXP (Internet Exchange Point) reduced the cost of Internet bandwidth and improved infrastructure; a National Backbone Network is nearing completion to connect administrative centers (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding rapidly and now 101 per 100 persons (2019)" + "text": "there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding rapidly and now 101 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019)" @@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services  (2019)" + "text": "government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".gn" @@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Guinean military consists largely of ageing and outdated (mostly Soviet-era) equipment; since 2010, it has received a limited amount of equipment from France, Russia, and South Africa (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "850 Mali (MINUSMA) (April 2020)" + "text": "1,500 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "no compulsory military service (2017)" diff --git a/africa/iv.json b/africa/iv.json index cad64bb7..73e8658b 100644 --- a/africa/iv.json +++ b/africa/iv.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Close ties to France following independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment all made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI attempted to rig the elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular protest forced him to step aside and an election brought Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivoirian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002 that developed into a rebellion and then a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in the country being divided with the rebels holding the north, the government the south, and peacekeeping forces a buffer zone between the two. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former New Forces rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister and the two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. Difficulties in preparing electoral registers delayed balloting until 2010. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election over GBAGBO, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in a five-month resumption of violent conflict. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters with the help of UN and French forces. OUATTARA won a second term in 2015 and is focused on rebuilding the country's economy and infrastructure while reforming the security forces. The UN peacekeeping mission departed in June 2017. GBAGBO was in The Hague on trial for crimes against humanity, but was acquitted in January 2019. Côte d'Ivoire is scheduled to hold presidential elections in November 2020.  " + "text": "Close ties to France following independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment all made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI attempted to rig the elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular protest forced him to step aside and an election brought Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivoirian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002 that developed into a rebellion and then a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in the country being divided with the rebels holding the north, the government the south, and peacekeeping forces a buffer zone between the two. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former New Forces rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister and the two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. Difficulties in preparing electoral registers delayed balloting until 2010. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election over GBAGBO, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in a five-month resumption of violent conflict. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters with the help of UN and French forces. OUATTARA won a second term in 2015 and is focused on rebuilding the country's economy and infrastructure while reforming the security forces. The UN peacekeeping mission departed in June 2017. GBAGBO was in The Hague on trial for crimes against humanity, but was acquitted in January 2019. Côte d'Ivoire is scheduled to hold presidential elections in November 2020." } }, "Geography": { @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "10 million (2017)" + "text": "6 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "64.3% (2016)" + "text": "76% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "92% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "38.1% (2016)" + "text": "51% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -789,20 +789,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "strongest sector in the overall market is the mobile sector; fixed internet and broadband sectors have remained underdeveloped; country 90% digitalized; Côte d'Ivoire continues to benefit from strong economic growth; progress has been made in building out the national backbone network and connecting in 2019 to the MainOne submarine cable; this development puts the country in a better position to develop its broadband market and work on its digital economy; government further tightens SIM card registration rules (2020)" + "text": "strongest sector in the overall market is the mobile sector; fixed internet and broadband sectors have remained underdeveloped; country 90% digitalized; Côte d'Ivoire continues to benefit from strong economic growth; progress has been made in building out the national backbone network and connecting in 2019 to the MainOne submarine cable; this development puts the country in a better position to develop its broadband market and work on its digital economy; government further tightens SIM card registration rules (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "less than 1 per 100 fixed-line, with multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing in the market, usage has increased to about 145 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE, MainOne, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE, MainOne, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-controlled Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirieinne (RTI) is made up of 2 radios stations (Radio Cote d'Ivoire and Frequence2) and 2 television stations (RTI1 and RTI2), with nationwide coverage, broadcasts mainly in French; after 2011 post-electoral crisis, President OUATTARA's administration reopened RTI Bouake', the broadcaster's office in Cote d'Ivoire's 2nd largest city, where facilities were destroyed during the 2002 rebellion; Cote d'Ivoire is also home to 178 proximity radios stations, 16 religious radios stations, 5 commercial radios stations, and 5 international radios stations, according to the Haute Autorite' de la Communication Audiovisuelle (HACA); govt now runs radio UNOCIFM, a radio station previously owned by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire; in Dec 2016, the govt announced 4 companies had been granted licenses to operate -Live TV, Optimum Media Cote d'Ivoire, the Audiovisual Company of Cote d'Ivoire (Sedaci), and Sorano-CI, out of the 4 companies only one has started operating (2019)" + "text": "state-controlled Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirieinne (RTI) is made up of 2 radios stations (Radio Cote d'Ivoire and Frequence2) and 2 television stations (RTI1 and RTI2), with nationwide coverage, broadcasts mainly in French; after 2011 post-electoral crisis, President OUATTARA's administration reopened RTI Bouake', the broadcaster's office in Cote d'Ivoire's 2nd largest city, where facilities were destroyed during the 2002 rebellion; Cote d'Ivoire is also home to 178 proximity radios stations, 16 religious radios stations, 5 commercial radios stations, and 5 international radios stations, according to the Haute Autorite' de la Communication Audiovisuelle (HACA); govt now runs radio UNOCIFM, a radio station previously owned by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire; in Dec 2016, the govt announced 4 companies had been granted licenses to operate -Live TV, Optimum Media Cote d'Ivoire, the Audiovisual Company of Cote d'Ivoire (Sedaci), and Sorano-CI, out of the 4 companies only one has started operating (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ci" @@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ "text": "the FACI is mostly equipped with second-hand weapons and equipment of Russian origin; the leading suppliers since 2000 are Belarus, Bulgaria, and Romania (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "360 Mali (MINUSMA) (March 2020)" + "text": "800 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male and female military service; conscription is not enforced; voluntary recruitment of former rebels into the new national army is restricted to ages 22-29 (2012)" @@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ "text": "303,000 (post-election conflict in 2010-11, as well as civil war from 2002-04; land disputes; most pronounced in western and southwestern regions) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "692,000 (2018); note - many Ivoirians lack documentation proving their nationality, which prevent them from accessing education and healthcare; birth on Ivorian soil does not automatically result in citizenship; disputes over citizenship and the associated rights of the large population descended from migrants from neighboring countries is an ongoing source of tension and contributed to the country's 2002 civil war; some observers believe the government's mass naturalizations of thousands of people over the last couple of years is intended to boost its electoral support base; the government in October 2013 acceded to international conventions on statelessness and in August 2013 reformed its nationality law, key steps to clarify the nationality of thousands of residents; since the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration to eradicate statelessness in West Africa in February 2015, 6,400 people have received nationality papers" + "text": "955,399 (2019); note - many Ivoirians lack documentation proving their nationality, which prevent them from accessing education and healthcare; birth on Ivorian soil does not automatically result in citizenship; disputes over citizenship and the associated rights of the large population descended from migrants from neighboring countries is an ongoing source of tension and contributed to the country's 2002 civil war; some observers believe the government's mass naturalizations of thousands of people over the last couple of years is intended to boost its electoral support base; the government in October 2013 acceded to international conventions on statelessness and in August 2013 reformed its nationality law, key steps to clarify the nationality of thousands of residents; since the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration to eradicate statelessness in West Africa in February 2015, 6,400 people have received nationality papers" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/ke.json b/africa/ke.json index bd4e2df8..b86e2680 100644 --- a/africa/ke.json +++ b/africa/ke.json @@ -124,13 +124,13 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.)" + "text": "Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages" }, "Religions": { - "text": "Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.)" + "text": "Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "Kenya has experienced dramatic population growth since the mid-20th century as a result of its high birth rate and its declining mortality rate. More than 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15 because of sustained high fertility, early marriage and childbearing, and an unmet need for family planning. Kenya's persistent rapid population growth strains the labor market, social services, arable land, and natural resources. Although Kenya in 1967 was the first Sub-Saharan country to launch a nationwide family planning program, progress in reducing the birth rate has largely stalled since the late 1990s, when the government decreased its support for family planning to focus on the HIV epidemic. Government commitment and international technical support spurred Kenyan contraceptive use, decreasing the fertility rate (children per woman) from about 8 in the late 1970s to less than 5 children twenty years later, but it has plateaued at just over 3 children today. ++ Kenya is a source of emigrants and a host country for refugees. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kenyans pursued higher education in the UK because of colonial ties, but as British immigration rules tightened, the US, the then Soviet Union, and Canada became attractive study destinations. Kenya's stagnant economy and political problems during the 1980s and 1990s led to an outpouring of Kenyan students and professionals seeking permanent opportunities in the West and southern Africa. Nevertheless, Kenya's relative stability since its independence in 1963 has attracted hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping violent conflicts in neighboring countries; Kenya shelters more than 300,000 Somali refugees as of April 2017." @@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ "text": "$79.22 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.9% (2017 est.) / 5.9% (2016 est.) / 5.7% (2015 est.)" + "text": "5.39% (2019 est.) / 6.32% (2018 est.) / 4.79% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$3,500 (2017 est.) / $3,400 (2016 est.) / $3,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ "text": "8% (2017 est.) / 6.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$5.021 billion (2017 est.) / -$3.697 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$57.594 billion (2019 est.) / -$56.194 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$5.792 billion (2017 est.) / $5.695 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "13 million (2017)" + "text": "8 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "56% (2016)" + "text": "85% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "77.6% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "39.3% (2016)" + "text": "79% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line subscriptions stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 104 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 254; landing point for the EASSy, TEAMS, LION2, DARE1, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems covering East, North and South Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat; launched first micro satellites in 2018 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 254; landing point for the EASSy, TEAMS, LION2, DARE1, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems covering East, North and South Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat; launched first micro satellites in 2018 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -941,7 +941,7 @@ "text": "the KDF's inventory traditionally carried mostly older or second-hand Western weapons systems, particularly from France, the UK, and the US; however, since the 2000s it has sought to modernize and diversify its imports; top suppliers since 2010 include China, Italy, Jordan, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "3,300 Somalia (AMISOM) (June 2020)" + "text": "3,600 Somalia (AMISOM) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year reenlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens and provide a national identity card (obtained at age 18) and a school-leaving certificate, and undergo a series of mental and physical examinations; women serve under the same terms and conditions as men; mandatory retirement at age 55 but personnel leaving before this age remain in a reserve status until they reach age 55 unless they were removed for disciplinary reasons; there is no active military reserve, although the Ministry of Defence has stated its desire to create one as recently as 2017 (2019)" @@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ "text": "162,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "18,500 (2018); note - the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs; the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago; Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963; only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs; Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards" + "text": "18,500 (2019); note - the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs; the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago; Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963; only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs; Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/li.json b/africa/li.json index aedebda7..aa7e6207 100644 --- a/africa/li.json +++ b/africa/li.json @@ -662,16 +662,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "4 million (2017)" + "text": "4 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "19.8% (2016)" + "text": "12% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "34% (2016)" + "text": "18% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "1.3% (2016)" + "text": "6% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,20 +766,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital, Monrovia; fixed-line service is stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage recently extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators; Liberia is almost entirely a wireless telecommunications market; a number of operators avoid paying dues and operate despite regulations; govt. regulatory impose SIM card registration in an attempt to reduce crime, but makes mobile penetration seem low; the high cost and limited bandwidth of connections means that Internet access is expensive and data rates are very low (2020)" + "text": "the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital, Monrovia; fixed-line service is stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage recently extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators; Liberia is almost entirely a wireless telecommunications market; a number of operators avoid paying dues and operate despite regulations; govt. regulatory impose SIM card registration in an attempt to reduce crime, but makes mobile penetration seem low; the high cost and limited bandwidth of connections means that Internet access is expensive and data rates are very low (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity approached 57 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 231; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 231; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "8 private and 1 government-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; approximately 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with approximately 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international (including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France Internationale) broadcasters are available (2019)" + "text": "8 private and 1 government-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; approximately 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with approximately 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international (including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France Internationale) broadcasters are available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".lr" @@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ "text": "the AFL has almost no significant combat hardware as nearly all aircraft, equipment, materiel, and facilities were damaged or destroyed during the country's civil war; it has received little new equipment outside of ammunition, small arms, and trucks from China in 2008 and boats donated to the Coast Guard by the US in 2011 and 2016 (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "110 Mali (MINUSMA) (April 2020)" + "text": "150 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)" diff --git a/africa/lt.json b/africa/lt.json index 157fb577..d13f4d15 100644 --- a/africa/lt.json +++ b/africa/lt.json @@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ "text": "Prime Minister Moeketsi MAJORO (since 20 May 2020); note - Prime Minister Thomas THABANE resigned on 19 May 2020" }, "cabinet": { - "text": "consists of the prime minister, appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State, the deputy prime minister, and 26 other ministers" + "text": "consists of the prime minister, appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State, the deputy prime minister, and 26 other ministers" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary, but under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a \"living symbol of national unity\" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law, the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, to determine next in line of succession, or to serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister" @@ -661,16 +661,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "1 million (2017)" + "text": "1 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "29.7% (2016)" + "text": "36% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "66% (2016)" + "text": "63% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "15.7% (2016)" + "text": "26% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "mobile penetration remains below regional average; introduction of mobile broadband in the country & LTE technology, with 5G trials in early 2019; fixed-line teledensity is low; mobile-cellular telephone system is growth sector; regulator considering improving SIM card registration (2020)" + "text": "mobile penetration remains below regional average; introduction of mobile broadband in the country & LTE technology, with 5G trials in early 2019; fixed-line teledensity is low; mobile-cellular telephone system is growth sector; regulator considering improving SIM card registration (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; mobile-cellular service dominates the market with a subscribership now over 114 per 100 persons; rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system (2019)" diff --git a/africa/ly.json b/africa/ly.json index b1d2e239..2c9e5153 100644 --- a/africa/ly.json +++ b/africa/ly.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but the region has been settled and ruled by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Vandals. In the the 7th century, Islam spread through the region; in the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began. The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners - one over Scotland, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. ++ Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the QADHAFI regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government known as the National Transitional Council (NTC). In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). Voters chose a new parliament to replace the GNC in June 2014 - the House of Representatives (HoR), which relocated to the eastern city of Tobruk after fighting broke out in Tripoli and Benghazi in July 2014. ++ In December 2015, the UN brokered an agreement among a broad array of Libyan political parties and social groups - known as the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Members of the Libyan Political Dialogue, including representatives of the HoR and GNC, signed the LPA in December 2015. The LPA called for the formation of an interim Government of National Accord or GNA, with a nine-member Presidency Council, the HoR, and an advisory High Council of State that most ex-GNC members joined. The LPA's roadmap for a transition to a new constitution and elected government was subsequently endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2259, which also called upon member states to cease official contact with parallel institutions. In January 2016, the HoR voted to approve the LPA, including the Presidency Council, while voting against a controversial provision on security leadership positions and the Presidency Council's proposed cabinet of ministers. In March 2016, the GNA Presidency Council seated itself in Tripoli. In 2016, the GNA twice announced a slate of ministers who operate in an acting capacity, but the HoR did not endorse the ministerial list. The HoR and defunct-GNC-affiliated political hardliners continued to oppose the GNA and hamper the LPA's implementation. In September 2017, UN Special Representative Ghassan SALAME announced a new roadmap for national political reconciliation. SALAME's plan called for amendments to the LPA, a national conference of Libyan leaders, and a constitutional referendum and general elections. In November 2018, the international partners supported SALAME's recalibrated Action Plan for Libya that aimed to break the political deadlock by holding a National Conference in Libya in 2019 on a timeline for political transition.  The National Conference was delayed following a failure of the parties to implement an agreement mediated by SALAME in Abu Dhabi on February 27, and the subsequent military action by Khalifa HAFTAR's Libyan National Army against GNA forces in Tripoli that began in April 2019. " + "text": "Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but the region has been settled and ruled by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Vandals. In the the 7th century, Islam spread through the region; in the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began. The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners - one over Scotland, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. ++ Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the QADHAFI regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government known as the National Transitional Council (NTC). In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). Voters chose a new parliament to replace the GNC in June 2014 - the House of Representatives (HoR), which relocated to the eastern city of Tobruk after fighting broke out in Tripoli and Benghazi in July 2014. ++ In December 2015, the UN brokered an agreement among a broad array of Libyan political parties and social groups - known as the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Members of the Libyan Political Dialogue, including representatives of the HoR and GNC, signed the LPA in December 2015. The LPA called for the formation of an interim Government of National Accord or GNA, with a nine-member Presidency Council, the HoR, and an advisory High Council of State that most ex-GNC members joined. The LPA's roadmap for a transition to a new constitution and elected government was subsequently endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2259, which also called upon member states to cease official contact with parallel institutions. In January 2016, the HoR voted to approve the LPA, including the Presidency Council, while voting against a controversial provision on security leadership positions and the Presidency Council's proposed cabinet of ministers. In March 2016, the GNA Presidency Council seated itself in Tripoli. In 2016, the GNA twice announced a slate of ministers who operate in an acting capacity, but the HoR did not endorse the ministerial list. The HoR and defunct-GNC-affiliated political hardliners continued to oppose the GNA and hamper the LPA's implementation. In September 2017, UN Special Representative Ghassan SALAME announced a new roadmap for national political reconciliation. SALAME's plan called for amendments to the LPA, a national conference of Libyan leaders, and a constitutional referendum and general elections. In November 2018, the international partners supported SALAME's recalibrated Action Plan for Libya that aimed to break the political deadlock by holding a National Conference in Libya in 2019 on a timeline for political transition. The National Conference was delayed following a failure of the parties to implement an agreement mediated by SALAME in Abu Dhabi on February 27, and the subsequent military action by Khalifa HAFTAR's Libyan National Army against GNA forces in Tripoli that began in April 2019." } }, "Geography": { @@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ }, "Constitution": { "history": { - "text": "previous 1951, 1977; in July 2017, the Constitutional Assembly completed and approved a draft of a new permanent constitution; in September 2018, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional referendum law in a session with contested reports of the quorum needed to pass the vote, and submitted it to the High National Elections Commission in December to begin preparations for a constitutional referendum" + "text": "previous 1951, 1977; in July 2017, the Constitutional Assembly completed and approved a draft of a new permanent constitution; in September 2018, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional referendum law in a session with contested reports of the quorum needed to pass the vote, and submitted it to the High National Elections Commission in December to begin preparations for a constitutional referendum" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ "text": "last held on 25 June 2014 ( parliamentary election to be held pending election-related legislation); note - the Libyan Supreme Court in November 2014 declared the HoR election unconstitutional, but the HoR and the international community rejected the ruling" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 158, women 30, percent of women 16%; note - only 188 of the 200 seats were filled in the June 2014 election because of boycotts and lack of security at some polling stations; some elected members of the HoR also boycotted the election" + "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 158, women 30, percent of women 16%; note - only 188 of the 200 seats were filled in the June 2014 election because of boycotts and lack of security at some polling stations; some elected members of the HoR also boycotted the election" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ "text": "24 per 100 fixed-line and 91 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik;  microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019)" + "text": "country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/ma.json b/africa/ma.json index e8baa71f..cb11890f 100644 --- a/africa/ma.json +++ b/africa/ma.json @@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ "text": "periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation ++ volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times" }, "Environment - current issues": { - "text": "erosion and soil degredation results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation (endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island)" + "text": "erosion and soil degredation results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation (endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island)" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { @@ -435,30 +435,30 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Andry RAJOELINA (since 21 January 2019) (2019)" + "text": "President Andry RAJOELINA (since 21 January 2019) (2019)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018 and re-appointed 19 July 2019)" + "text": "Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018 and re-appointed 19 July 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 November and 19 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 November and 19 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president" }, "election results": { - "text": "Andry RAJOELINA elected President in second round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3% (TIM)" + "text": "Andry RAJOELINA elected President in second round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3% (TIM)" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Antenimieran-Doholona (reestablished on 22 January 2016, following the December 2015 senatorial election) (63 seats; 42 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of municipal, communal, regional, and provincial leaders and 21 appointed by the president of the republic; members serve 5-year terms) ++ National Assembly or Antenimierampirenena (151 seats; 87 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 64 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)" + "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Antenimieran-Doholona (reestablished on 22 January 2016, following the December 2015 senatorial election) (63 seats; 42 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of municipal, communal, regional, and provincial leaders and 21 appointed by the president of the republic; members serve 5-year terms) ++ National Assembly or Antenimierampirenena (151 seats; 87 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 64 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held 29 December 2015 (next to be held in 2021) ++ National Assembly - last held on 27 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HVM 34, TIM 3, MAPAR 2, LEADER-Fanilo 1, independent 2, appointed by the president 21; composition - men 51, women 12, percent of women 19% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party -Independent Pro-HVM 18%, MAPAR 17%, MAPAR pro-HVM 16%, VPM-MMM 10%, VERTS 3%, LEADER FANILO 3%, HIARAKA ISIKA 3%, GPS/ARD 7%,  INDEPENDENT 9%, TAMBATRA 1%, TIM 13%;  composition - men 120, women 31, percent of women 20.5%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 20.1%" + "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HVM 34, TIM 3, MAPAR 2, LEADER-Fanilo 1, independent 2, appointed by the president 21; composition - men 51, women 12, percent of women 19% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party -Independent Pro-HVM 18%, MAPAR 17%, MAPAR pro-HVM 16%, VPM-MMM 10%, VERTS 3%, LEADER FANILO 3%, HIARAKA ISIKA 3%, GPS/ARD 7%, INDEPENDENT 9%, TAMBATRA 1%, TIM 13%; composition - men 120, women 31, percent of women 20.5%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 20.1%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Economic liberalism and democratic action for national recovery or LEADER FANILO [Jean Max RAKOTOMAMONJY] ++ FOMBA [Ny Rado RAFALIMANANA] ++ Gideons fighting against poverty in Madagascar (Gedeona Miady amin'ny Fahantrana eto Madagascar) or GFFM [Andre Christian Dieu Donne MAILHOL] ++ Green party or VERTS (Antoko Maintso) [Alexandre GEORGET] ++ I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA] ++ Malagasy aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA] ++ Malagasy raising together (Malagasy Miara-Miainga) or MMM [Hajo ANDRIANAINARIVELO] ++ New Force for Madagascar (Hery Vaovao ho an'ny Madagasikara) or HVM [Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimanana] ++ Total Refoundation of Madagascar (Refondation Totale de Madagascar) or RTM [Joseph Martin RANDRIAMAMPIONONA] ++ Vanguard for the renovation of Madagascar (Avant-Garde pour la renovation de Madagascar) or AREMA [Didier RATSIRAKA] ++ Young Malagasies Determined (Malagasy: Tanora malaGasy Vonona) or TGV [Andry RAJOELINA]and MAPAR [Andry RAJOELINA], and IRD (We are all with Andy Rajoelina) [Andry RAJOELINA]" + "text": "Economic liberalism and democratic action for national recovery or LEADER FANILO [Jean Max RAKOTOMAMONJY] ++ FOMBA [Ny Rado RAFALIMANANA] ++ Gideons fighting against poverty in Madagascar (Gedeona Miady amin'ny Fahantrana eto Madagascar) or GFFM [Andre Christian Dieu Donne MAILHOL] ++ Green party or VERTS (Antoko Maintso) [Alexandre GEORGET] ++ I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA] ++ Malagasy aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA] ++ Malagasy raising together (Malagasy Miara-Miainga) or MMM [Hajo ANDRIANAINARIVELO] ++ New Force for Madagascar (Hery Vaovao ho an'ny Madagasikara) or HVM [Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimanana] ++ Total Refoundation of Madagascar (Refondation Totale de Madagascar) or RTM [Joseph Martin RANDRIAMAMPIONONA] ++ Vanguard for the renovation of Madagascar (Avant-Garde pour la renovation de Madagascar) or AREMA [Didier RATSIRAKA] ++ Young Malagasies Determined (Malagasy: Tanora malaGasy Vonona) or TGV [Andry RAJOELINA]and MAPAR [Andry RAJOELINA], and IRD (We are all with Andy Rajoelina) [Andry RAJOELINA]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Michael PELLETIER (since 14 February 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Michael PELLETIER (since 14 February 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[261] 20 23 480 00" @@ -669,16 +669,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "20 million (2017)" + "text": "17 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "22.9% (2016)" + "text": "39% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "67.3% (2016)" + "text": "64% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "17.3% (2016)" + "text": "23% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -770,10 +770,10 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "system is above average for the region; competition among the four mobile service providers has spurred recent growth in the mobile market and helped the service to be less expensive for the consumer; 3G and LTE services available; Telecom service tax raised to 10% (2020)" + "text": "system is above average for the region; competition among the four mobile service providers has spurred recent growth in the mobile market and helped the service to be less expensive for the consumer; 3G and LTE services available; Telecom service tax raised to 10% (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 41 per 100 persons (2019)" + "text": "less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 41 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 261; landing points for the EASSy, METISS, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting to numerous Indian Ocean Islands, South Africa, and Eastern African countries; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2019)" diff --git a/africa/mi.json b/africa/mi.json index 3ad8d0fa..da14f342 100644 --- a/africa/mi.json +++ b/africa/mi.json @@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.7% ++        " + "text": "Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.7% ++" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Robert SCOTT (since 6 August 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Robert SCOTT (since 6 August 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "+(265) 1-773-166, 1-773-342 and 1-773-367 (Dial \"0\" before the \"1\" within Malawi); EMER: +(265) (0) 999-591-024 or +(265) (0) 888-734-826" @@ -679,16 +679,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "17 million (2017)" + "text": "16 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "11% (2016)" + "text": "13% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "42% (2016)" + "text": "55% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "4% (2016)" + "text": "5% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "rudimentary; 2 fixed-line and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market; some mobile services to rural areas; in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018; 50 licensed ISPs; DSL services are available; LTE services are available; mobile penetration low in comparison to the region average; potential for growth; national fiber backbone nearing completion; prospect of gaining access to international submarine fiber optic cables from neighboring countries (2020)" + "text": "rudimentary; 2 fixed-line and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market; some mobile services to rural areas; in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018; 50 licensed ISPs; DSL services are available; LTE services are available; mobile penetration low in comparison to the region average; potential for growth; national fiber backbone nearing completion; prospect of gaining access to international submarine fiber optic cables from neighboring countries (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership 48 per 100 households (2019)" @@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ "text": "the Malawi Defense Force inventory is comprised of mostly obsolescent or second-hand equipment from France, Germany, South Africa, and the UK; since 2010, it has taken deliveries of additional second-hand equipment from South Africa (2012-15) and the UK (2015), as well as new patrol boats from China (2019) and non-lethal equipment donated by the US (2019) (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "850 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (April 2020)" + "text": "730 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2014)" @@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "8,752 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,606 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019); 29,416 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" + "text": "29,416 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 10,838 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,696 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" } } } diff --git a/africa/ml.json b/africa/ml.json index 2f010084..4ba2ed84 100644 --- a/africa/ml.json +++ b/africa/ml.json @@ -679,16 +679,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "11 million (2017)" + "text": "10 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "35.1% (2016)" + "text": "50% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "83.6% (2016)" + "text": "78% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "1.8% (2016)" + "text": "28% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecoms infrastructure is barely adequate in most town and not available in many areas of the country; geography is a challenge for telecommunications; poverty, security, high illiteracy and low PC use has taken its toll; 4 mobile operators in market; mobile penetration high and potential for mobile broadband service; local plans for Internet Exchange Point; as Mali is landlocked there is hope that neighboring countries will allow use of international bandwidth; G5 Sahel countries adopt free roaming measures; Chinese company Huawei attempts to build a national backbone network but security issues make this difficult (2020)" + "text": "telecoms infrastructure is barely adequate in most town and not available in many areas of the country; geography is a challenge for telecommunications; poverty, security, high illiteracy and low PC use has taken its toll; 4 mobile operators in market; mobile penetration high and potential for mobile broadband service; local plans for Internet Exchange Point; as Mali is landlocked there is hope that neighboring countries will allow use of international bandwidth; G5 Sahel countries adopt free roaming measures; Chinese company Huawei attempts to build a national backbone network but security issues make this difficult (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscribership 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to over 115 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas (2019)" @@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ "text": "18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service (men and women); 2-year conscript service obligation (2014)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "prior to the August 2020 coup, the Malian military had intervened in the political arena at least five times since the country gained independence in 1960; two attempts failed (1976 and 1978), while three succeeded (1968, 1991, and 2012); the military collapsed in 2012 during the fighting against Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants ++ since 2017, the FAMa, along with other government security and paramilitary forces, has conducted multiple major operations against militants in the eastern, central, and northern parts of the country; up to 4,000 troops reportedly have been deployed; the stated objectives for the most recent operation (Operation Maliko in early 2020) was to end terrorist activity and restore government authority in seven of the country's 10 regions, including Mopti, Ségou, Gao, Kidal, Ménaka, Taoudénit, and Timbuktu Mali is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger; it has committed 1,100 troops and 200 gendarmes to the force; in early 2020, G5 Sahel military chiefs of staff agreed to allow defense forces from each of the states to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the G5 force is backed by the UN, US, and France; G5 troops periodically conduct joint operations with French forces deployed to the Sahel under Operation Barkhane  ++ the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has operated in the country since 2013; the Mission's responsibilities include providing security, rebuilding Malian security forces, supporting national political dialogue, and assisting in the reestablishment of Malian government authority; as of March 2020, MINUSMA had around 15,500 military, police, and civilian personnel deployed ++ the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM-M) also has operated in the country since 2013; the EUTM-M provides advice and training to the Malian Armed Forces and military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force; as of August 2020, the mission included more than 600 personnel from 28 European countries (2020)" + "text": "prior to the August 2020 coup, the Malian military had intervened in the political arena at least five times since the country gained independence in 1960; two attempts failed (1976 and 1978), while three succeeded (1968, 1991, and 2012); the military collapsed in 2012 during the fighting against Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants ++ since 2017, the FAMa, along with other government security and paramilitary forces, has conducted multiple major operations against militants in the eastern, central, and northern parts of the country; up to 4,000 troops reportedly have been deployed; the stated objectives for the most recent operation (Operation Maliko in early 2020) was to end terrorist activity and restore government authority in seven of the country's 10 regions, including Mopti, Ségou, Gao, Kidal, Ménaka, Taoudénit, and Timbuktu Mali is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger; it has committed 1,100 troops and 200 gendarmes to the force; in early 2020, G5 Sahel military chiefs of staff agreed to allow defense forces from each of the states to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the G5 force is backed by the UN, US, and France; G5 troops periodically conduct joint operations with French forces deployed to the Sahel under Operation Barkhane ++ the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has operated in the country since 2013; the Mission's responsibilities include providing security, rebuilding Malian security forces, supporting national political dialogue, and assisting in the reestablishment of Malian government authority; as of March 2020, MINUSMA had around 15,500 military, police, and civilian personnel deployed ++ the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM-M) also has operated in the country since 2013; the EUTM-M provides advice and training to the Malian Armed Forces and military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force; as of August 2020, the mission included more than 600 personnel from 28 European countries (2020)" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -920,10 +920,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "15,319 (Mauritania), 8,457 (Burkina Faso) (2019)" + "text": "16,938 (Niger), 15,316 (Mauritania), 12,890 (Burkina Faso) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { - "text": "250,998 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2020)" + "text": "287,496 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2020)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/africa/mo.json b/africa/mo.json index e8a9a417..1cbbc143 100644 --- a/africa/mo.json +++ b/africa/mo.json @@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ "Languages": { "text": "Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)", "note": { - "text": "note:  the proportion of Berber speakers is disputed" + "text": "note: the proportion of Berber speakers is disputed" } }, "Religions": { @@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "3.752 million Casablanca, 1.885 million RABAT (capital), 1.224 million Fes, 1.198 million Tangier, 1.003 million Marrakech, 924,000 Agadir (2020)" + "text": "3.752 million Casablanca, 1.885 million RABAT (capital), 1.224 million Fes, 1.198 million Tangier, 1.003 million Marrakech, 924,000 Agadir (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ "text": "Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts  (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council of the Rights of Man, and 5 \"notable persons\" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms" + "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council of the Rights of Man, and 5 \"notable persons\" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts" @@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ "text": "$109.3 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.1% (2017 est.) / 1.1% (2016 est.) / 4.6% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.5% (2019 est.) / 2.96% (2018 est.) / 3.98% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$8,600 (2017 est.) / $8,300 (2016 est.) / $8,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ "text": "2.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "12 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "10.399 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "10.2% (2017 est.) / 9.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "9.23% (2019 est.) / 9.65% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "15% (2007 est.)" @@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ "text": "0.8% (2017 est.) / 1.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$3.92 billion (2017 est.) / -$4.363 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$5.075 billion (2019 est.) / -$6.758 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$21.48 billion (2017 est.) / $22.66 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -771,13 +771,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; one of the most state-of-the-art markets in Africa; high mobile penetration rates in the region with low cost for broadband Internet access; improvement in LTE and VoD (Video on Demand) reach and capabilities; some market limitations with lack of competition; mobile internet accounts for 93.2% of all Internet connections (2020)" + "text": "national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; one of the most state-of-the-art markets in Africa; high mobile penetration rates in the region with low cost for broadband Internet access; improvement in LTE and VoD (Video on Demand) reach and capabilities; some market limitations with lack of competition; mobile internet accounts for 93.2% of all Internet connections (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 128 per 100 persons; good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat (2019)" + "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 128 per 100 persons; good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Canalink and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara (2019)" + "text": "country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Canalink and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ "text": "the Moroccan military's inventory is comprised of mostly older French and US equipment; since 2010, France and the US are the leading suppliers of weapons to Morocco, followed by China and the Netherlands (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,360 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (April 2020)" + "text": "750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 960 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "19 years of age for compulsory military service (reintroduced in 2019); both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2019)" diff --git a/africa/mp.json b/africa/mp.json index 252ece82..94bc9365 100644 --- a/africa/mp.json +++ b/africa/mp.json @@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ "text": "UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: named after Louis XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius and a major reprovisioning stop for French ships traveling between Europe and Asia" + "text": "etymology: named after Louis XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius and a major reprovisioning stop for French ships traveling between Europe and Asia" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -421,10 +421,10 @@ "text": "Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; election last held on 7 Nov 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly (2019)" + "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; election last held on 7 Nov 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly (2019)" }, "election results": { - "text": "seats by party as of 7/11/2019- (MSM) 38, (PTR) 14, (MMM) 8, (OPR) 2; note - GURIB-FAKIM, Mauritius'- first female president, resigned on 23 March 2018 (2018)" + "text": "seats by party as of 7/11/2019- (MSM) 38, (PTR) 14, (MMM) 8, (OPR) 2; note - GURIB-FAKIM, Mauritius'- first female president, resigned on 23 March 2018 (2018)" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -432,10 +432,10 @@ "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (70 seats maximum; 62 members directly elected multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 8 seats allocated to non-elected party candidates by the Office of Electoral Commissioner; members serve a 5-year term)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 7 November 2019 (next to be held by late 2024)" + "text": "last held on 7 November 2019 (next to be held by late 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - MSM 61%, Labour Party 23%, MMM 13%, OPR 3%; elected seats by party as of - the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) wins 38 seats, the Labour Party (PTR) or (MLP) 14,  Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) 8 and the Rodrigues People's Organization (OPR) 2; composition - men 49, women 13; percent of women 20% (2019)" + "text": "percent of vote by party - MSM 61%, Labour Party 23%, MMM 13%, OPR 3%; elected seats by party as of - the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) wins 38 seats, the Labour Party (PTR) or (MLP) 14, Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) 8 and the Rodrigues People's Organization (OPR) 2; composition - men 49, women 13; percent of women 20% (2019)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador David D. REIMER (since 10 January 2018); note - also accredited to Seychelles" + "text": "Ambassador David D. REIMER (since 10 January 2018); note - also accredited to Seychelles" }, "telephone": { "text": "[230] 202-4400" @@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified, upper middle-income economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. Mauritius has achieved steady growth over the last several decades, resulting in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. ++   ++ The economy currently depends on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, but is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, education, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area but sugar makes up only around 3-4% of national GDP. Authorities plan to emphasize services and innovation in the coming years. After several years of slow growth, government policies now seek to stimulate economic growth in five areas: serving as a gateway for international investment into Africa; increasing the use of renewable energy; developing smart cities; growing the ocean economy; and upgrading and modernizing infrastructure, including public transportation, the port, and the airport. ++   ++ Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. The Mauritius International Financial Center is under scrutiny by international bodies promoting fair tax competition and Mauritius has been cooperating with the European Union and the United states in the automatic exchange of account information. Mauritius is also a member of the OECD/G20's Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is under pressure to review its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements. The offshore sector is vulnerable to changes in the tax framework and authorities have been working on a Financial Services Sector Blueprint to enable Mauritius to transition to a jurisdiction of higher value added. Mauritius' textile sector has taken advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, a preferential trade program that allows duty free access to the US market, with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 35.6 % from 2000 to 2014. However, lack of local labor as well as rising labor costs eroding the competitiveness of textile firms in Mauritius. ++   ++ Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-17, and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe. Growth in the US and Europe fostered goods and services exports, including tourism, while lower oil prices kept inflation low. Mauritius continues to rank as one of the most business-friendly environments on the continent and passed a Business Facilitation Act to improve competitiveness and long-term growth prospects. A new National Economic Development Board was set up in 2017-2018 to spearhead efforts to promote exports and attract inward investment." + "text": "Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified, upper middle-income economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. Mauritius has achieved steady growth over the last several decades, resulting in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. ++ ++ The economy currently depends on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, but is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, education, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area but sugar makes up only around 3-4% of national GDP. Authorities plan to emphasize services and innovation in the coming years. After several years of slow growth, government policies now seek to stimulate economic growth in five areas: serving as a gateway for international investment into Africa; increasing the use of renewable energy; developing smart cities; growing the ocean economy; and upgrading and modernizing infrastructure, including public transportation, the port, and the airport. ++ ++ Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. The Mauritius International Financial Center is under scrutiny by international bodies promoting fair tax competition and Mauritius has been cooperating with the European Union and the United states in the automatic exchange of account information. Mauritius is also a member of the OECD/G20's Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is under pressure to review its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements. The offshore sector is vulnerable to changes in the tax framework and authorities have been working on a Financial Services Sector Blueprint to enable Mauritius to transition to a jurisdiction of higher value added. Mauritius' textile sector has taken advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, a preferential trade program that allows duty free access to the US market, with Mauritian exports to the US growing by 35.6 % from 2000 to 2014. However, lack of local labor as well as rising labor costs eroding the competitiveness of textile firms in Mauritius. ++ ++ Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped mitigate negative effects of the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew in the 3-4% per year range in 2010-17, and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe. Growth in the US and Europe fostered goods and services exports, including tourism, while lower oil prices kept inflation low. Mauritius continues to rank as one of the most business-friendly environments on the continent and passed a Business Facilitation Act to improve competitiveness and long-term growth prospects. A new National Economic Development Board was set up in 2017-2018 to spearhead efforts to promote exports and attract inward investment." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$28.27 billion (2017 est.) / $27.23 billion (2016 est.) / $26.23 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ "text": "3.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "633,900 (2017 est.)" + "text": "554,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "7.1% (2017 est.) / 7.3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.65% (2019 est.) / 6.84% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "8% (2006 est.)" @@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -749,13 +749,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "small system with good service; LTE and fiber broadband service are available; government supports building a national Wi-Fi network; partial privatization of biggest telecommunications company, open to competition; 3 mobile network operators; the country is a hub for submarine cables providing international connectivity; successfully pursuing a policy to make telecommunications a pillar of economic growth and to have a fully digital-based infrastructure (2020)" + "text": "small system with good service; LTE and fiber broadband service are available; government supports building a national Wi-Fi network; partial privatization of biggest telecommunications company, open to competition; 3 mobile network operators; the country is a hub for submarine cables providing international connectivity; successfully pursuing a policy to make telecommunications a pillar of economic growth and to have a fully digital-based infrastructure (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity 34 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular services teledensity approaching 151 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 230; landing points for the SAFE, MARS, IOX Cable System, METISS and LION submarine cable system that provides links to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean Islands of Reunion, Madagascar, and Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2019)" + "text": "country code - 230; landing points for the SAFE, MARS, IOX Cable System, METISS and LION submarine cable system that provides links to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean Islands of Reunion, Madagascar, and Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/mr.json b/africa/mr.json index 7d7d8324..af2046e1 100644 --- a/africa/mr.json +++ b/africa/mr.json @@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ "text": "Muslim (official) 100%" }, "Demographic profile": { - "text": "With a sustained total fertility rate of about 4 children per woman and almost 60% of the population under the age of 25, Mauritania's population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future. Mauritania's large youth cohort is vital to its development prospects, but available schooling does not adequately prepare students for the workplace. Girls continue to be underrepresented in the classroom, educational quality remains poor, and the dropout rate is high. The literacy rate is only about 50%, even though access to primary education has improved since the mid-2000s. Women's restricted access to education and discriminatory laws maintain gender inequality - worsened by early and forced marriages and female genital cutting. ++ The denial of education to black Moors also helps to perpetuate slavery. Although Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981 (the last country in the world to do so) and made it a criminal offense in 2007, the millenniums-old practice persists largely because anti-slavery laws are rarely enforced and the custom is so ingrained.  According to a 2018 nongovernmental organization's report, a little more than 2% of Mauritania's population is enslaved, which includes individuals sujbected to forced labor and forced marriage, although many thousands of individuals who are legally free contend with discrimination, poor education, and a lack of identity papers and, therefore, live in de facto slavery.  The UN and international press outlets have claimed that up to 20% of Mauritania's population is enslaved, which would be the highest rate worldwide. ++ Drought, poverty, and unemployment have driven outmigration from Mauritania since the 1970s. Early flows were directed toward other West African countries, including Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, and Gambia. The 1989 Mauritania-Senegal conflict forced thousands of black Mauritanians to take refuge in Senegal and pushed labor migrants toward the Gulf, Libya, and Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Mauritania has accepted migrants from neighboring countries to fill labor shortages since its independence in 1960 and more recently has received refugees escaping civil wars, including tens of thousands of Tuaregs who fled Mali in 2012. ++ Mauritania was an important transit point for Sub-Saharan migrants moving illegally to North Africa and Europe. In the mid-2000s, as border patrols increased in the Strait of Gibraltar, security increased around Spain's North African enclaves (Ceuta and Melilla), and Moroccan border controls intensified, illegal migration flows shifted from the Western Mediterranean to Spain's Canary Islands. In 2006, departure points moved southward along the West African coast from Morocco and Western Sahara to Mauritania's two key ports (Nouadhibou and the capital Nouakchott), and illegal migration to the Canaries peaked at almost 32,000. The numbers fell dramatically in the following years because of joint patrolling off the West African coast by Frontex (the EU's border protection agency), Spain, Mauritania, and Senegal; the expansion of Spain's border surveillance system; and the 2008 European economic downturn." + "text": "With a sustained total fertility rate of about 4 children per woman and almost 60% of the population under the age of 25, Mauritania's population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future. Mauritania's large youth cohort is vital to its development prospects, but available schooling does not adequately prepare students for the workplace. Girls continue to be underrepresented in the classroom, educational quality remains poor, and the dropout rate is high. The literacy rate is only about 50%, even though access to primary education has improved since the mid-2000s. Women's restricted access to education and discriminatory laws maintain gender inequality - worsened by early and forced marriages and female genital cutting. ++ The denial of education to black Moors also helps to perpetuate slavery. Although Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981 (the last country in the world to do so) and made it a criminal offense in 2007, the millenniums-old practice persists largely because anti-slavery laws are rarely enforced and the custom is so ingrained. According to a 2018 nongovernmental organization's report, a little more than 2% of Mauritania's population is enslaved, which includes individuals sujbected to forced labor and forced marriage, although many thousands of individuals who are legally free contend with discrimination, poor education, and a lack of identity papers and, therefore, live in de facto slavery. The UN and international press outlets have claimed that up to 20% of Mauritania's population is enslaved, which would be the highest rate worldwide. ++ Drought, poverty, and unemployment have driven outmigration from Mauritania since the 1970s. Early flows were directed toward other West African countries, including Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, and Gambia. The 1989 Mauritania-Senegal conflict forced thousands of black Mauritanians to take refuge in Senegal and pushed labor migrants toward the Gulf, Libya, and Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Mauritania has accepted migrants from neighboring countries to fill labor shortages since its independence in 1960 and more recently has received refugees escaping civil wars, including tens of thousands of Tuaregs who fled Mali in 2012. ++ Mauritania was an important transit point for Sub-Saharan migrants moving illegally to North Africa and Europe. In the mid-2000s, as border patrols increased in the Strait of Gibraltar, security increased around Spain's North African enclaves (Ceuta and Melilla), and Moroccan border controls intensified, illegal migration flows shifted from the Western Mediterranean to Spain's Canary Islands. In 2006, departure points moved southward along the West African coast from Morocco and Western Sahara to Mauritania's two key ports (Nouadhibou and the capital Nouakchott), and illegal migration to the Canaries peaked at almost 32,000. The numbers fell dramatically in the following years because of joint patrolling off the West African coast by Frontex (the EU's border protection agency), Spain, Mauritania, and Senegal; the expansion of Spain's border surveillance system; and the 2008 European economic downturn." }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { @@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ "text": "previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991" }, "amendments": { - "text": "proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament; amended many times, last in 2017 (by referendum)" + "text": "proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament; amended many times, last in 2017 (by referendum)" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ "text": "[222] 4525-2660 or [222] 2660-2663" }, "embassy": { - "text": "Avenue Al Quds, Nouadhibou, Nouadhibou Road, Nouakchott ++  " + "text": "Avenue Al Quds, Nouadhibou, Nouadhibou Road, Nouakchott ++" }, "mailing address": { "text": "use embassy street address" @@ -679,16 +679,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "3 million (2017)" + "text": "3 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "41.7% (2016)" + "text": "32% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "81% (2016)" + "text": "56% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "2.3% (2016)" + "text": "4% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,13 +780,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding; 3 mobile network operators; monopolies and little stimulus for competition; 3G penetration high yet little development in LTE and consequently mobile broadband access speeds are low; World Bank and European Investment Bank support attempts to improve telecom and improve regulatory measures; regulator struggles to enforce good quality of service; efforts to improve backbone of network (2020)" + "text": "limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding; 3 mobile network operators; monopolies and little stimulus for competition; 3G penetration high yet little development in LTE and consequently mobile broadband access speeds are low; World Bank and European Investment Bank support attempts to improve telecom and improve regulatory measures; regulator struggles to enforce good quality of service; efforts to improve backbone of network (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of roughly 104 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 222; landing point for the ACE submarine cable for connectivity to 19 West African countries and 2 European countries; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 222; landing point for the ACE submarine cable for connectivity to 19 West African countries and 2 European countries; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "26,001 (Western Saharan Sahrawis) (2018); 60,455 (Mali) (2020)" + "text": "26,001 (Western Saharan Sahrawis) (2019); 60,455 (Mali) (2020)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/africa/mz.json b/africa/mz.json index b21e0fc4..0e7bade1 100644 --- a/africa/mz.json +++ b/africa/mz.json @@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) .2% (2017 est.)" + "text": "African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) .2% (2017 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.)" @@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015, re-elected 15 Oct 2019) ++   (2019)" + "text": "President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015, re-elected 15 Oct 2019) ++ (2019)" }, "head of government": { "text": "President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015); Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (since 17 January 2015; reconfirmed DO ROSARIO 17 January 2020) (2020)" @@ -449,12 +449,12 @@ "text": "president elected directly by absolute majority popular vote (in 2 rounds, if needed) for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024); prime minister appointed by the president (2019)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Filipe NYUSI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 73.0%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 21.9%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 5.1% (2019)" + "text": "Filipe NYUSI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 73.0%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 21.9%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 5.1% (2019)" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; 248 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 2 single members representing Mozambicans abroad directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) (2019)" + "text": "unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; 248 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 2 single members representing Mozambicans abroad directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) (2019)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024) (2019)" @@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO] ++ Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Filipe NYUSI] ++ Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Ossufo MOMADE] ++ Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique or Podemos [Helder Mendonca]" + "text": "Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO] ++ Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Filipe NYUSI] ++ Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Ossufo MOMADE] ++ Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique or Podemos [Helder Mendonca]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Dennis W. HEARNE (since 22 February 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Dennis W. HEARNE (since 22 February 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[258] (21) 49 2797" @@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ "text": "$12.59 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.7% (2017 est.) / 3.8% (2016 est.) / 6.6% (2015 est.)" + "text": "3.11% (2018 est.) / 3.7% (2017 est.) / 4.07% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$1,300 (2017 est.) / $1,200 (2016 est.) / $1,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ "text": "15.3% (2017 est.) / 19.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.824 billion (2017 est.) / -$4.28 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$3.025 billion (2019 est.) / -$4.499 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$4.725 billion (2017 est.) / $3.328 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -682,16 +682,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "21 million (2017)" + "text": "20 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "24.2% (2016)" + "text": "35% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "64.2% (2016)" + "text": "57% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "5% (2016)" + "text": "22% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -783,13 +783,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "the mobile segment has shown strong growth; poor fixed-line infrastructure means most Internet access is through mobile accounts; DSL, cable broadband, WiMAX (broadband over long distances), 3G and some fiber broadband available; first LTE services launched in 2018; govt. implemented legislation to enforce the registration of SIM cards; submarine cables reduced the cost of bandwidth (2020)" + "text": "the mobile segment has shown strong growth; poor fixed-line infrastructure means most Internet access is through mobile accounts; DSL, cable broadband, WiMAX (broadband over long distances), 3G and some fiber broadband available; first LTE services launched in 2018; govt. implemented legislation to enforce the registration of SIM cards; submarine cables reduced the cost of bandwidth (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "extremely low fixed-line teledensity contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; operators provide coverage that includes all the main cities and key roads; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and 48 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); TdM contracts for Itelsat for satellite broadband and bulk haul services (2020)" + "text": "country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); TdM contracts for Itelsat for satellite broadband and bulk haul services (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ "text": "registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2019)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Mozambique Defense and Security Forces are facing a growing insurgency involving terrorist/militant groups with ties to the Islamic State in Central Africa in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; attacks in the province began around 2017 and as of October 2020, the fighting had left an estimated 2,000 dead and over 200-400,000 displaced; Mozambique has brought in private military companies based in Russia and South Africa to provide assistance to its security forces (2020)" + "text": "the Mozambique Defense and Security Forces are facing a growing insurgency involving terrorist/militant groups with ties to the Islamic State in Central Africa in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; attacks in the province began around 2017 and as of November 2020, the fighting had left an estimated 2,000 dead and over 200-400,000 displaced; Mozambique has brought in private military companies based in Russia and South Africa to provide assistance to its security forces (2020)" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -952,10 +952,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "7,841 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019); 9,953 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" + "text": "9,953 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,658 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { - "text": "309,000 (violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018, political violence 2019) (2020)" + "text": "369,220 (violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018, political violence 2019) (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/ng.json b/africa/ng.json index 48987938..06c893b1 100644 --- a/africa/ng.json +++ b/africa/ng.json @@ -682,16 +682,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "19 million (2017)" + "text": "20 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "16.2% (2016)" + "text": "14% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "65.4% (2016)" + "text": "71% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "4.7% (2016)" + "text": "2% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "mobile services stronger than fixed telecoms; broadband penetration inconsequential; adopts free mobile roaming with other G5 Sahel countries; govt. contributes to Trans-Sahara Backbone network; LTE license awarded; govt. tax of telecom sector (2020)" + "text": "mobile services stronger than fixed telecoms; broadband penetration inconsequential; adopts free mobile roaming with other G5 Sahel countries; govt. contributes to Trans-Sahara Backbone network; LTE license awarded; govt. tax of telecom sector (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity remains 41 per 100 persons despite a rapidly increasing cellular subscribership base; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern Niger; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned (2019)" @@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ "text": "the FAN's inventory consists of a wide variety of foreign-supplied weapons, including Chinese, French, German, Russian, and US; since 2015, the FAN has received limited amounts of equipment from China, France, Russia, Sweden, and the US, some of which were donations (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "870 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" + "text": "860 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2017)" @@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ "text": "168,081 (Nigeria), 58,702 (Mali) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { - "text": "265,522 (includes the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, and Tahoua; unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2020)" + "text": "257,095 (includes the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, and Tahoua; unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2020)" } } } diff --git a/africa/ni.json b/africa/ni.json index 429d1ff1..f7bd6240 100644 --- a/africa/ni.json +++ b/africa/ni.json @@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "14.368 million Lagos, 3.999 million Kano, 3.552 million Ibadan, 3.278 million ABUJA (capital), 3.020 million Port Harcourt, 1.727 million Benin City (2020)" + "text": "14.368 million Lagos, 3.999 million Kano, 3.552 million Ibadan, 3.278 million ABUJA (capital), 3.020 million Port Harcourt, 1.727 million Benin City (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ "text": "Lassa fever" }, "note": { - "text": "note: on 7 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak is now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; the CDC recommends travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak ++ note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 10 November 2020, Nigeria has reported a total of 63,790 cases of COVID-19 or 309 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 6 cumulative deaths per 1 million population; as of 19 March 2020, the Government of Nigeria has restricted entry into Nigeria for travelers from the following high incidence countries: China, Italy, Iran, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, US, UK, Netherlands, and Switzerland" + "text": "note: on 7 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak is now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; the CDC recommends travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak ++ note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 10 November 2020, Nigeria has reported a total of 63,790 cases of COVID-19 or 309 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 6 cumulative deaths per 1 million population; as of 19 March 2020, the Government of Nigeria has restricted entry into Nigeria for travelers from the following high incidence countries: China, Italy, Iran, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, US, UK, Netherlands, and Switzerland" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Mary Beth LEONARD (since 24 December 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Mary Beth LEONARD (since 24 December 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[234] (9) 461-4000" @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "77 million (2017)" + "text": "77 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "59.3% (2016)" + "text": "62% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "86% (2016)" + "text": "91% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "41.1% (2016)" + "text": "30% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -789,13 +789,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the larger telecom markets in Africa; most Internet connections are via mobile networks; foreign investment presence, particularly China; market competition; LTE-A technologies available but GSM technology dominate; mobile penetration rate of 123% and 173 million subscribers; unified licensing regime; government committed to expanding broadband penetration; in Q1 2018, the Nigerian Communications Commission approved seven licenses to telecom companies to deploy fiber optic cable in the six geopolitical zones and Lagos; operators invest in base stations to take care of network congestion (2020)" + "text": "one of the larger telecom markets in Africa; most Internet connections are via mobile networks; foreign investment presence, particularly China; market competition; LTE-A technologies available but GSM technology dominate; mobile penetration rate of 123% and 173 million subscribers; unified licensing regime; government committed to expanding broadband penetration; in Q1 2018, the Nigerian Communications Commission approved seven licenses to telecom companies to deploy fiber optic cable in the six geopolitical zones and Lagos; operators invest in base stations to take care of network congestion (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership base over 88 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, NCSCS,  MainOne, Glo-1 & 2, ACE, and Equiano fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, NCSCS, MainOne, Glo-1 & 2, ACE, and Equiano fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -950,10 +950,10 @@ "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)" }, "Maritime threats": { - "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2018, 48 commercial vessels were boarded or attacked compared with 33 attacks in 2017; in 2018, 29 ships were boarded eight of which were underway, 12 were fired upon, and 78 crew members were abducted; Nigerian pirates have extended the range of their attacks to as far away as Cote d'Ivoire and as far as 170 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-010-Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 19 July 2019, which states in part \"Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom (KFR) continue to serve as significant threats to U.S. flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). ...According to the Office of Naval Intelligence's “Weekly Piracy Reports” 72 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea occurred in the GoG region this year as of July 9, 2019. Attacks, kidnappings for ransom (KFR), and boardings to steal valuables from the ships and crews are the most common types of incidents with approximately 75 percent of all incidents taking place off Nigeria. During the first six months of 2019, there were 15 kidnapping and 3 hijackings in the GoG.\"" + "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2018, 48 commercial vessels were boarded or attacked compared with 33 attacks in 2017; in 2018, 29 ships were boarded eight of which were underway, 12 were fired upon, and 78 crew members were abducted; Nigerian pirates have extended the range of their attacks to as far away as Cote d'Ivoire and as far as 170 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-010-Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 19 July 2019, which states in part \"Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom (KFR) continue to serve as significant threats to U.S. flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). ...According to the Office of Naval Intelligence's \"Weekly Piracy Reports\" 72 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea occurred in the GoG region this year as of July 9, 2019. Attacks, kidnappings for ransom (KFR), and boardings to steal valuables from the ships and crews are the most common types of incidents with approximately 75 percent of all incidents taking place off Nigeria. During the first six months of 2019, there were 15 kidnapping and 3 hijackings in the GoG.\"" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Nigerian Armed Forces are used primarily for internal security operations; in the northeast, the military is conducting counterinsurgency/counter-terrorist operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups, while in the northwest, it faces threats from criminal gangs, bandits, and militants associated with ongoing herder-farmer violence, as well as BH and ISWA terrorists; the military also focuses on the Niger Delta region to protect the oil industry against militants and criminal activity, although the levels of violence there have decreased in recent years (2020)" + "text": "the Nigerian Armed Forces are used primarily for internal security operations; in the northeast, the military is conducting counterinsurgency/counter-terrorist operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups, where up to 70,000 troops have been deployed at times; in the northwest, it faces threats from criminal gangs, bandits, and militants associated with ongoing herder-farmer violence, as well as BH and ISWA terrorists; the military also focuses on the Niger Delta region to protect the oil industry against militants and criminal activity, although the levels of violence there have decreased in recent years (2020)" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -970,10 +970,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "44,524 (Cameroon) (2019)" + "text": "61,774 (Cameroon) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { - "text": "3,214,506 (northeast Nigeria; Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2020)" + "text": "3,214,506 (northeast Nigeria; Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/od.json b/africa/od.json index 2989ef9b..271030ce 100644 --- a/africa/od.json +++ b/africa/od.json @@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ } }, "Administrative divisions": { - "text": "10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria; note - in 2015, the creation of 28 new states was announced and in 2017 four additional; following the February 2020 peace agreement, the country was reportedly again reorganized into the 10 original states, plus 2 administrative areas, Pibor and Ruweng, and 1 special administrative status area, Abyei; this latest administrative revision has not yet been vetted by the US Board on Geographic Names" + "text": "10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria; note - in 2015, the creation of 28 new states was announced and in 2017 four additional; following the February 2020 peace agreement, the country was reportedly again reorganized into the 10 original states, plus 2 administrative areas, Pibor and Ruweng, and 1 special administrative status area, Abyei; this latest administrative revision has not yet been vetted by the US Board on Geographic Names" }, "Independence": { "text": "9 July 2011 (from Sudan)" @@ -561,16 +561,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "12 million (2017)" + "text": "11 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "8.9% (2016)" + "text": "1% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "22% (2016)" + "text": "4% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "5.9% (2016)" + "text": "1% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the least developed telecommunications and Internet systems in the world; the international community has provided billions in aid to help the young country, unfortunate instability, widespread poverty and low literacy rate all contribute to a struggle for their telecom sector; the few carriers in the market have reduced the areas in which they offer service, not expanded them; recently the government shut down the largest cellphone carrier isolating 1.4 million customers over a disputed service fee arrangement (2020)" + "text": "one of the least developed telecommunications and Internet systems in the world; the international community has provided billions in aid to help the young country, unfortunate instability, widespread poverty and low literacy rate all contribute to a struggle for their telecom sector; the few carriers in the market have reduced the areas in which they offer service, not expanded them; recently the government shut down the largest cellphone carrier isolating 1.4 million customers over a disputed service fee arrangement (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line less than 1 per 100 subscriptions, mobile-cellular 33 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/africa/pu.json b/africa/pu.json index 2cdeb54c..cd4a662f 100644 --- a/africa/pu.json +++ b/africa/pu.json @@ -625,16 +625,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "2 million (2017)" + "text": "1 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "14.7% (2016)" + "text": "28% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "29.8% (2016)" + "text": "56% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "4% (2016)" + "text": "7% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications; 2 mobile network operators; one of the poorest countries in the world and this is reflected in the countries telecommunications development; radio is the most important source of information for the public (2020)" + "text": "small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications; 2 mobile network operators; one of the poorest countries in the world and this is reflected in the countries telecommunications development; radio is the most important source of information for the public (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is roughly 83 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/africa/rw.json b/africa/rw.json index 93fb0f29..dda1e1b1 100644 --- a/africa/rw.json +++ b/africa/rw.json @@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Senat (26 seats; 12 members indirectly elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum - a body of registered political parties, and 2 selected by institutions of higher learning; members serve 8-year terms) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (80 seats; 53 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women selected by special interest groups, and 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Senate - last held on 16-18 September 2019 (next to be held in 2027) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 September 2018 (next to be held in September 2023)" + "text": "Senate - last held on 16-18 September 2019 (next to be held in 2027) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 September 2018 (next to be held in September 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 16, women 10, percent of women 38.5% ++ Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition 40, PSD 5, PL 4, other 4 indirectly elected 27; composition - men 26, women 54, percent of women 67.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 60.4%" @@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ "text": "High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts ++" }, "note": { - "text": " " + "text": "" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { @@ -673,16 +673,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "7 million (2017)" + "text": "6 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "43% (2017)" + "text": "53% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "69% (2017)" + "text": "76% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "37% (2017)" + "text": "48% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -774,13 +774,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "govt. invests in smart city infrastructure; expanding wholesale LTE services; govt. launches SIM card registration; growing economy and foreign aid help launch telecom sector, despite widespread poverty; slow to liberalize mobile sector; competing operators roll out national fiber optic backbone that connects to submarine cables of neighboring countries ending expensive dependence on satellite (2020)" + "text": "govt. invests in smart city infrastructure; expanding wholesale LTE services; govt. launches SIM card registration; growing economy and foreign aid help launch telecom sector, despite widespread poverty; slow to liberalize mobile sector; competing operators roll out national fiber optic backbone that connects to submarine cables of neighboring countries ending expensive dependence on satellite (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "the capital, Kigali, is connected to provincial centers by microwave radio relay, and recently by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone density has increased to 76 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service); international submarine fiber-optic cables on the African east coast has brought international bandwidth and lessened the dependency on satellites" + "text": "country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service); international submarine fiber-optic cables on the African east coast has brought international bandwidth and lessened the dependency on satellites" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ "text": "the RDF's inventory includes mostly Soviet-era and older Western - mostly French and South African - equipment; Russia is the largest supplier of equipment to the RDF since 2010 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,380 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,120 Sudan (UNAMID); 2,720 South Sudan (UNMISS) (March 2020)" + "text": "1,370 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,090 Sudan (UNAMID); 2,750 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Rwandan citizenship is required, as is a 9th-grade education for enlisted recruits and an A-level certificate for officer candidates; enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career; retirement (for officers and senior NCOs) after 20 years of service or at 40-60 years of age (2013)" diff --git a/africa/se.json b/africa/se.json index c6a77fe0..8585dc84 100644 --- a/africa/se.json +++ b/africa/se.json @@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020 -25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (next to be held October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and will be held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs" + "text": "last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (next to be held October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and will be held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3% , other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US10; composition - men 25, women 10, percent of women 29%" @@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Lafors Seselwa Demokratik  or LSD [Martin AGLAE] ++ One Seychelles [Alain St. ANGE] ++ Seselwa (Seychelles) United Party or SUP [Robert ERNESTA] (formerly the New Democratic Party or NDP) ++ Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO) ++ Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSD [Alexia AMESBURY] ++ Seychelles Patriotic Movement or SPM [Vincent LARUER] ++ Seychelloise Alliance (Lalyans Seselwa) [Patrick PILLAY] ++ Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (includes SNP, SPSD, and SUP) ++ United Seychelles or US [Vincent MERITON] (formerly People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL; (formerly SPPF)" + "text": "Lafors Seselwa Demokratik or LSD [Martin AGLAE] ++ One Seychelles [Alain St. ANGE] ++ Seselwa (Seychelles) United Party or SUP [Robert ERNESTA] (formerly the New Democratic Party or NDP) ++ Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO) ++ Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSD [Alexia AMESBURY] ++ Seychelles Patriotic Movement or SPM [Vincent LARUER] ++ Seychelloise Alliance (Lalyans Seselwa) [Patrick PILLAY] ++ Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (includes SNP, SPSD, and SUP) ++ United Seychelles or US [Vincent MERITON] (formerly People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL; (formerly SPPF)" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" @@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ "text": "2.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "47,210 (2017 est.)" + "text": "51,000 (2018 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 21 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 198 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/sf.json b/africa/sf.json index 9e9a4a91..3528d246 100644 --- a/africa/sf.json +++ b/africa/sf.json @@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "9.677 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.618 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.158 million Durban, 2.566 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.254 million Port Elizabeth, 898,000 West Rand (2020)" + "text": "9.677 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.618 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.158 million Durban, 2.566 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.254 million Port Elizabeth, 898,000 West Rand (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ "text": "schistosomiasis" }, "note": { - "text": "note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout South Africa; as of 10 November 2020, South Africa has reported a total of 735,906 cases of COVID-19 or 12,408 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 312 cumulative deaths per 1 million population; on 24 May 2020, the Government of South Africa announced the lockdown alert level for South Africa will be lowered to level 3 with effect on 1 June 2020, except for some areas designated as “coronavirus hotspots”; per the lockdown, all airports in South Africa are closed to commercial traffic" + "text": "note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout South Africa; as of 10 November 2020, South Africa has reported a total of 735,906 cases of COVID-19 or 12,408 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 312 cumulative deaths per 1 million population; on 24 May 2020, the Government of South Africa announced the lockdown alert level for South Africa will be lowered to level 3 with effect on 1 June 2020, except for some areas designated as \"coronavirus hotspots\"; per the lockdown, all airports in South Africa are closed to commercial traffic" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ "text": "$349.3 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.3% (2017 est.) / 0.6% (2016 est.) / 1.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.06% (2019 est.) / 0.7% (2018 est.) / 1.4% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$13,600 (2017 est.) / $13,600 (2016 est.) / $13,800 (2015 est.)", @@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ "text": "1.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "22.19 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "14.687 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "27.5% (2017 est.) / 26.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "28.53% (2019 est.) / 27.09% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "16.6% (2016 est.)" @@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ "text": "5.3% (2017 est.) / 6.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$8.584 billion (2017 est.) / -$8.237 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$10.626 billion (2019 est.) / -$13.31 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$94.93 billion (2017 est.) / $75.16 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -691,16 +691,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "9 million (2017)" + "text": "3 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "84.2% (2016)" + "text": "94% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "92.9% (2016)" + "text": "95% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "67.9% (2016)" + "text": "92% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 166 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 27; landing points for the WACS, ACE, SAFE, SAT-3, Equiano, SABR, SAEx1, SAEx2, IOX Cable System, METISS, EASSy, and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, Asia, South America, Indian Ocean Islands, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 27; landing points for the WACS, ACE, SAFE, SAT-3, Equiano, SABR, SAEx1, SAEx2, IOX Cable System, METISS, EASSy, and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, Asia, South America, Indian Ocean Islands, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ "text": "the SANDF's inventory consists of a mix of domestically-produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were jointly-produced with foreign companies), while the Air Force and Navy inventories include a mix of European, Israeli, and US-origin weapons systems; since 2010, Sweden was the largest supplier of weapons to the SANDF (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,130 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (March 2020)" + "text": "1,050 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2019)" @@ -959,7 +959,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "27,113 (Somalia), 17,726 (Ethiopia), 5,273 (Republic of the Congo) (2018); 59,675 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" + "text": "27,113 (Somalia), 17,726 (Ethiopia), 5,273 (Republic of the Congo) (2019); 59,675 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/sg.json b/africa/sg.json index ee778b33..650015f9 100644 --- a/africa/sg.json +++ b/africa/sg.json @@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { - "text": "21.9 years (2017 est.)", + "text": "21.9 years (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: median age at first birth among women 25-29" } @@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ "text": "previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001" }, "amendments": { - "text": "proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable; amended several times, last in 2019" + "text": "proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable; amended several times, last in 2019" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Mansour KANE (since 6 January 2020)" + "text": "Ambassador Mansour KANE (since 6 January 2020)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2215 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007" @@ -691,16 +691,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "6 million (2017)" + "text": "5 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "65% (2017)" + "text": "71% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "90% (2017)" + "text": "94% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "43% (2017)" + "text": "50% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -792,13 +792,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "mobile penetration reached 108% in March 2019; mobile broadband accounts for close to 100% (97.2%) Internet accesses; 3G and LTE services for 50% of population; growth in the intel market along with economic growth for the country; regulator awards more MVNO licenses, deactivated some 5 million unregistered SIM cards (2020)" + "text": "mobile penetration reached 108% in March 2019; mobile broadband accounts for close to 100% (97.2%) Internet accesses; 3G and LTE services for 50% of population; growth in the intel market along with economic growth for the country; regulator awards more MVNO licenses, deactivated some 5 million unregistered SIM cards (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "generally reliable urban system with a fiber-optic network; about two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar; mobile-cellular service is steadily displacing fixed-line service, even in urban areas; fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 110 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 221; landing points for the ACE, Atlantis-2, MainOne and SAT-3/WASC submarine cables providing connectivity from South Africa, numerous western African countries, Europe and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 221; landing points for the ACE, Atlantis-2, MainOne and SAT-3/WASC submarine cables providing connectivity from South Africa, numerous western African countries, Europe and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ "text": "the SAF inventory includes mostly older or second-hand equipment from a variety of countries, including France, South Africa, and Russia/former Soviet Union; in recent years, the SAF has attempted to modernize, particularly its air force; China and France are the leading suppliers of newer military hardware to the SAF since 2010 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,050 Mali (MINUSMA) (March 2020)" + "text": "1,000 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; 20 years of age for selective conscript service; 2-year service obligation; women have been accepted into military service since 2008 (2016)" @@ -941,7 +941,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "14,155 (Mauritania) (2019)" + "text": "14,114 (Mauritania) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "8,400 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region in the 1990s and early 2000s) (2019)" diff --git a/africa/sh.json b/africa/sh.json index e08ac135..5b2299a4 100644 --- a/africa/sh.json +++ b/africa/sh.json @@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ "Population": { "text": "7,862 (July 2020 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note: Saint Helena's Statistical Office estimated the de facto population to be 4,577 in 2019; only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited, none of the other nearby islands/islets are" + "text": "note: Saint Helena's Statistical Office estimated the de facto population to be 4,577 in 2019; only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited, none of the other nearby islands/islets are" } }, "Nationality": { @@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Governor Philip RUSHBROOK (since 11 May 2019)" + "text": "Governor Philip RUSHBROOK (since 11 May 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council" @@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "capability to communicate worldwide; ADSL- broadband service; LTE coverage of 95% of population, includes voice calls, text messages, mobile data as well as inbound and outbound roaming; Wi-Fi hotspots in Jamestown, 1 ISP, many services are not offered locally but made available for visitors; some sun outages due to the reliance of international telephone and Internet communication relying on single satellite link (2020)" + "text": "capability to communicate worldwide; ADSL- broadband service; LTE coverage of 95% of population, includes voice calls, text messages, mobile data as well as inbound and outbound roaming; Wi-Fi hotspots in Jamestown, 1 ISP, many services are not offered locally but made available for visitors; some sun outages due to the reliance of international telephone and Internet communication relying on single satellite link (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "automatic digital network; fixed-line 50 per 100 and mobile-cellular 67 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/africa/sl.json b/africa/sl.json index 4ad815bc..50e4ee1f 100644 --- a/africa/sl.json +++ b/africa/sl.json @@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { - "text": "malaria and dengue fever" + "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact disease": { "text": "schistosomiasis" @@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ "text": "Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 4 April 2018 (next to be in 2023)" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 4 April 2018 (next to be in 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2%" @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ "text": "15.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.972 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "132,000 (2013 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -668,16 +668,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "6 million (2017)" + "text": "6 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "20% (2017)" + "text": "26% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "19% (2017)" + "text": "52% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "20% (2017)" + "text": "6% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "1 government-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; a pay-TV service began operations in late 2007; 1 government-owned national radio station; about two-dozen private radio stations primarily clustered in major cities; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available  (2019)" + "text": "1 government-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; a pay-TV service began operations in late 2007; 1 government-owned national radio station; about two-dozen private radio stations primarily clustered in major cities; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".sl" diff --git a/africa/so.json b/africa/so.json index dfb4c986..6f131e65 100644 --- a/africa/so.json +++ b/africa/so.json @@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ "text": "Ambassador Donald YAMAMOTO (since 17 Nov 2018)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "254 20 363-6000" + "text": "[254] 20 363-6000" }, "embassy": { "text": "Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)" @@ -627,16 +627,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "12 million (2017)" + "text": "13 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "17% (2017)" + "text": "18% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "35% (2017)" + "text": "34% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "4% (2017)" + "text": "4% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ "text": "seven networks compete for customers in the mobile sector; some of these mobile-service providers offer fixed-lines and Internet services; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 49 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 252; landing points for the G2A, DARE1, PEACE, and EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe (2019)" + "text": "country code - 252; landing points for the G2A, DARE1, PEACE, and EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ "text": "the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as a region of significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; during 2018, two vessels were attacked compared with five in 2017; Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO naval task force established in 2009 to combat Somali piracy, concluded its operations in December 2016 as a result of the drop in reported incidents over the last few years; additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced piracy incidents in that body of water; Somali pirates tend to be heavily armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades; the use of \"mother ships\" from which skiffs can be launched to attack vessels allows these pirates to extend the range of their operations hundreds of nautical miles offshore" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "Somali military forces are heavily engaged in operations against the al-Shabaab terrorist organization, including joint operations with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); AMISOM has operated in the country with the approval of the United Nations (UN) since 2007; AMISOM's peacekeeping mission includes assisting Somali forces in providing security for a stable political process, enabling the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces, and reducing the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups; as of early 2020, AMISOM had about 19,000 military troops and about 1,000 police personnel from six African countries deployed in Somalia  ++ UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is mandated by the Security Council to work with the Federal Government of Somalia to support national reconciliation, provide advice on peace-building and state-building, monitor the human rights situation, and help coordinate the efforts of the international community ++ the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) is responsible for providing logistical field support to AMISOM, UNSOM, the Somali National Army, and the Somali Police Force on joint operations with AMISOM ++ the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S) has operated in the country since 2010; the EUTM provides advice and training to the Somali military ++ the US and Turkey maintain separate unilateral military training missions in Somalia (2020)" + "text": "Somali military forces are heavily engaged in operations against the al-Shabaab terrorist organization, including joint operations with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); AMISOM has operated in the country with the approval of the United Nations (UN) since 2007; AMISOM's peacekeeping mission includes assisting Somali forces in providing security for a stable political process, enabling the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces, and reducing the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups; as of early 2020, AMISOM had about 19,000 military troops and about 1,000 police personnel from six African countries deployed in Somalia ++ UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is mandated by the Security Council to work with the Federal Government of Somalia to support national reconciliation, provide advice on peace-building and state-building, monitor the human rights situation, and help coordinate the efforts of the international community ++ the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) is responsible for providing logistical field support to AMISOM, UNSOM, the Somali National Army, and the Somali Police Force on joint operations with AMISOM ++ the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S) has operated in the country since 2010; the EUTM provides advice and training to the Somali military ++ the US and Turkey maintain separate unilateral military training missions in Somalia (2020)" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "21,295 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 13,153 (Yemen) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019)" + "text": "13,235 (Yemen) (2019)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "2.65 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources; 2011 famine; insecurity because of fighting between al-Shabaab and the Transitional Federal Government's allied forces) (2019)" diff --git a/africa/su.json b/africa/su.json index a90330e9..1e04a5c5 100644 --- a/africa/su.json +++ b/africa/su.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The region along the Nile River south of Egypt has long been referred to as Nubia. It was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma, which flourished for about a millennium (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., a Kingdom of Kush emerged and regained the region's independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the fourth century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, the latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th–19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century was overthrown by a native Mahdist Sudan state (1885-99) that was crushed by the British who then set up an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony. ++ Following independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956, military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. The referendum was held in January 2011 and indicated overwhelming support for independence. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011. Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements signed in September 2012 relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. The final disposition of the contested Abyei region has also to be decided. The 30-year reign of President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR ended in his ouster in April 2019, and a Sovereignty Council, a joint civilian-military-executive body, holds power as of November 2019. ++ Following South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states (together known as the Two Areas), resulting in a humanitarian crisis affecting more than a million people. A earlier conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, displaced nearly 2 million people and caused thousands of deaths.  While some repatriation has taken place, about 1.83 million IDPs remain in Sudan as of May 2019. Fighting in both the Two Areas and Darfur between government forces and opposition has largely subsided, however the civilian populations are affected by low-level violence including inter-tribal conflict and banditry, largely a result of weak rule of law. The UN and the African Union have jointly commanded a Darfur peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) since 2007, but are slowly drawing down as the situation in Darfur becomes more stable. Sudan also has faced refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and denial of access by both the government and armed opposition have impeded the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations. However, Sudan's new transitional government has stated its priority to allow greater humanitarian access, as the food security and humanitarian situation in Sudan worsens and as it appeals to the West for greater engagement." + "text": "The region along the Nile River south of Egypt has long been referred to as Nubia. It was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma, which flourished for about a millennium (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., a Kingdom of Kush emerged and regained the region's independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the fourth century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, the latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th–19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century was overthrown by a native Mahdist Sudan state (1885-99) that was crushed by the British who then set up an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony. ++ Following independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956, military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. The referendum was held in January 2011 and indicated overwhelming support for independence. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011. Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements signed in September 2012 relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. The final disposition of the contested Abyei region has also to be decided. The 30-year reign of President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR ended in his ouster in April 2019, and a Sovereignty Council, a joint civilian-military-executive body, holds power as of November 2019. ++ Following South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states (together known as the Two Areas), resulting in a humanitarian crisis affecting more than a million people. A earlier conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, displaced nearly 2 million people and caused thousands of deaths. While some repatriation has taken place, about 1.83 million IDPs remain in Sudan as of May 2019. Fighting in both the Two Areas and Darfur between government forces and opposition has largely subsided, however the civilian populations are affected by low-level violence including inter-tribal conflict and banditry, largely a result of weak rule of law. The UN and the African Union have jointly commanded a Darfur peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) since 2007, but are slowly drawing down as the situation in Darfur becomes more stable. Sudan also has faced refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and denial of access by both the government and armed opposition have impeded the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations. However, Sudan's new transitional government has stated its priority to allow greater humanitarian access, as the food security and humanitarian situation in Sudan worsens and as it appeals to the West for greater engagement." } }, "Geography": { @@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ "text": "dust storms and periodic persistent droughts" }, "Environment - current issues": { - "text": "water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity ++  " + "text": "water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity ++" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { @@ -426,10 +426,10 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "president (vacant); note - in August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the \"Sovereignty Council,\" chaired by  General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman and consisting of 6 civilians and 5 generals; the Council is currently led by the military but is intended to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 until elections can be held; General BURHAN serves as both chief of state and head of government" + "text": "president (vacant); note - in August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the \"Sovereignty Council,\" chaired by General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman and consisting of 6 civilians and 5 generals; the Council is currently led by the military but is intended to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 until elections can be held; General BURHAN serves as both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { - "text": "president (vacant); note - in August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the \"Sovereignty Council,\" chaired by  General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman and consisting of 6 civilians and 5 generals; the Council is currently led by the military but is intended to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 until elections can be held (Abd-al-Rahman)" + "text": "president (vacant); note - in August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the \"Sovereignty Council,\" chaired by General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman and consisting of 6 civilians and 5 generals; the Council is currently led by the military but is intended to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 until elections can be held (Abd-al-Rahman)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (2019)" @@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ "text": "[249] 18702-2000" }, "embassy": { - "text": "P. O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum" + "text": "Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum" }, "mailing address": { "text": "P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum; APO AE 09829" @@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan's economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line. ++ Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world's largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world's total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force. ++ Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017. (2017)" + "text": "Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan's economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line. ++ Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world's largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world's total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force. ++ Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017. (2017)" }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$177.4 billion (2017 est.) / $174.9 billion (2016 est.) / $169.8 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -668,16 +668,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "22 million (2017)" + "text": "23 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "45% (2017)" + "text": "47% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "71% (2017)" + "text": "71% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "31% (2017)" + "text": "35% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ "text": "consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; teledensity fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 77 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 249; landing points for the EASSy, FALCON and SAS-1,-2, fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean Islands and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 249; landing points for the EASSy, FALCON and SAS-1,-2, fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean Islands and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -935,11 +935,11 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "the effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan" + "text": "the effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "121,156 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,502 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 14,272 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019); 729,557 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 26,523 (Central African Republic) (2020)" + "text": "729,557 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 122,227 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,498 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 26,523 (Central African Republic), 13,130 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "2.134 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2019)" diff --git a/africa/to.json b/africa/to.json index d0a03257..6584c293 100644 --- a/africa/to.json +++ b/africa/to.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major slave trading center and the surrounding region  took on the name of \"The Slave Coast.\" In 1884, Germany declared a region including present-day Togo as a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. Since 2007, President GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has since held multiple presidential and legislative elections deemed generally free and fair by international observers. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of violent protest by frustrated citizens. Recent constitutional changes to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and establish term limits has done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after over 50 years of one-family rule." + "text": "From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major slave trading center and the surrounding region took on the name of \"The Slave Coast.\" In 1884, Germany declared a region including present-day Togo as a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. Since 2007, President GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has since held multiple presidential and legislative elections deemed generally free and fair by international observers. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of violent protest by frustrated citizens. Recent constitutional changes to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and establish term limits has done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after over 50 years of one-family rule." } }, "Geography": { @@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 February 2020 (next to be held  February 2025); prime minister appointed by the president" + "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 February 2020 (next to be held February 2025); prime minister appointed by the president" }, "election results": { "text": "Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 72.4%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 18.4%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.4%, other 5%" @@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ "text": "[228] 2261-5470" }, "embassy": { - "text": "4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome" + "text": "4332 Blvd. Eyadema, Lome" }, "mailing address": { "text": "B.P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300" @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "5 million (2017)" + "text": "5 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "36% (2017)" + "text": "43% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "64% (2017)" + "text": "77% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "16% (2017)" + "text": "19% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with two stations (in Lome and Kara); several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)" + "text": "1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with two stations (in Lome and Kara); several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".tg" @@ -917,10 +917,10 @@ "text": "the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) are comprised of approximately 9,100 personnel (8,000 Army; 200 Navy; 200 Navy; 750 Gendarmerie) (2019 est.)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { - "text": "the FAT's small inventory is a mix of older Brazilian, British, French, German, Russian/Soviet, and US equipment; since 2010, France is the leading supplier of military hardware to Togo (2019 est.)" + "text": "the FAT's small inventory is a mix of older Brazilian, British, French, German, Russian/Soviet, and US equipment; since 2010, France is the leading supplier of military hardware to Togo (2020)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "920 Mali (MINUSMA) (March 2020)" + "text": "920 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for military service; 2-year service obligation; currently the military is only an all-volunteer force (2017)" @@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "9,768 (Ghana) (2019)" + "text": "9,556 (Ghana) (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/tp.json b/africa/tp.json index 0a18bc94..3a541aac 100644 --- a/africa/tp.json +++ b/africa/tp.json @@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ "text": "flooding" }, "Environment - current issues": { - "text": "deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity preservation" + "text": "deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity preservation" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { @@ -657,13 +657,13 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "68% (2017)" + "text": "71% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "87% (2017)" + "text": "87% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "22% (2017)" + "text": "25% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 77 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 239; landing points for the Ultramar GE and ACE submarine cables from South Africa to over 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 239; landing points for the Ultramar GE and ACE submarine cables from South Africa to over 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/ts.json b/africa/ts.json index 8b16fc7b..0dd60a9f 100644 --- a/africa/ts.json +++ b/africa/ts.json @@ -423,10 +423,10 @@ "text": "selected by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly of the Representatives of the People" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 15 September 2019 with a runoff on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the prime minister is selected by the winning party or winning coalition and appointed by the president" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 15 September 2019 with a runoff on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the prime minister is selected by the winning party or winning coalition and appointed by the president" }, "election results": { - "text": "first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI(independent) 10.7%,Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; runoff - Kais SAIED elected president; Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3% ++   ++   ++   ++   ++   ++  " + "text": "first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI(independent) 10.7%,Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; runoff - Kais SAIED elected president; Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3% ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ "text": "initial election held on 6 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - Ennahdha 19.6%, Heart of Tunisia 14.6%, Free Destourian Party 6.6%, Democratic Current 6.4%, Dignity Coalition 5.9%, People's Movement 4.5%, TahyaTounes 4.1%, other 35.4%, independent 2.9%;seats by party -  Ennahdha 52, Heart of Tunisia 38, Free Destourian Party 17, Democratic Current 22, Dignity Coalition 21, People's Movement 16, Tahya Tounes 14, other 25, independent 12; composition - men 139, women 78, percent of women 35.9%" + "text": "percent of vote by party - Ennahdha 19.6%, Heart of Tunisia 14.6%, Free Destourian Party 6.6%, Democratic Current 6.4%, Dignity Coalition 5.9%, People's Movement 4.5%, TahyaTounes 4.1%, other 35.4%, independent 2.9%;seats by party - Ennahdha 52, Heart of Tunisia 38, Free Destourian Party 17, Democratic Current 22, Dignity Coalition 21, People's Movement 16, Tahya Tounes 14, other 25, independent 12; composition - men 139, women 78, percent of women 35.9%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Afek Tounes [Yassine BRAHIM]Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) [Mehdi JOMAA] ++ Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) [Hafedh CAID ESSEBSI] ++ Congress for the Republic Party or CPR [Imed DAIMI] ++ Current of Love [Hachemi HAMDI] (formerly the Popular Petition party) ++ Democratic Alliance Party [Mohamed HAMDI] ++ Democratic Current [Mohamed ABBOU] ++ Democratic Patriots' Unified Party [Zied LAKHDHAR] ++ Dignity Coalition [Seifeddine MAKHIOUF] ++ Free Destourian Party [Abir MOUSSI] ++ Free Patriotic Union (Union patriotique libre) or UPL  [Slim RIAHI] ++ Green Tunisia Party [Abdelkader ZITOUNI] ++ Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) ++ Irada Movement ++ Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) [Youssef CHAHED] ++ Machrou Tounes (Tunisia Project) [Mohsen MARZOUK] ++ Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ahmed KHASKHOUSSI] ++ Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI] ++ National Destourian Initiative or El Moubadra [Kamel MORJANE] ++ Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard [Ahmed JEDDICK, Kheireddine SOUABNI] ++ People's Movement [Zouheir MAGHZAOUI] ++ Popular Front (coalition includes Democratic Patriots' Unified Party, Workers' Party, Green Tunisia, Tunisian Ba'ath Movement, Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard) ++ Republican Party [Maya JRIBI] ++ Tunisian Ba'ath Movement [OMAR Othman BELHADJ] ++ Tunisia First (Tunis Awlan) [Ridha BELHAJ] ++ Workers' Party [Hamma HAMMAMI]" + "text": "Afek Tounes [Yassine BRAHIM]Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) [Mehdi JOMAA] ++ Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) [Hafedh CAID ESSEBSI] ++ Congress for the Republic Party or CPR [Imed DAIMI] ++ Current of Love [Hachemi HAMDI] (formerly the Popular Petition party) ++ Democratic Alliance Party [Mohamed HAMDI] ++ Democratic Current [Mohamed ABBOU] ++ Democratic Patriots' Unified Party [Zied LAKHDHAR] ++ Dignity Coalition [Seifeddine MAKHIOUF] ++ Free Destourian Party [Abir MOUSSI] ++ Free Patriotic Union (Union patriotique libre) or UPL [Slim RIAHI] ++ Green Tunisia Party [Abdelkader ZITOUNI] ++ Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) ++ Irada Movement ++ Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) [Youssef CHAHED] ++ Machrou Tounes (Tunisia Project) [Mohsen MARZOUK] ++ Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ahmed KHASKHOUSSI] ++ Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI] ++ National Destourian Initiative or El Moubadra [Kamel MORJANE] ++ Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard [Ahmed JEDDICK, Kheireddine SOUABNI] ++ People's Movement [Zouheir MAGHZAOUI] ++ Popular Front (coalition includes Democratic Patriots' Unified Party, Workers' Party, Green Tunisia, Tunisian Ba'ath Movement, Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard) ++ Republican Party [Maya JRIBI] ++ Tunisian Ba'ath Movement [OMAR Othman BELHADJ] ++ Tunisia First (Tunis Awlan) [Ridha BELHAJ] ++ Workers' Party [Hamma HAMMAMI]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -754,13 +754,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access available throughout the country; penetration rates for mobile and Internet services are among the highest in the region; 3 MNOs (mobile network operator); government Internet censorship abolished in 2013; telecom invests in LTE network and fiber infrastructure with FttP (fiber to the premises) services; 5G license expected to be launched soon; auction of spectrum in the 800MHz band loT (location of Things) and mobile services; use of Chinese company Huawei to develop LTE network (2020)" + "text": "above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access available throughout the country; penetration rates for mobile and Internet services are among the highest in the region; 3 MNOs (mobile network operator); government Internet censorship abolished in 2013; telecom invests in LTE network and fiber infrastructure with FttP (fiber to the premises) services; 5G license expected to be launched soon; auction of spectrum in the 800MHz band loT (location of Things) and mobile services; use of Chinese company Huawei to develop LTE network (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas are served by wireless local loops; competition between several mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; fixed-line is 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached about 126 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 216; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-4, Didon, HANNIBAL System and Trapani-Kelibia submarine cable systems that provides links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches (2020)" + "text": "country code - 216; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-4, Didon, HANNIBAL System and Trapani-Kelibia submarine cable systems that provides links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/africa/tz.json b/africa/tz.json index 4686206c..d476a491 100644 --- a/africa/tz.json +++ b/africa/tz.json @@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ "text": "Ambassador Donald J. WRIGHT (since 2 April 2020)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "[255] (22) 229-4000" + "text": "(255) 22-229-4000, dial '1' for an emergency operator" }, "embassy": { "text": "686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam" @@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ "text": "$51.76 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6% (2017 est.) / 7% (2016 est.) / 7% (2015 est.)" + "text": "6.98% (2019 est.) / 6.95% (2018 est.) / 6.78% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$3,200 (2017 est.) / $3,100 (2016 est.) / $3,000 (2015 est.)", @@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ "text": "5.3% (2017 est.) / 5.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$1.464 billion (2017 est.) / -$2.137 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$1.313 billion (2019 est.) / -$1.898 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$4.971 billion (2017 est.) / $5.697 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -697,16 +697,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "39 million (2017)" + "text": "35 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "33% (2017)" + "text": "40% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "65% (2017)" + "text": "71% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "17% (2017)" + "text": "23% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -798,13 +798,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecommunications services are marginal and operating below capacity; 1 fixed-line operator and 8 operational mobile networks; unfortunate high tariffs on telecoms; mobile use is growing at 85% penetration; 3G/LTE services; govt. allocates TZ $17.5 billion to improve rural telecom infrastructure and work on national fiber backbone network connecting population around country (2020)" + "text": "telecommunications services are marginal and operating below capacity; 1 fixed-line operator and 8 operational mobile networks; unfortunate high tariffs on telecoms; mobile use is growing at 85% penetration; 3G/LTE services; govt. allocates TZ $17.5 billion to improve rural telecom infrastructure and work on national fiber backbone network connecting population around country (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly and exceeds 82 telephones per 100 persons; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 255; landing points for the EASSy, SEACOM/Tata TGN-Eurasia, and SEAS fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 255; landing points for the EASSy, SEACOM/Tata TGN-Eurasia, and SEAS fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ "text": "the TPDF inventory includes mostly Soviet-era and older Chinese equipment; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to the TPDF (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 960 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 160 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 660 Sudan (UNAMID) (March 2020)" + "text": "450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 330 Sudan (UNAMID) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; 6-year commitment (2019)" diff --git a/africa/ug.json b/africa/ug.json index 1b76381a..9d90772b 100644 --- a/africa/ug.json +++ b/africa/ug.json @@ -481,10 +481,10 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Deborah R. MALAC (since 27 February 2016)" + "text": "Ambassador Natalie E. BROWN (since 17 November 2020)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "[256] 414-306001" + "text": "(256)-414-259791" }, "embassy": { "text": "1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala" @@ -667,16 +667,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "34 million (2017)" + "text": "32 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "20% (2017)" + "text": "29% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "23% (2017)" + "text": "66% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "19% (2017)" + "text": "17% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/africa/uv.json b/africa/uv.json index ccccc2df..a407a589 100644 --- a/africa/uv.json +++ b/africa/uv.json @@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ "text": "three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert" }, "Terrain": { - "text": "Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast.  Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. (2019)" + "text": "Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast. Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. (2019)" }, "Elevation": { "mean elevation": { @@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { - "text": "dengue fever and malaria" + "text": "dengue fever and malaria" }, "water contact disease": { "text": "schistosomiasis" @@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ }, "Constitution": { "history": { - "text": "several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed until 2020" + "text": "several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed until 2020" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by the president, by a majority of National Assembly membership, or by petition of at least 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly; failure to meet that threshold requires majority voter approval in a referendum; constitutional provisions on the form of government, the multiparty system, and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2012" @@ -681,14 +681,17 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { + "population without electricity": { + "text": "16 million (2019)" + }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "19.2% (2016)" + "text": "22% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "60.7% (2016)" + "text": "69% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "0.8% (2016)" + "text": "2% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +783,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; insufficient mobile spectrum, and poor condition of fixed-line networks hinders the development of fixed-line Internet services and leaves Burkina Faso with some of the most expensive telecommunications globally; mobile telephony has experienced growth, but below the African average; govt. proposes technology-neutral licenses to boost mobile broadband connectivity and amend legislation to improve regulators and legalize the framework governing the telecom sector (2020)" + "text": "system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; insufficient mobile spectrum, and poor condition of fixed-line networks hinders the development of fixed-line Internet services and leaves Burkina Faso with some of the most expensive telecommunications globally; mobile telephony has experienced growth, but below the African average; govt. proposes technology-neutral licenses to boost mobile broadband connectivity and amend legislation to improve regulators and legalize the framework governing the telecom sector (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage 100 per 100, with multiple providers there is competition and the hope for growth from a low base; Internet penetration is 11% countrywide, but higher in urban areas (2019)" @@ -901,7 +904,7 @@ "text": "the FABF has a mix of foreign-supplied weapons; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from several countries, including donated second hand armaments; the leading suppliers are Brazil, Russia, and Turkey (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,080 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" + "text": "1,100 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles (2013)" @@ -924,7 +927,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "20,951 (Mali) (2020)" + "text": "20,951 (Mali) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "921,471 (2020)" diff --git a/africa/wa.json b/africa/wa.json index a2b70762..1ed2a84d 100644 --- a/africa/wa.json +++ b/africa/wa.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Various ethnic groups occupied south western Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory.  In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. Namibia gained independence in 1990." + "text": "Various ethnic groups occupied south western Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. Namibia gained independence in 1990." } }, "Geography": { @@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana .5%" + "text": "Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana .5%" }, "Languages": { "text": "Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages .7%, other 1% (2016 est.)", @@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ "text": "$13.24 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "-0.8% (2017 est.) / 0.7% (2016 est.) / 6.1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "-1.56% (2019 est.) / 1.13% (2018 est.) / -1.02% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$11,200 (2017 est.) / $11,500 (2016 est.) / $11,700 (2015 est.)", @@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ "text": "6.1% (2017 est.) / 6.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$438 million (2017 est.) / -$1.555 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$216 million (2019 est.) / -$465 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$3.995 billion (2017 est.) / $4.003 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -677,16 +677,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "1 million (2017)" + "text": "1 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "51.8% (2016)" + "text": "57% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "77.1% (2016)" + "text": "78% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "28.7% (2016)" + "text": "36% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -778,13 +778,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fixed-line still a govt. monopoly; penetration rates rise above regional average with the rise of competition in the mobile market; 3G and LTE-A services; Internet and broadband sector fairly competitive; infrastructure investment through 2021; working on implementing 5G (2020)" + "text": "fixed-line still a govt. monopoly; penetration rates rise above regional average with the rise of competition in the mobile market; 3G and LTE-A services; Internet and broadband sector fairly competitive; infrastructure investment through 2021; working on implementing 5G (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscribership is 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 113 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 264; landing points for the ACE and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019)" + "text": "country code - 264; landing points for the ACE and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "6,595 (Democratic Republic of Condo)" + "text": "6,595 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2020)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/africa/wi.json b/africa/wi.json index 6deb237d..9ad464e4 100644 --- a/africa/wi.json +++ b/africa/wi.json @@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military - note": { - "text": "the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has operated in the Western Sahara since 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro (Frente POLISARIO); the Mission's responsibilities include monitoring the ceasefire, reducing the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and providing logistic support to the UNHCR-led Confidence Building Measures pending an agreement to resume those activities, which were suspended in June 2014; as of November 2019, MINURSO had about 460 personnel deployed ++  " + "text": "the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has operated in the Western Sahara since 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro (Frente POLISARIO); the Mission's responsibilities include monitoring the ceasefire, reducing the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and providing logistic support to the UNHCR-led Confidence Building Measures pending an agreement to resume those activities, which were suspended in June 2014; as of November 2019, MINURSO had about 460 personnel deployed ++" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/africa/wz.json b/africa/wz.json index c265df40..e212aab0 100644 --- a/africa/wz.json +++ b/africa/wz.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Autonomy for Eswatini was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. A new constitution came into effect in 2006, which included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in April 2018. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections.   ++   ++   ++  " + "text": "Autonomy for Eswatini was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. A new constitution came into effect in 2006, which included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in April 2018. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. ++ ++ ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of: Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms) ++ House of Assembly (73 seats; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%; members serve 5-year terms)" + "text": "bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of: Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms) ++ House of Assembly (73 seats; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held on 23 October 2018 (next to be held - 31 October 2023) ++ House of Assembly - last held on 21 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023)" @@ -666,17 +666,14 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { - "population without electricity": { - "text": "900,000 (2017)" - }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "65.8% (2016)" + "text": "90% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "82.8% (2016)" + "text": "98% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "61.2% (2016)" + "text": "87% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -768,7 +765,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "earlier government monopoly in telecommunications hindered its growth; new regulatory authority established in 2013 has aided expansion in the telecom sector; 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE services (2019)" + "text": "earlier government monopoly in telecommunications hindered its growth; new regulatory authority established in 2013 has aided expansion in the telecom sector; 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE services (2019)" }, "domestic": { "text": "Eswatini has 2 mobile-cellular providers; communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base; fixed-line stands at 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 94 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay (2019)" diff --git a/africa/za.json b/africa/za.json index 7d9b16f2..dc32f239 100644 --- a/africa/za.json +++ b/africa/za.json @@ -479,10 +479,10 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Charge d'Affaires David J. YOUNG (since 2 March2020)" + "text": "Charge d'Affaires David J. YOUNG (since 2 March 2020)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "[260]  211-357-000" + "text": "[260] (0) 211-357-000 ++" }, "embassy": { "text": "Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka" @@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ "text": "P. O. Box 320065, Lusaka" }, "FAX": { - "text": "[260]  211-357-224" + "text": "[260] 211-357-224" } }, "Flag description": { @@ -662,16 +662,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "12 million (2017)" + "text": "11 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "33% (2017)" + "text": "37% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "67% (2017)" + "text": "76% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "6% (2017)" + "text": "6% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ "text": "the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Soviet-era and older Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to Zambia (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "920 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (March 2020)" + "text": "920 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2019)" @@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "18,179 (Angola), 6,419 (Burundi), 5,849 (Rwanda) (2019); 55,523 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" + "text": "55,523 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 18,815 (Angola), 7,997 (Burundi), 5,982 (Rwanda) (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/africa/zi.json b/africa/zi.json index 8c62b516..4eb013eb 100644 --- a/africa/zi.json +++ b/africa/zi.json @@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ "text": "President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017); First Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 28 December 2017); note - Robert Gabriel MUGABE resigned on 21 November 2017, after ruling for 37 years" }, "head of government": { - "text": "President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017); Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 28 December 2017); Vice President Kembo MOHADI (since 28 December 2017) " + "text": "President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017); Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 28 December 2017); Vice President Kembo MOHADI (since 28 December 2017)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to National Assembly" @@ -676,16 +676,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "11 million (2017)" + "text": "7 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "34% (2017)" + "text": "53% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "81% (2017)" + "text": "89% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "11% (2017)" + "text": "36% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "8,060 (Mozambique) (2019); 116,237 (Nigeria), 10,901 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)" + "text": "116,237 (Nigeria), 10,901 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,133 (Mozambique) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "25,517 (tropical cyclone, 2019) (2020)" diff --git a/antarctica/ay.json b/antarctica/ay.json index 4dbafc2a..2f26b5a9 100644 --- a/antarctica/ay.json +++ b/antarctica/ay.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Speculation over the existence of a \"southern land\" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not merely a group of islands or an area of ocean. Several exploration \"firsts\" were achieved in the early 20th century, but generally the area saw little human activity. Following World War II, however, the continent experienced an upsurge in scientific research. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but most countries do not recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.  Also relevant to Antarctic governance are the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources." + "text": "Speculation over the existence of a \"southern land\" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not merely a group of islands or an area of ocean. Several exploration \"firsts\" were achieved in the early 20th century, but generally the area saw little human activity. Following World War II, however, the continent experienced an upsurge in scientific research. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but most countries do not recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961. Also relevant to Antarctic governance are the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources." } }, "Geography": { @@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Scientific undertakings rather than commercial pursuits are the predominant human activity in Antarctica. Offshore fishing and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's limited economic activity. ++ Antarctic Fisheries, within the area covered by the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources currently target Patagonian toothfish, Antarctic toothfish, mackerel icefish and Antarctic krill. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages these fisheries using the ecosystem-based and precautionary approach.  The Commission's objective is conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and it regulates the fisheries based on the level of information available, and maintaining existing ecological relationships.  While Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has declined in the Convention area since 1990, it remains a concern ++ A total of 51,707  tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2017-2018  Antarctic summer, 17 percent greater than the 43,915 visitors in 2016-2017. These estimates were provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and do not include passengers on overflights. Nearly all of the tourists were passengers on commercial ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer." + "text": "Scientific undertakings rather than commercial pursuits are the predominant human activity in Antarctica. Offshore fishing and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's limited economic activity. ++ Antarctic Fisheries, within the area covered by the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources currently target Patagonian toothfish, Antarctic toothfish, mackerel icefish and Antarctic krill. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages these fisheries using the ecosystem-based and precautionary approach. The Commission's objective is conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and it regulates the fisheries based on the level of information available, and maintaining existing ecological relationships. While Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has declined in the Convention area since 1990, it remains a concern ++ A total of 51,707 tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2017-2018 Antarctic summer, 17 percent greater than the 43,915 visitors in 2016-2017. These estimates were provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and do not include passengers on overflights. Nearly all of the tourists were passengers on commercial ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer." } }, "Energy": { diff --git a/antarctica/bv.json b/antarctica/bv.json index 05dd1a1e..ee4338c3 100644 --- a/antarctica/bv.json +++ b/antarctica/bv.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "This uninhabited, volcanic, Antarctic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers making it difficult to approach; it is recognized as the most remote island on Earth. (It is furthest in distance from any other point of land, 1,639 km from Antarctica.) Bouvet Island was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom it is named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In February 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months." + "text": "This uninhabited, volcanic, Antarctic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers making it difficult to approach; it is recognized as the most remote island on Earth. (It is furthest in distance from any other point of land, 1,639 km from Antarctica.) Bouvet Island was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom it is named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In February 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months." } }, "Geography": { diff --git a/antarctica/fs.json b/antarctica/fs.json index e7fb56de..c60f9c69 100644 --- a/antarctica/fs.json +++ b/antarctica/fs.json @@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ "text": "Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m" }, "note": { - "text": "highest points throughout the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m;24 unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m" + "text": "highest points throughout the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m;24 unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "fish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts", "note": { - "text": "note - in the 1950's and 1960's, several species of trout were introduced to Iles Kerguelen of which two, Brown trout and Brook trout, survived to establish wild populations; reindeer were also introduced to Iles Kerguelen in 1956 as a source of fresh meat for whaling crews, the herd today, one of two in the Southern Hemisphere, is estimated to number around 4,000" + "text": "note - in the 1950's and 1960's, several species of trout were introduced to Iles Kerguelen of which two, Brown trout and Brook trout, survived to establish wild populations; reindeer were also introduced to Iles Kerguelen in 1956 as a source of fresh meat for whaling crews, the herd today, one of two in the Southern Hemisphere, is estimated to number around 4,000" } }, "Natural hazards": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/aq.json b/australia-oceania/aq.json index 72c11db1..f3b4f8d5 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/aq.json +++ b/australia-oceania/aq.json @@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ "text": "AS" }, "etymology": { - "text": "the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the \"sa\" connotes  \"sacred\" and \"moa\" indicates \"center,\" so the name can mean \"Holy Center\"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean \"place of the sacred moa bird\" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as \"sa'a\" meaning \"tribe or people\" and \"moa\" meaning \"deep sea or ocean\" to convey the meaning \"people of the deep sea\"" + "text": "the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the \"sa\" connotes \"sacred\" and \"moa\" indicates \"center,\" so the name can mean \"Holy Center\"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean \"place of the sacred moa bird\" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as \"sa'a\" meaning \"tribe or people\" and \"moa\" meaning \"deep sea or ocean\" to convey the meaning \"people of the deep sea\"" } }, "Dependency status": { @@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 18; composition - men 17, women 1, percent of women 9.5% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 14, women 7, percent of women 33.3%; note - total percent of women in Legislature 20.5%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)" + "text": "note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a \"full floor\" House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ "text": "18 per 100 fixed-line teledensity, domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-684; landing points for the ASH, Southern Cross NEXT and Hawaiki  providing connectivity to New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, Hawaii, California, and SAS connecting American Samoa with Samoa; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-684; landing points for the ASH, Southern Cross NEXT and Hawaiki providing connectivity to New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, Hawaii, California, and SAS connecting American Samoa with Samoa; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/australia-oceania/as.json b/australia-oceania/as.json index 5c93cb28..ad588a44 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/as.json +++ b/australia-oceania/as.json @@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ } }, "Natural resources": { - "text": "alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports" + "text": "alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { @@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ } }, "Government type": { - "text": "federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" + "text": "federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { @@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ "text": "bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the 6 states and 2 each from the 2 mainland territories; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of state membership renewed every 3 years and territory membership renewed every 3 years) ++ House of Representatives (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority preferential vote; members serve terms of up to 3 years)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Senate - last held on 18 May 2019 (next to be held in 2022) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 18 May 2019 (next to be held in 2022)" + "text": "Senate - last held on 18 May 2019 (next to be held in 2022) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 18 May 2019 (next to be held in 2022)" }, "election results": { "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National coalition 37.99%, ALP 28.79%, The Greens 10.19%, One Nation 5.4%, Centre Alliance .19%, Lambie Network .21%, other 17.23%; seats by party - Liberal/National coalition 35, ALP 26, The Greens 9, One Nation 2, Centre Alliance 2, Lambie Network 1, independents 1 ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National coalition 41.4%, ALP 33.3%, The Greens 10.4%, Katter's Australian Party .49%, Centre Alliance .33%, independents 3.37%, other 10.63%; seats by party - Liberal/National Coalition 77, ALP 68, The Greens 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Centre Alliance 1, independent 3" @@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ "text": "$1.38 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.2% (2017 est.) / 2.6% (2016 est.) / 2.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.84% (2019 est.) / 2.77% (2018 est.) / 2.45% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$50,400 (2017 est.) / $50,100 (2016 est.) / $49,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ "text": "1.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "12.91 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "12.568 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.6% (2017 est.) / 5.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.16% (2019 est.) / 5.29% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ "text": "2% (2017 est.) / 1.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$36.01 billion (2017 est.) / -$41.45 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$8.146 billion (2019 est.) / -$29.777 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$231.6 billion (2017 est.) / $191.7 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ "text": "31 per 100 fixed-line, 111 per 100 mobile-cellular; more subscribers to mobile services than there are people; 90% of all mobile device sales are now smartphones, growth in mobile traffic brisk (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 61; landing points for more than 20 submarine cables including: the SeaMeWe-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the INDIGO-Central, INDIGO West and ASC, North West Cable System, Australia-Papua New Guinea cable, CSCS, PPC-1, Gondwana-1, SCCN, Hawaiki, TGA, Basslink, Bass Strait-1, Bass Strait-2, JGA-S, with links to other Australian cities, New Zealand and many countries in southeast Asia, US and Europe; the H2 Cable, AJC, Telstra Endeavor, Southern Cross NEXT with links to Japan, Hong Kong, and other Pacific Ocean countries as well as the US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat, 2 Globalstar, 5 other (2019)" + "text": "country code - 61; landing points for more than 20 submarine cables including: the SeaMeWe-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the INDIGO-Central, INDIGO West and ASC, North West Cable System, Australia-Papua New Guinea cable, CSCS, PPC-1, Gondwana-1, SCCN, Hawaiki, TGA, Basslink, Bass Strait-1, Bass Strait-2, JGA-S, with links to other Australian cities, New Zealand and many countries in southeast Asia, US and Europe; the H2 Cable, AJC, Telstra Endeavor, Southern Cross NEXT with links to Japan, Hong Kong, and other Pacific Ocean countries as well as the US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat, 2 Globalstar, 5 other (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ "text": "Melbourne (2,806,436), Sydney (2,530,122) (2017)" }, "LNG terminal(s) (export)": { - "text": "Australia Pacific, Barrow Island, Burrup (Pluto), Curtis Island, Darwin, Karratha, Bladin Point (Ichthys), Gladstone, Prelude (offshore FLNG), Wheatstone" + "text": "Australia Pacific, Barrow Island, Burrup (Pluto), Curtis Island, Darwin, Karratha, Bladin Point (Ichthys), Gladstone, Prelude (offshore FLNG), Wheatstone" }, "dry bulk cargo port(s)": { "text": "Dampier (iron ore), Dalrymple Bay (coal), Hay Point (coal), Port Hedland (iron ore), Port Walcott (iron ore)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/bp.json b/australia-oceania/bp.json index 05c0ddd5..9bbb3384 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/bp.json +++ b/australia-oceania/bp.json @@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ }, "Constitution": { "history": { - "text": "adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; note - in late 2017, provincial leaders agreed to adopt a new federal constitution, with passage expected in 2018, but it has been postponed indefinitely" + "text": "adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; note - in late 2017, provincial leaders agreed to adopt a new federal constitution, with passage expected in 2018, but it has been postponed indefinitely" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by the National Parliament; passage of constitutional sections, including those on fundamental rights and freedoms, the legal system, Parliament, alteration of the constitution and the ombudsman, requires three-fourths majority vote by Parliament and assent of the governor general; passage of other amendments requires two-thirds majority vote and assent of the governor general; amended several times, last in 2014" @@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David VUNAGI (since 8 July 2019)" + "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David VUNAGI (since 8 July 2019)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Rick HOU (since 16 November 2017)" @@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "Internet penetration has reached 20%; 3G and 4G LTE mobile network expansions, investment in mobile services in the region; otherwise 3G and satellite services for communication and Internet access; increase in broadband subscriptions; the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 and the Coral Sea Cable System have vastly improved the telecom sector (2020)" + "text": "Internet penetration has reached 20%; 3G and 4G LTE mobile network expansions, investment in mobile services in the region; otherwise 3G and satellite services for communication and Internet access; increase in broadband subscriptions; the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 and the Coral Sea Cable System have vastly improved the telecom sector (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line is 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular telephone density is about 71 per 100 persons; domestic cable system to extend to key major islands (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/cq.json b/australia-oceania/cq.json index 95434041..653c5de0 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/cq.json +++ b/australia-oceania/cq.json @@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ } }, "Dependency status": { - "text": "commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs" + "text": "commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs" }, "Government type": { "text": "republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US" @@ -321,10 +321,10 @@ "text": "Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)" + "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (Independent) 37.8%;  Arnold PALACIOS elected Lieutenant Governor" + "text": "Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (Independent) 37.8%; Arnold PALACIOS elected Lieutenant Governor" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -332,13 +332,13 @@ "text": "bicameral Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature consists of: Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) ++ House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms) ++ the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term" }, "elections": { - "text": "CNMI Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020) ++ CNMI House of Representatives - last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020) ++ Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives  - last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)" + "text": "CNMI Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020) ++ CNMI House of Representatives - last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020) ++ Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives - last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)" }, "election results": { "text": "CNMI Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 6, independent 3; composition - men 8, women 1, percent of women 11.1% ++ CNMI House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 13, independent 7; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%; note - total CNMI Legislature percent of women 13.8% ++ delegate to US House of Representatives - seat won by Democratic Party; composition - 1 man" }, "note": { - "text": "note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the \"Committee of the Whole House\" but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote" + "text": "note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the \"Committee of the Whole House\" but not when legislation is submitted for a \"full floor\" House vote" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -358,6 +358,9 @@ "International organization participation": { "text": "PIF (observer), SPC, UPU" }, + "Diplomatic representation from the US": { + "text": "none (commonwealth in political union with the US)" + }, "Flag description": { "text": "blue with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture" }, @@ -515,7 +518,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/cw.json b/australia-oceania/cw.json index dc9ed09d..cba0f584 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/cw.json +++ b/australia-oceania/cw.json @@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ "text": "service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable; 38 per 100 fixed-line, 83 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 682; the Manatua submarine cable to surrounding islands of Niue, Samoa, French Polynesia and other Cook Islands, the topography of the South Pacific region has made Internet connectivity a serious issue for many of the remote islands; submarine fiber-optic networks are expensive to build and maintain; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 682; the Manatua submarine cable to surrounding islands of Niue, Samoa, French Polynesia and other Cook Islands, the topography of the South Pacific region has made Internet connectivity a serious issue for many of the remote islands; submarine fiber-optic networks are expensive to build and maintain; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/australia-oceania/fj.json b/australia-oceania/fj.json index 09c6eb76..365373d8 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/fj.json +++ b/australia-oceania/fj.json @@ -737,13 +737,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "local, interisland, and international telecommunications; subject to occasional devastating cyclones; Fiji is a leader in the Pacific region in terms of development of its ICT (Information & Communications Technology) sector and investment in telecoms infrastructure; mobile services the primary source of Internet access across the region; most advanced economy in the Pacific island region as well as hosting the highest mobile Internet penetration; initial progress towards 5G readiness (2020)" + "text": "local, interisland, and international telecommunications; subject to occasional devastating cyclones; Fiji is a leader in the Pacific region in terms of development of its ICT (Information & Communications Technology) sector and investment in telecoms infrastructure; mobile services the primary source of Internet access across the region; most advanced economy in the Pacific island region as well as hosting the highest mobile Internet penetration; initial progress towards 5G readiness (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 9 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 118 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 679; landing points for the ICN1, SCCN, Southern Cross NEXT, Tonga Cable and Tui-Samoa submarine cable links to US, NZ, Australia and Pacific islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Fallis & Futuna, and American Samoa; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 679; landing points for the ICN1, SCCN, Southern Cross NEXT, Tonga Cable and Tui-Samoa submarine cable links to US, NZ, Australia and Pacific islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Fallis & Futuna, and American Samoa; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ "text": "the RFMF's small inventory is a mix of equipment from Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the US; since 2010, the only recorded arms deliveries were from Australia; China has donated some non-lethal material since 2018 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "170 Egypt (MFO); 170 Iraq (UNAMI); 130 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (March 2020)" + "text": "170 Egypt (MFO); 170 Iraq (UNAMI); 130 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2013)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/fm.json b/australia-oceania/fm.json index 87398f66..fb216945 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/fm.json +++ b/australia-oceania/fm.json @@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 at- large members directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 5 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2021)" + "text": "last held on 5 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2021)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14; composition - men 14, women 0" @@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Carmen G. CANTOR (since 31 January 2020)" + "text": "Ambassador Carmen G. CANTOR (since 31 January 2020)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[691] 320-2187" @@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ "text": "islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone, satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular service available on the major islands; fixed line teledensity 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 21 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 691; landing points for the Chuukk-Pohnpei Cable and HANTRU-1 submarine cable system linking the Federated States of Micronesia and the US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 691; landing points for the Chuukk-Pohnpei Cable and HANTRU-1 submarine cable system linking the Federated States of Micronesia and the US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/australia-oceania/fp.json b/australia-oceania/fp.json index 503e3bb7..cb5faed2 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/fp.json +++ b/australia-oceania/fp.json @@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblée de la Polynésie française (57 seats; elections held in 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by a closed-list proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members serve 5-year terms) ++ ++ ++ French Polynesia indirectly elects 2 senators to the French Senate via an electoral college by absolute majority vote for 6-year terms with one-half the membership renewed every 3 years and directly elects 3 deputies to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for 5-year terms" + "text": "unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblée de la Polynésie française (57 seats; elections held in 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by a closed-list proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members serve 5-year terms) ++ ++ ++ French Polynesia indirectly elects 2 senators to the French Senate via an electoral college by absolute majority vote for 6-year terms with one-half the membership renewed every 3 years and directly elects 3 deputies to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for 5-year terms" }, "elections": { "text": "Assembly of French Polynesia - last held on 22 April 2018 and 6 May 2018 (next to be held in 2023) ++ French Senate - last held in September 2017 (next to be held in September 2020) ++ French National Assembly - last held in 2 rounds on 3 and 17 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022)" @@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the most advanced telecom infrastructures for the Pacific island region; 85% mobile broadband coverage; 40% of its mobile connections using 3G and the rest using emerging 4G LTE technology; 100% mobile penetration; uses Uplink systems of the Galileo satellite network; and with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019, it will allow speedy access to the Internet for Pacific islands (2020)" + "text": "one of the most advanced telecom infrastructures for the Pacific island region; 85% mobile broadband coverage; 40% of its mobile connections using 3G and the rest using emerging 4G LTE technology; 100% mobile penetration; uses Uplink systems of the Galileo satellite network; and with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019, it will allow speedy access to the Internet for Pacific islands (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscriptions 22 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular density is roughly 104 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/gq.json b/australia-oceania/gq.json index 9b37eb2b..b2844cc0 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/gq.json +++ b/australia-oceania/gq.json @@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ } }, "Dependency status": { - "text": "unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior" + "text": "unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior" }, "Government type": { "text": "republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government" @@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor; percent of vote -  Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor" + "text": "Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, Republican Party 5; composition - men 5, women 10, percent of women 66.7%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held on 3 November 2020); election results - seat by party - Democratic Party 1; composition 1 man" + "text": "note: Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a \"full floor\" House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held on 3 November 2020); election results - seat by party - Democratic Party 1; composition 1 man" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/kr.json b/australia-oceania/kr.json index f58bde4a..b4eac7ac 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/kr.json +++ b/australia-oceania/kr.json @@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members; term is 4 years (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president" }, "election results": { - "text": "Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%." + "text": "Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%." } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ "text": "[1](212)867-3320" }, "note": { - "text": "note - the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy" + "text": "note - the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { @@ -626,13 +626,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "84.9% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "88.4% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "82.2% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/kt.json b/australia-oceania/kt.json index dcf79705..e15d3fac 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/kt.json +++ b/australia-oceania/kt.json @@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years)" }, "elections": { - "text": "held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 21 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2019)" + "text": "held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 21 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2019)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2015 - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2%" diff --git a/australia-oceania/nc.json b/australia-oceania/nc.json index f15a170c..a52c4b42 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/nc.json +++ b/australia-oceania/nc.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island became a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over two decades transferred an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. In a referendum held in November 2018, residents rejected independence and decided to retain their territorial status, although two additional referendums may occur in 2020 and 2022, per the Noumea Accord." + "text": "Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island became a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over two decades transferred an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. In a referendum held in November 2018, residents rejected independence and decided to retain their territorial status, although two additional referendums may occur in 2020 and 2022, per the Noumea Accord." } }, "Geography": { @@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 96 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/australia-oceania/ne.json b/australia-oceania/ne.json index df0d6c12..a88242e9 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/ne.json +++ b/australia-oceania/ne.json @@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 10 June 2020 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Dalton TAGELAGI elected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 13, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 7; Toke TALAGI lost his seat in election" + "text": "Dalton TAGELAGI elected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 13, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 7; Toke TALAGI lost his seat in election" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ "Communications": { "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "sole provider service for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas; mobile is primary source of Internet access; mobile broadband demand is growing due to mobile services (2020)" + "text": "sole provider service for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas; mobile is primary source of Internet access; mobile broadband demand is growing due to mobile services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2018)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/nh.json b/australia-oceania/nh.json index dac70bbf..957380fb 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/nh.json +++ b/australia-oceania/nh.json @@ -448,9 +448,7 @@ "text": "none; the Vanuatu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy; it is headed by Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 661-4303; FAX: [1] (212) 422-2437" }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "note": { - "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu" - } + "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu" }, "Flag description": { "text": "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 fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men, as well as unity, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern fronds represent peace", @@ -718,7 +716,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecom services have progressed significantly in recent years; mobile phones are now the primary means of communication and more than 92% of the population is covered by a mobile network; 2016 saw the launch of LTE services and the introduction of rural satellite broadband services; mobile phone use in some rural areas is constrained by electricity shortages; investment in fixed broadband saw recent growth with fiber-optic cables; mobile broadband infrastructure also expanded with a reduction in prices; general broadband penetration is at 45%; Kacific-1 broadband satellite launch in 2019 will change telecommunications for the region (2020)" + "text": "telecom services have progressed significantly in recent years; mobile phones are now the primary means of communication and more than 92% of the population is covered by a mobile network; 2016 saw the launch of LTE services and the introduction of rural satellite broadband services; mobile phone use in some rural areas is constrained by electricity shortages; investment in fixed broadband saw recent growth with fiber-optic cables; mobile broadband infrastructure also expanded with a reduction in prices; general broadband penetration is at 45%; Kacific-1 broadband satellite launch in 2019 will change telecommunications for the region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 88 per 100 (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/nr.json b/australia-oceania/nr.json index c4ee50c6..e6bb035e 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/nr.json +++ b/australia-oceania/nr.json @@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018)" + "text": "adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular 95 per 100 (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/nz.json b/australia-oceania/nz.json index 72495aa6..45104daf 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/nz.json +++ b/australia-oceania/nz.json @@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ } }, "Government type": { - "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" + "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { @@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 11 January 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 11 January 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008" @@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ "text": "$201.4 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3% (2017 est.) / 4.1% (2016 est.) / 4.2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.22% (2019 est.) / 3.22% (2018 est.) / 3.8% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$39,000 (2017 est.) / $38,600 (2016 est.) / $37,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ "text": "1.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.655 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.709 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.7% (2017 est.) / 5.1% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.13% (2019 est.) / 4.32% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" @@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ "text": "1.9% (2017 est.) / 0.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$5.471 billion (2017 est.) / -$4.171 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$6.962 billion (2019 est.) / -$8.742 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$37.35 billion (2017 est.) / $33.61 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent domestic and international systems; mobile and P2P services soar; LTE rates some of the fastest in the world; growth in mobile broadband and fiber sectors; roll out of 5G; investment and development of infrastructure enable network capabilities to propel the digital economy, digital media sector along with e-government, e-commerce across the country; newest and most powerful commercial satellite, Kacific-1 satellite, launched in 2019 to improve telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region (2020)" + "text": "excellent domestic and international systems; mobile and P2P services soar; LTE rates some of the fastest in the world; growth in mobile broadband and fiber sectors; roll out of 5G; investment and development of infrastructure enable network capabilities to propel the digital economy, digital media sector along with e-government, e-commerce across the country; newest and most powerful commercial satellite, Kacific-1 satellite, launched in 2019 to improve telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 135 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/pc.json b/australia-oceania/pc.json index bdb380ef..ec804ffc 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/pc.json +++ b/australia-oceania/pc.json @@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ "text": "none" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term; election last held on 6 November 2019 (next to be held not later than December 2022)" + "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term; election last held on 6 November 2019 (next to be held not later than December 2022)" }, "election results": { "text": "Charlene WARREN-PEU elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council; Island Council vote - NA" diff --git a/australia-oceania/ps.json b/australia-oceania/ps.json index 38f3d572..0e3bab61 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/ps.json +++ b/australia-oceania/ps.json @@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ "text": "UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: the Palauan meaning is \"place of fermented 'mud'\" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods ++ note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006" + "text": "etymology: the Palauan meaning is \"place of fermented 'mud'\" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods ++ note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 41 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 134 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 680; landing point for the SEA-US submarine cable linking Palau, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Hawaii (US), Guam (US) and California (US); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 680; landing point for the SEA-US submarine cable linking Palau, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Hawaii (US), Guam (US) and California (US); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/australia-oceania/rm.json b/australia-oceania/rm.json index c72ed7e3..c766a41a 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/rm.json +++ b/australia-oceania/rm.json @@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ } }, "Religions": { - "text": "Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Mormon 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%,  other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.)" + "text": "Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Mormon 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { @@ -406,19 +406,19 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President David KABUA (since  13 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" + "text": "President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { - "text": "President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020)" + "text": "President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024)" + "text": "president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "David KABUA elected president; Parliament vote - David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12" + "text": "David KABUA elected president; Parliament vote - David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include fiber optic cable service, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits; the US Government, World Bank, UN and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have aided in improvements and monetary aid to the islands telecom; mobile penetrations is around 30%; radio communication is especially vital to remote islands (2018)" + "text": "some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include fiber optic cable service, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits; the US Government, World Bank, UN and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have aided in improvements and monetary aid to the islands telecom; mobile penetrations is around 30%; radio communication is especially vital to remote islands (2018)" }, "domestic": { "text": "Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones; fixed-line 4 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is 28 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/tn.json b/australia-oceania/tn.json index 9e79106e..3765e4f3 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/tn.json +++ b/australia-oceania/tn.json @@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ "text": "last held on 16 November 2017 (next to be held in 2020)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 14, nobles' representatives 9,  independent 3; composition - men 24, women 2, percent of women 7.7%" + "text": "percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 14, nobles' representatives 9, independent 3; composition - men 24, women 2, percent of women 7.7%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019)" + "text": "1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".to" @@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "maritime boundary dispute with Fiji ++  " + "text": "maritime boundary dispute with Fiji ++" } } } \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/australia-oceania/tv.json b/australia-oceania/tv.json index 9ad24b2d..9eabd4ee 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/tv.json +++ b/australia-oceania/tv.json @@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections" }, "election results": { - "text": "Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6" + "text": "Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -564,13 +564,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "99.4% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "98.5% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -644,7 +638,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "internal communications needs met; small global scale of over 11,000 people on 9 inhabited islands; mobile subscriber penetration about 40% and broadband about 10% penetration; govt. owned and sole provider of telecommunications services; 2G widespread; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 satellite will improve the telecommunication sector for the Asia Pacific region (2020)" + "text": "internal communications needs met; small global scale of over 11,000 people on 9 inhabited islands; mobile subscriber penetration about 40% and broadband about 10% penetration; govt. owned and sole provider of telecommunications services; 2G widespread; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 satellite will improve the telecommunication sector for the Asia Pacific region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "radiotelephone communications between islands; fixed-line 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular 70 per 100 (2019)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/um.json b/australia-oceania/um.json index a54af7a1..b2f3ebe5 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/um.json +++ b/australia-oceania/um.json @@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ "text": "Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard; ++ Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard; ++ Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA" }, "Environment - current issues": { - "text": "Baker Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in 1937 during a short-lived colonization effort, ravaged the avian population and were eradicated in 1965 ++ ++ Howland Island: no natural freshwater resources; the island habitat has suffered from invasive exotic species; black rats, introduced in 1854, were eradicated by feral cats within a year of their introduction in 1937; the cats preyed on the bird population and were eliminated by 1985 ++ Jarvis Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in the 1930s during a short-lived colonization venture, were not completely removed until 1990 ++ ++ Johnston Atoll: no natural freshwater resources; the seven decades under US military administration (1934-2004) left the atoll environmentally degraded and required large-scale remediation efforts; a swarm of Anoplolepis (crazy) ants invaded the island in 2010 damaging native wildlife; eradication has been largely, but not completely, successful ++ ++ Midway Islands:  many exotic species introduced, 75% of the roughly 200 plant species on the island are non-native; plastic pollution harms wildlife, via entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contamination ++ Kingman Reef: none ++ Palmyra Atoll: black rats, believed to have been introduced to the atoll during the US military occupation of the 1940s, severely degraded the ecosystem outcompeting native species (seabirds, crabs); following a successful rat removal project in 2011, native flora and fauna have begun to recover" + "text": "Baker Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in 1937 during a short-lived colonization effort, ravaged the avian population and were eradicated in 1965 ++ ++ Howland Island: no natural freshwater resources; the island habitat has suffered from invasive exotic species; black rats, introduced in 1854, were eradicated by feral cats within a year of their introduction in 1937; the cats preyed on the bird population and were eliminated by 1985 ++ Jarvis Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in the 1930s during a short-lived colonization venture, were not completely removed until 1990 ++ ++ Johnston Atoll: no natural freshwater resources; the seven decades under US military administration (1934-2004) left the atoll environmentally degraded and required large-scale remediation efforts; a swarm of Anoplolepis (crazy) ants invaded the island in 2010 damaging native wildlife; eradication has been largely, but not completely, successful ++ ++ Midway Islands: many exotic species introduced, 75% of the roughly 200 plant species on the island are non-native; plastic pollution harms wildlife, via entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contamination ++ Kingman Reef: none ++ Palmyra Atoll: black rats, believed to have been introduced to the atoll during the US military occupation of the 1940s, severely degraded the ecosystem outcompeting native species (seabirds, crabs); following a successful rat removal project in 2011, native flora and fauna have begun to recover" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; closed to the public; ++ Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; ++ Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public; ++ Midway Islands: a coral atoll managed as a National Wildlife Refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography; ++ Palmyra Atoll: the high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island territories; supports a large undisturbed stand of Pisonia beach forest" @@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ "Dependency status": { "text": "with the exception of Palmyra Atoll, the constituent islands are unincorporated, unorganized territories of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System", "note": { - "text": "note: Palmyra Atoll is partly privately owned and partly federally owned; the federally owned portion is administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as an incorporated, unorganized territory of the US; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon" + "text": "note: Palmyra Atoll is partly privately owned and partly federally owned; the federally owned portion is administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as an incorporated, unorganized territory of the US; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon" } }, "Legal system": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/wf.json b/australia-oceania/wf.json index f0ce6994..1c2fb504 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/wf.json +++ b/australia-oceania/wf.json @@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "note": { - "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)" + "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/wq.json b/australia-oceania/wq.json index de91cc99..1ed2cb08 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/wq.json +++ b/australia-oceania/wq.json @@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ } }, "Energy": { + "Electricity access": { + "electrification - total population": { + "text": "100% (2020)" + } + }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" } diff --git a/australia-oceania/ws.json b/australia-oceania/ws.json index afa52c8d..62755132 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/ws.json +++ b/australia-oceania/ws.json @@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ "text": "Western Samoa" }, "etymology": { - "text": "the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the \"sa\" connotes  \"sacred\" and \"moa\" indicates \"center,\" so the name can mean \"Holy Center\"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean \"place of the sacred moa bird\" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as \"sa'a\" meaning \"tribe or people\" and \"moa\" meaning \"deep sea or ocean\" to convey the meaning \"people of the deep sea\"" + "text": "the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the \"sa\" connotes \"sacred\" and \"moa\" indicates \"center,\" so the name can mean \"Holy Center\"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean \"place of the sacred moa bird\" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as \"sa'a\" meaning \"tribe or people\" and \"moa\" meaning \"deep sea or ocean\" to convey the meaning \"people of the deep sea\"" } }, "Government type": { @@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -752,13 +752,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "most households have at least one mobile phone; all businesses in the greater Apia area have access to broadband and Wi-Fi, which is reasonably reliable and fast; in rural Upolu and on Savaii Island there is now readily available high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi; due to the establishment of a regulatory infrastructure, liberalization and competition of the mobile market the telecom market has increased coverage and reduced cost; 4G LTE services accessible to about 95% of residents; working to increase speed, reliability and connectivity (2020)" + "text": "most households have at least one mobile phone; all businesses in the greater Apia area have access to broadband and Wi-Fi, which is reasonably reliable and fast; in rural Upolu and on Savaii Island there is now readily available high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi; due to the establishment of a regulatory infrastructure, liberalization and competition of the mobile market the telecom market has increased coverage and reduced cost; 4G LTE services accessible to about 95% of residents; working to increase speed, reliability and connectivity (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 64 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 685; landing points for the Tui-Samo, Manatua, SAS, and Southern Cross NEXT submarine cables providing connectivity to Samoa, Fiji, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, Niue, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Kiribati, Los Angeles (US), and Tokelau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 685; landing points for the Tui-Samo, Manatua, SAS, and Southern Cross NEXT submarine cables providing connectivity to Samoa, Fiji, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, Niue, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Kiribati, Los Angeles (US), and Tokelau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json index 400db1d2..aa6978f8 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json @@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ }, "Constitution": { "history": { - "text": "previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); in 1986, Aruba became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands" + "text": "previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); in 1986, Aruba became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ "text": "Joint Court judges appointed for life by the monarch" }, "subordinate courts": { - "text": " Court in First Instance" + "text": "Court in First Instance" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { @@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "text": "none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Guillfred BESARIL (since 20 November 2017) is Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba, seated with his cabinet in the Aruba House (Arubahuis) in The Hague", "note": { - "text": "none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba, Rendolf \"Andy\" LEE,  at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" + "text": "none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba, Rendolf \"Andy\" LEE, at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { @@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ "text": "ongoing changes in regulations and competition improving teledensity; 34 per 100 fixed-line, 135 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 297; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, and Alonso de Ojeda submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, Puerto Ricco, Jamaica, Guyana, Sint Eustatius & Saba, Suriname, Dominican Republic, BVI, USVI, Haiti, Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles,  through Aruba to Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2019)" + "text": "country code - 297; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, and Alonso de Ojeda submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, Puerto Ricco, Jamaica, Guyana, Sint Eustatius & Saba, Suriname, Dominican Republic, BVI, USVI, Haiti, Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles, through Aruba to Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json index 0c1169cb..ad02abdb 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json @@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last appointed on 26 March 2018 (next NA) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 21 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate -  composition - men 8, women 9, percent of women 52.9% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - ABLP 59.4%, UPP 37.2%, BPM 1.4%, other 1.9% ; seats by party - ABLP 15, UPP 1, BPM 1; composition - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31.4%" + "text": "Senate - composition - men 8, women 9, percent of women 52.9% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - ABLP 59.4%, UPP 37.2%, BPM 1.4%, other 1.9% ; seats by party - ABLP 15, UPP 1, BPM 1; composition - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31.4%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line teledensity roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 193 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-268; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-268; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json index cc1a61e6..5e1fb127 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json @@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Tim FOY (since August 2017)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020); note -  starting in 2019, the title of head of government was changed to premier from chief minister of Anguilla" + "text": "Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020); note - starting in 2019, the title of head of government was changed to premier from chief minister of Anguilla" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected members of the House of Assembly" @@ -353,13 +353,10 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "telephone": { - "text": "[34] (93) 280-2227" + "text": "[1] (246) 227-4000" }, "embassy": { - "text": "US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain" - }, - "note": { - "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)" + "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000" } }, "Flag description": { @@ -552,7 +549,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line teledensity is about 42 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 182 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-264; landing points for the SSCS, ECFS, GCN and Southern Caribbean Fiber with submarine cable links to Caribbean islands and to the US; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-264; landing points for the SSCS, ECFS, GCN and Southern Caribbean Fiber with submarine cable links to Caribbean islands and to the US; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json index 1bb9175b..bd892272 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json @@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ } }, "Government type": { - "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" + "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { @@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008" @@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json index 57c8e6dd..6c84a82b 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json @@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ } }, "Government type": { - "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" + "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { @@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ "text": "Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators" }, "note": { - "text": "note: the Bahamas is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community but is not party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest appellate court;  the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas" + "text": "note: the Bahamas is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community but is not party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest appellate court; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { @@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "The Bahamas has 4 major TV providers that provide service to all major islands in the archipelago; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes freely with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 31 are privately owned FM radio stations operating on New Providence, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco Island, and on smaller islands in the country; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio broadcasting network that has national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)" + "text": "The Bahamas has 4 major TV providers that provide service to all major islands in the archipelago; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes freely with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 31 are privately owned FM radio stations operating on New Providence, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco Island, and on smaller islands in the country; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio broadcasting network that has national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".bs" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json index 75e2cad2..dd3b9b01 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json @@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ "text": "UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: the decision to move the capital of the country inland to higher and more stable land was made in the 1960s; the name chosen for the new city was formed from the union of two words: \"Belize,\" the name of the longest river in the country, and \"Mopan,\" one of the rivers in the area of the new capital that empties into the Belize River" + "text": "etymology: the decision to move the capital of the country inland to higher and more stable land was made in the 1960s; the name chosen for the new city was formed from the union of two words: \"Belize,\" the name of the longest river in the country, and \"Mopan,\" one of the rivers in the area of the new capital that empties into the Belize River" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville Norbert YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Patrick FABER (since 7 June 2016)" + "text": "Prime Minister Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Cordel HYDE (since 16 November 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly" @@ -414,13 +414,13 @@ "text": "bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (14 seats, including the president); members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, non-governmental organizations in good standing, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; Senate president elected from among the Senate members or from outside the Senate; term of appointment NA ++ House of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Senate -  last appointed 13 November 2015 (next appointments on 11 November 2020) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2015 (next to be held on 11 November 2020)" + "text": "Senate - last appointed 11 November 2020 (next appointments in November 2025) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 11 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - composition as of December 2019 - men 11, women 3, percent of women 21.4% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - UDP 50%, PUP 47.3%, other 2.7%; seats by party - UDP 19, PUP 12; composition - men 29, women 2; percent of women 6.5%; note - total National Assembly percent of women as of June 2019 - 11.1%" + "text": "House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PUP 59.6%, UDP 38.8%, other 1.6%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 5" }, "note": { - "text": " " + "text": "" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "92.2% (2016)" + "text": "99.5% (2018)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "97.1% (2016)" @@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ "text": "5 per 100 fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons; mobile sector accounting for over 90% of all phone subscriptions (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 501; landing points for the ARCOS and SEUL fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 501; landing points for the ARCOS and SEUL fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json index 2a4871df..d78ac479 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json @@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018)" + "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013)" @@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity; given the high dependence of tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services, the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; good competition in all sectors promotes advancement in mobile telephony and data segments (2018)" + "text": "reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity; given the high dependence of tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services, the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; good competition in all sectors promotes advancement in mobile telephony and data segments (2018)" }, "domestic": { "text": "introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions dramatically; 55 per 100 fixed-line, 153 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json index af742789..1ddae5a9 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json @@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ "text": "1.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.229 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "1.843 million (2020 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica" } @@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -768,13 +768,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; in recent years growth has been achieved from liberalization of the telecom sector and has seen substantial expansion in all sectors; Costa Rica's broadband market is the most advanced in Central America, with the highest broadband penetration for this sub-region; broadband penetration does lag behind many South American countries; with the implementation of number portability there is greater opportunity for increased competition in the future (2018)" + "text": "good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; in recent years growth has been achieved from liberalization of the telecom sector and has seen substantial expansion in all sectors; Costa Rica's broadband market is the most advanced in Central America, with the highest broadband penetration for this sub-region; broadband penetration does lag behind many South American countries; with the implementation of number portability there is greater opportunity for increased competition in the future (2018)" }, "domestic": { "text": "13 per 100 fixed-line, 162 per 100 mobile-cellular; point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the PAC submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the PAC submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ "text": "13,517 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "82 (2018)" + "text": "231 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json index 626715d7..06753dfa 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. ++ The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4-6 billion annually. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense.  ++ Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called \"wet-foot, dry-foot\" policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Illicit Cuban migration by sea has since dropped significantly, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2018, the US Coast Guard interdicted 312 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2018, 7,249 Cuban migrants presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US." + "text": "The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. ++ The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4-6 billion annually. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. ++ Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called \"wet-foot, dry-foot\" policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Illicit Cuban migration by sea has since dropped significantly, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2018, the US Coast Guard interdicted 312 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2018, 7,249 Cuban migrants presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US." } }, "Geography": { @@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -783,14 +783,14 @@ "text": "fixed-line density remains low at about 13 per 100 inhabitants; mobile-cellular service is expanding to about 53 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 53; the ALBA-1, GTMO-1, and GTMO-PR fiber-optic submarine cables link Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 53; the ALBA-1, GTMO-1, and GTMO-PR fiber-optic submarine cables link Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "Government owns and controls all broadcast media: five national TV channels (Cubavision, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2,) 2 international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Caribe,) 16 regional TV stations, 6 national radio networks and multiple regional stations; the Cuban government beams over the Radio-TV Marti signal; although private ownership of electronic media is prohibited, several online independent news sites exist; those that are not openly critical of the government are often tolerated; the others are blocked by the government; there are no independent TV channels, but several outlets have created strong audiovisual content (El Toque, for example); a community of young Youtubers is also growing, mostly with channels about sports, technology and fashion; Christian denominations are creating original video content to distribute via social media (2019)" + "text": "Government owns and controls all broadcast media: five national TV channels (Cubavision, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2,) 2 international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Caribe,) 16 regional TV stations, 6 national radio networks and multiple regional stations; the Cuban government beams over the Radio-TV Marti signal; although private ownership of electronic media is prohibited, several online independent news sites exist; those that are not openly critical of the government are often tolerated; the others are blocked by the government; there are no independent TV channels, but several outlets have created strong audiovisual content (El Toque, for example); a community of young Youtubers is also growing, mostly with channels about sports, technology and fashion; Christian denominations are creating original video content to distribute via social media (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".cu" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json index 206a32f6..e972f1a0 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json @@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ "text": "unicameral House of Assembly (32 seats; 21 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 senators appointed by the president - 5 on the advice of the prime minister, and 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, plus 2 ex-officio members - the house speaker and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 6 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but technically it is 5 years from the first seating of parliament plus a 90-day grace period" + "text": "last held on 6 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but technically it is 5 years from the first seating of parliament plus a 90-day grace period" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - DLP 59.0%, UWP 41.0%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3" @@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -656,13 +656,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fully automatic network; there are multiple competing operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas; (2020)" + "text": "fully automatic network; there are multiple competing operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas; (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line connections continue to decline slowly with only two active operators providing about 4 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 106 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json index f2e86666..8c5bdebc 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json @@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -774,13 +774,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "there are multiple operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas; fixed-line teledensity well-below Latin America averages; development of LTE and HSPA (high speed packet access) services, mobile broadband has taken off; income inequalities seen in telephone accesses (2020)" + "text": "there are multiple operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas; fixed-line teledensity well-below Latin America averages; development of LTE and HSPA (high speed packet access) services, mobile broadband has taken off; income inequalities seen in telephone accesses (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is about 11 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of 83 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json index dbbbba4a..bbd7867d 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json @@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Werner Matias ROMERO Guerra (since 9 June 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Werner Matias ROMERO Guerra (since 9 June 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036" @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ "text": "3.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.774 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.908 million (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ "text": "the FAES is dependent on a mix of imported Cold War-era platforms, largely from the US; since 2000, the FAES has received limited amounts of equipment from Chile, Israel, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "200 Mali (MINUSMA) (March 2020)" + "text": "200 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json index 35dca456..0792cbee 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json @@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Yolande Yvonne SMITH (since 8 April 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Yolande Yvonne SMITH (since 8 April 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009" @@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ "text": "interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links; 29 per 100 for fixed-line and 102 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-473; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and CARCIP submarine cables with links to 13 Caribbean islands extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad & Tobago including Puerto Rico and Barbados; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-473; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and CARCIP submarine cables with links to 13 Caribbean islands extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad & Tobago including Puerto Rico and Barbados; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json index fd170c99..8773eddb 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json @@ -433,10 +433,10 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" + "text": "President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { - "text": "President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020)" + "text": "President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president" @@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; 127 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies in the country's 22 departments by simple majority vote and 31 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - two additional seats will be added to the new congress when it is seated in January 2020" + "text": "unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; 127 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies in the country's 22 departments by simple majority vote and 31 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - two additional seats will be added to the new congress when it is seated in January 2020" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 16 June 2019 (next to be held on June 2023)" @@ -791,13 +791,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "network centered in the city of Guatemala; one of the lowest teledensities in the region especially in the country, rural areas have no fixed-line access so mobile services adopted as necessary; state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opened the way for competition; steady improvement of fixed-line which has also spurred growth in mobile-cellular and broadband; open regulatory framework coupled with competition and greater disposable household revenue spurs growth (2020)" + "text": "network centered in the city of Guatemala; one of the lowest teledensities in the region especially in the country, rural areas have no fixed-line access so mobile services adopted as necessary; state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opened the way for competition; steady improvement of fixed-line which has also spurred growth in mobile-cellular and broadband; open regulatory framework coupled with competition and greater disposable household revenue spurs growth (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity roughly 11 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are concentrating on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity about 119 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 502; landing points for the ARCOS, AMX-1, American Movil-Texius West Coast Cable and the SAm-1 fiber-optic submarine cable system that, together, provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 502; landing points for the ARCOS, AMX-1, American Movil-Texius West Coast Cable and the SAm-1 fiber-optic submarine cable system that, together, provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ "text": "the Guatemalan military inventory is small and mostly comprised of older US equipment; since 2010, Guatemala has received limited amounts of equipment from Canada, Colombia, Spain, Taiwan, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (April 2020)" + "text": "150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are eligible for military service; in practice, most of the force is volunteer, however, a selective draft system is employed, resulting in a small portion of 17-21 year-olds conscripted; conscript service obligation varies from 1 to 2 years; women can serve as officers (2013)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json index 737a1bd5..c8b513b3 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The native Taino - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed on it in 1492 - were virtually wiped out by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans and environmentally degrading practices. In the late 18th century, Toussaint L'OUVERTURE led a revolution of Haiti's nearly half a million slaves that ended France's rule on the island. After a prolonged struggle, and under the leadership of Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, Haiti became the first country in the world led by former slaves after declaring its independence in 1804, but it was forced to pay an indemnity to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. After the US occupied Haiti from 1915-1934, Francois \"Papa Doc\" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti from 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. A massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010 with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years. On 4 October 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti, resulting in over 500 deaths and causing extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure. Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti continues to experience bouts of political instability.   ++  " + "text": "The native Taino - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed on it in 1492 - were virtually wiped out by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans and environmentally degrading practices. In the late 18th century, Toussaint L'OUVERTURE led a revolution of Haiti's nearly half a million slaves that ended France's rule on the island. After a prolonged struggle, and under the leadership of Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, Haiti became the first country in the world led by former slaves after declaring its independence in 1804, but it was forced to pay an indemnity to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. After the US occupied Haiti from 1915-1934, Francois \"Papa Doc\" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude \"Baby Doc\" DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti from 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. A massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010 with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years. On 4 October 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti, resulting in over 500 deaths and causing extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure. Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti continues to experience bouts of political instability. ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ "text": "judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly; note - Article 174 of Haiti's constitution states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 10 years, whereas Article 177 states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for life" }, "subordinate courts": { - "text": "Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts;  land, labor, and children's courts" + "text": "Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts; land, labor, and children's courts" }, "note": { "text": "note: the Superior Council of the Judiciary or Conseil Superieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json index ea0d7f6e..dc48d6c0 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json @@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ "text": "0.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "1.348 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "1.113 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "12.2% (2017 est.) / 12.8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "7.72% (2019 est.) / 9.13% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "17.1% (2016 est.)" @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ "text": "4.4% (2017 est.) / 2.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$679 million (2017 est.) / -$381 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$298 million (2019 est.) / -$288 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$1.296 billion (2017 est.) / $1.195 billion (2016 est.)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json index 4f81ea42..c602f320 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json @@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Andrew PEARCE (since 1 February 2018)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019); note - effective with The Constitution Order 2010, effective October 2010, the office of premier replaced the office of chief minister" + "text": "Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019); note - effective with The Constitution Order 2010, effective October 2010, the office of premier replaced the office of chief minister" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary" @@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ "text": "last held on 18 November 2019 (next scheduled for 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - MCAP 42.7%, PDM 29.9%, other 17.1%; seats by party - MCAP 5, PDM 3, independent 1" + "text": "percent of vote by party - MCAP 42.7%, PDM 29.9%, other 17.1%; seats by party - MCAP 5, PDM 3, independent 1" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "text": "None (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy in Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI" + "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy in Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI" }, "Flag description": { "text": "blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness" @@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecom market one of growth in Caribbean and fully digitalized; high dependency on tourism and offshore financial services; operators expand FttP (Fiber to Home) services; LTE launches and operators invest in mobile networks; effective competition in all sectors (2020)" + "text": "telecom market one of growth in Caribbean and fully digitalized; high dependency on tourism and offshore financial services; operators expand FttP (Fiber to Home) services; LTE launches and operators invest in mobile networks; effective competition in all sectors (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 101 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defence Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties),  Montserrat Police Force (2019)" + "text": "no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defence Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2019)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "defense is the responsibility of the UK" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/nn.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/nn.json index 81dfa7de..36fd649e 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/nn.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/nn.json @@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Saint Maarten 29.9%, Dominican Republic 10.2%, Haiti 7.8%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Martin 5.9%, Guyana 5%, Dominica 4.4%, Curacao 4.1%, Aruba 3.4%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.8%, India 2.6%, Netherlands 2.2%, US 1.6%, Suriname 1.4%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, Anguilla 1.1%, other 8%, unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note:  data represent population by country of birth" + "text": "note: data represent population by country of birth" } }, "Languages": { @@ -325,15 +325,15 @@ "text": "the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by Parliament" }, "note": { - "text": "note - on 16 January 2020, Governor Eugene HOLIDAY appoints Silveria JACOBS as formateur of a new government" + "text": "note - on 16 January 2020, Governor Eugene HOLIDAY appoints Silveria JACOBS as formateur of a new government" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Parliament of Sint Maarten (15 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)" + "text": "unicameral Parliament of Sint Maarten (15 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held 9 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024)" + "text": "last held 9 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - NA 35.2%, UP 24.2%, US Party 13.2%, PFP 10.6%, UD 8.7%, other 8.1%; seats by party - NA 6, UP 4, PFP 2, US Party 2, UD 1" @@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Sint Maarten; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Sint Maarten" }, "Flag description": { - "text": "two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays the Sint Maarten coat of arms; the arms consist of an orange-bordered  blue shield prominently displaying the white court house in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left,  and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is surmounted by a yellow rising sun in front of which is a brown pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield bears the motto: SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing); the three main colors are identical to those on the Dutch flag", + "text": "two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays the Sint Maarten coat of arms; the arms consist of an orange-bordered blue shield prominently displaying the white court house in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left, and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is surmounted by a yellow rising sun in front of which is a brown pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield bears the motto: SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing); the three main colors are identical to those on the Dutch flag", "note": { "text": "note: the flag somewhat resembles that of the Philippines but with the main red and blue bands reversed; the banner more closely evokes the wartime Philippine flag" } diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/nu.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/nu.json index 39a742e5..6670fdb9 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/nu.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/nu.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civic-military coalition, spearheaded by the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, and most recently in 2016. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have weakened under the ORTEGA administration as the president has garnered full control over all branches of government, especially after cracking down on a nationwide antigovernment protest movement in 2018." + "text": "The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civic-military coalition, spearheaded by the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, and most recently in 2016. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have weakened under the ORTEGA administration as the president has garnered full control over all branches of government, especially after cracking down on a nationwide antigovernment protest movement in 2018." } }, "Geography": { @@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "system being upgraded by foreign investment; new canal being built between Pacific and Caribbean with Chinese funding; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company; lowest fixed-line teledensity and mobile penetration in Central America; Internet cafe's provide access to Internet and email services; telecom is bigger in the cities and marginal in rural area; liberalization slow; a Russian state corporation is operating in the area; LTE service in 60 towns and cities (2020)" + "text": "system being upgraded by foreign investment; new canal being built between Pacific and Caribbean with Chinese funding; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company; lowest fixed-line teledensity and mobile penetration in Central America; Internet cafe's provide access to Internet and email services; telecom is bigger in the cities and marginal in rural area; liberalization slow; a Russian state corporation is operating in the area; LTE service in 60 towns and cities (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 4 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to 88 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/pm.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/pm.json index 5c1207f3..90cfafe2 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/pm.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/pm.json @@ -422,10 +422,10 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Laurentino \"Nito\" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" + "text": "President Laurentino \"Nito\" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { - "text": "President Laurentino \"Nito\" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019)" + "text": "President Laurentino \"Nito\" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president" @@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ "text": "president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term); election last held on 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Laurentino \"Nito\" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panamenista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%" + "text": "Laurentino \"Nito\" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panamenista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Juan Ricardo DE DIANOUS HENRIQUEZ (since 16 September 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Juan Ricardo DE DIANOUS HENRIQUEZ (since 16 September 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20007" @@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6% (2017 est.) / 5.5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.14% (2018 est.) / 6% (2017 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "23% (2015 est.)" @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 17 per 100 and rapid subscribership of mobile-cellular telephone 132 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 507; landing points for the PAN-AM, ARCOS, SAC, AURORA, PCCS, PAC, and the MAYA-1 submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2019)" + "text": "country code - 507; landing points for the PAN-AM, ARCOS, SAC, AURORA, PCCS, PAC, and the MAYA-1 submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ "Military and security forces": { "text": "no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Security Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Public Security), comprising the National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2020)", "note": { - "text": "note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President Guillermo ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of \"external aggression\"" + "text": "note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President Guillermo ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of \"external aggression\"" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { @@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "15,614 (Colombia) (2016), 79,155 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" + "text": "79,155 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/rn.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/rn.json index 0266adbf..1249a0f9 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/rn.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/rn.json @@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ "text": "direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems (2018)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 590; landing points for the SMPR-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands (2019)" + "text": "country code - 590; landing points for the SMPR-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/rq.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/rq.json index 8b03045c..5a3eb7a8 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/rq.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/rq.json @@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ "text": "President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Governor Wanda VAZQUEZ (since 7 August 2019)" + "text": "Governor Wanda VAZQUEZ (since 7 August 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly" @@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ "text": "Ricardo ROSSELLO elected governor; percent of vote - Ricardo ROSSELLO (PNP) 41.8%, David BERNIER (PPD) 38.9%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 11.1%, Manuel CIDRE (independent) 5.7%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: on 24 July 2019, Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO announced his resignation effective 2 August 2019; as Secretary of State, Pedro PIERLUISI succeeded Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO; on 7 August 2019 the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled Pedro PIERLUISI accession was unconstitutional and Wanda VAZQUEZ is sworn in as governor" + "text": "note: on 24 July 2019, Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO announced his resignation effective 2 August 2019; as Secretary of State, Pedro PIERLUISI succeeded Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO; on 7 August 2019 the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled Pedro PIERLUISI accession was unconstitutional and Wanda VAZQUEZ is sworn in as governor" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability; havoc caused by hurricane Maria in 2017 and earthquake in 2020, has left the island lagging behind the mainland US both economically and technologically; competition among network operators helps with growth; availability of LTE coverage increasing to 90%; operators expanding and securing 600 MHz spectrum, LTE reach and launching services based on 5G to majority of the population (2020)" + "text": "modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability; havoc caused by hurricane Maria in 2017 and earthquake in 2020, has left the island lagging behind the mainland US both economically and technologically; competition among network operators helps with growth; availability of LTE coverage increasing to 90%; operators expanding and securing 600 MHz spectrum, LTE reach and launching services based on 5G to majority of the population (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services; fixed-line 23 per 100 and mobile-cellular 115 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json index 4962e13d..bf44037a 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json @@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ "text": "last held on 5 June 2020 (next to be held on 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - Team Unity (PAM, CCM,PLP) 56.4%, SKNLP 34.5%, NRP 9%; seats by party - PAM 4, SKNLP 2, CCM 3, PLP 2" + "text": "percent of vote by party - Team Unity (PAM, CCM,PLP) 56.4%, SKNLP 34.5%, NRP 9%; seats by party - PAM 4, SKNLP 2, CCM 3, PLP 2" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ "text": "interisland links via ECFS; fixed-line teledensity about 33 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 148 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-869; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity for numerous Caribbean Islands (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-869; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity for numerous Caribbean Islands (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json index c193794e..3ab93f95 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json @@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 102 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-758; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-758; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/tb.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/tb.json index 68975cba..69a13f3c 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/tb.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/tb.json @@ -275,10 +275,7 @@ } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France", - "note": { - "text": ")" - } + "text": "none (overseas collectivity of France)" }, "Flag description": { "text": "the flag of France is used" @@ -315,7 +312,7 @@ "text": "direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems, 3 FM channels, no broadcasting (2018)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 590; landing points for the SSCS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing voice and data connectivity to numerous Caribbean Islands (2019)" + "text": "country code - 590; landing points for the SSCS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing voice and data connectivity to numerous Caribbean Islands (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/td.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/td.json index a136168b..9d079807 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/td.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/td.json @@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "18,587 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" + "text": "18,587 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/tk.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/tk.json index f8be0e54..7a8f39a8 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/tk.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/tk.json @@ -366,9 +366,7 @@ } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "note": { - "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)" - } + "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)" }, "Flag description": { "text": "blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota" @@ -506,13 +504,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "95.7% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "42.7% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -602,7 +594,7 @@ "text": "full range of services available; GSM wireless service available; fixed-line teledensity 11 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)" + "text": "country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json index 5707081c..a3bee319 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json @@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ "text": "Cabinet sworn-in by the governor" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; next election scheduled for 2016" + "text": "the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; next election scheduled for 2016" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fully automatic modern telecommunications system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region continues to be one of the growth areas; given the lack of economic diversity in the region, with a high dependence on tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services the telecom sector contributes greatly to the GDP (2020)" + "text": "fully automatic modern telecommunications system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region continues to be one of the growth areas; given the lack of economic diversity in the region, with a high dependence on tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services the telecom sector contributes greatly to the GDP (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "39 per 100 users for fixed-line and 116 per 100 users for cellular-mobile, majority of the islanders have Internet; market revenue has been affected in recent quarters as a result of competition and regulatory measures on termination rates and roaming tariffs (2020)" @@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "government-run TeleCuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; 2 other privately owned TV stations and several privately owned radio stations (2019)" + "text": "government-run TeleCuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; 2 other privately owned TV stations and several privately owned radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".cw" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/vc.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/vc.json index 91a97e23..52a4574f 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/vc.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/vc.json @@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ "text": "English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois" }, "Religions": { - "text": "Protestant 75% (Pentecostal 27.6%, Anglican 13.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.6%,  Baptist 8.9%, Methodist 8.7%, Evangelical 3.8%, Salvation Army .3%, Presbyterian/Congregational .3%), Roman Catholic 6.3%,  Rastafarian 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other 4.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 4.7% (2012 est.)" + "text": "Protestant 75% (Pentecostal 27.6%, Anglican 13.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.6%, Baptist 8.9%, Methodist 8.7%, Evangelical 3.8%, Salvation Army .3%, Presbyterian/Congregational .3%), Roman Catholic 6.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other 4.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 4.7% (2012 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { @@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019)" + "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)" @@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line teledensity exceeds 12 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 93 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-784; landing points for the ECFS, CARCIP and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to US and Caribbean Islands; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-784; landing points for the ECFS, CARCIP and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to US and Caribbean Islands; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json index 34e5d9f0..a8e589c5 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json @@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ "text": "overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing" }, "Government type": { - "text": "parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK" + "text": "parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK" }, "Capital": { "name": { @@ -595,13 +595,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "good overall telephone service; major expansion sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments, which continue to appeal to operator investment; several operators licensed to provide services within individual markets, most of them are small and localized; telecommunication contributes to overall GDP (2020)" + "text": "good overall telephone service; major expansion sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments, which continue to appeal to operator investment; several operators licensed to provide services within individual markets, most of them are small and localized; telecommunication contributes to overall GDP (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line connections exceed 21 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 198 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019)" + "text": "country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/vq.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/vq.json index ca78992c..3d682c1b 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/vq.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/vq.json @@ -335,10 +335,10 @@ "text": "Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2018 with a runoff on 20 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)" + "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2018 with a runoff on 20 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah \"Foncie\" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3%" + "text": "Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah \"Foncie\" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -346,13 +346,13 @@ "text": "unicameral Legislature of the Virgin Islands (15 seats; senators directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 2-year terms) ++ the Virgin Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term" }, "elections": { - "text": "Legislature of the Virgin Islands last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020) ++ US House of Representatives last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)" + "text": "Legislature of the Virgin Islands last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020) ++ US House of Representatives last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)" }, "election results": { "text": "Legislature of the Virgin Islands - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 13, independents 2; composition - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7% ++ delegate to US House of Representatives - seat by party - Democratic Party 1; composition - 1 woman" }, "note": { - "text": "note: the Virgin Islands to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote" + "text": "note: the Virgin Islands to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a \"full floor\" House vote" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expansion of FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development and expansion in several markets point to investment and focus on data (2020)" + "text": "modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expansion of FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development and expansion in several markets point to investment and focus on data (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "full range of services available; fixed-line 72 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 75 per 100 (2019)" diff --git a/central-asia/kg.json b/central-asia/kg.json index 3c27ac21..93659e93 100644 --- a/central-asia/kg.json +++ b/central-asia/kg.json @@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "7.1% (2017 est.) / 7.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.18% (2019 est.) / 2.59% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "32.1% (2015 est.)" @@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fixed-line phones declining quickly by roll-out of 4G LTE mobile networks; digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration and moderate mobile broadband penetration; international connectivity continues to grow; 4 mobile networks in operation; 4G networks cover over 50% of the nation, eventually 5G networks will be available (2020 )" + "text": "fixed-line phones declining quickly by roll-out of 4G LTE mobile networks; digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration and moderate mobile broadband penetration; international connectivity continues to grow; 4 mobile networks in operation; 4G networks cover over 50% of the nation, eventually 5G networks will be available (2020 )" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line penetration 5 per 100 persons remains low and concentrated in urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 134 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-funded public TV broadcaster KTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR and Channel 5 are state-owned stations with national reach; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 stations are struggling to increase their own content up to 50% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; 3 Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2019)" + "text": "state-funded public TV broadcaster KTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR and Channel 5 are state-owned stations with national reach; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 stations are struggling to increase their own content up to 50% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; 3 Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".kg" @@ -881,6 +881,11 @@ "Disputes - international": { "text": "disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas" }, + "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { + "stateless persons": { + "text": "58 (2019)" + } + }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates" } diff --git a/central-asia/kz.json b/central-asia/kz.json index 6cd7ffea..5c12da85 100644 --- a/central-asia/kz.json +++ b/central-asia/kz.json @@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ "text": "previous 1937, 1978 (preindependence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995" }, "amendments": { - "text": "introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president; amended several times, last in 2019" + "text": "introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president; amended several times, last in 2019" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ "text": "President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019); note - Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, who was president since 24 April 1990 (and in power since 22 June 1989 under the Soviet period), resigned on 20 March 2019; NAZARBAYEV retained the title and powers of \"First President\"; TOKAYEV completed NAZARBAYEV's term, which was shortened due to the early election of 9 June 2019, and then continued as president following his election victory" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Askar MAMIN (since 25 February 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan SMAILOV (since 25 February 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Berdibek SAPARBAYEV and Roman SKLYAR (since 18 September 2019)" + "text": "Prime Minister Askar MAMIN (since 25 February 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan SMAILOV (since 25 February 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Berdibek SAPARBAYEV and Roman SKLYAR (since 18 September 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "the president appoints ministers after consultations with the Chair of the Security Council (NAZARBAYEV) who has veto power over all appointments except for the ministers of defense, internal affairs, and foreign affairs; however, the president is required to discuss these three offices with the National Security Committee, which NAZARBAYEV chairs under a lifetime appointment" @@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last held on 12 August 2020 (next to be held in 2026) ++ Mazhilis - last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held by 2021)" }, "election results": { - "text": "  ++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 42, women 5, percent of women 10.6% ++ Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur Otan 82.2%, Ak Zhol 7.2%, Communist People's Party 7.1%, other 3.5%; seats by party - Nur Otan 84, Ak Zhol 7, Communist People's Party 7; composition - men 78, women 29, percent of women 27.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 22.1%" + "text": "++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 42, women 5, percent of women 10.6% ++ Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur Otan 82.2%, Ak Zhol 7.2%, Communist People's Party 7.1%, other 3.5%; seats by party - Nur Otan 84, Ak Zhol 7, Communist People's Party 7; composition - men 78, women 29, percent of women 27.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 22.1%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ "text": "$159.4 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4% (2017 est.) / 1.1% (2016 est.) / 1.2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "6.13% (2019 est.) / 4.41% (2018 est.) / 4.38% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$26,300 (2017 est.) / $25,700 (2016 est.) / $25,800 (2015 est.)", @@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ "text": "5.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "8.97 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "8.685 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5% (2017 est.) / 5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.8% (2019 est.) / 4.85% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "2.6% (2016 est.)" @@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ "text": "7.4% (2017 est.) / 14.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$5.353 billion (2017 est.) / -$8.874 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$7.206 billion (2019 est.) / -$138 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$49.29 billion (2017 est.) / $37.26 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the most progressive telecoms sectors in Central Asia; vast 4G network; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration, moderate mobile broadband penetration and high mobile penetration; mobile market highly competitive and slow growth due to saturation (2020)" + "text": "one of the most progressive telecoms sectors in Central Asia; vast 4G network; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration, moderate mobile broadband penetration and high mobile penetration; mobile market highly competitive and slow growth due to saturation (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is 17 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage increased rapidly and the subscriber base approaches 139 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ "text": "the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised of mostly older Russian and Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia remains by far the leading supplier of weapons systems, but Kazakhstan has also received weapons systems from China, Germany, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); as of mid-2019, Kazakhstan contributed a brigade to CSTO's Rapid Reaction Force (April 2020)" + "text": "120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); as of mid-2019, Kazakhstan contributed a brigade to CSTO's Rapid Reaction Force (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "All men 18-27 are required to serve in the military for at least one year. (2019)" @@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "7,690 (2018)" + "text": "8,386 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/central-asia/rs.json b/central-asia/rs.json index e8da69e3..37cab470 100644 --- a/central-asia/rs.json +++ b/central-asia/rs.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new ROMANOV Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Devastating defeats and food shortages in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the ROMANOV Dynasty. The communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. After defeating Germany in World War II as part of an alliance with the US (1939-1945), the USSR expanded its territory and influence in Eastern Europe and emerged as a global power. The USSR was the principal adversary of the US during the Cold War (1947-1991). The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the decades following Stalin's rule, until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 led to the dissolution of the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent states. ++ Following economic and political turmoil during President Boris YELTSIN's term (1991-99), Russia shifted toward a centralized authoritarian state under President Vladimir PUTIN (2000-2008, 2012-present) in which the regime seeks to legitimize its rule through managed elections, populist appeals, a foreign policy focused on enhancing the country's geopolitical influence, and commodity-based economic growth. Russia faces a largely subdued rebel movement in Chechnya and some other surrounding regions, although violence still occurs throughout the North Caucasus." + "text": "Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new ROMANOV Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Devastating defeats and food shortages in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the ROMANOV Dynasty. The communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. After defeating Germany in World War II as part of an alliance with the US (1939-1945), the USSR expanded its territory and influence in Eastern Europe and emerged as a global power. The USSR was the principal adversary of the US during the Cold War (1947-1991). The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the decades following Stalin's rule, until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 led to the dissolution of the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent states. ++ Following economic and political turmoil during President Boris YELTSIN's term (1991-99), Russia shifted toward a centralized authoritarian state under President Vladimir PUTIN (2000-2008, 2012-present) in which the regime seeks to legitimize its rule through managed elections, populist appeals, a foreign policy focused on enhancing the country's geopolitical influence, and commodity-based economic growth. Russia faces a largely subdued rebel movement in Chechnya and some other surrounding regions, although violence still occurs throughout the North Caucasus." } }, "Geography": { @@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "A Just Russia [Sergey MIRONOV] ++ Civic Platform or CP [Rifat SHAYKHUTDINOV] ++ Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy ZYUGANOV] ++ Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY] ++ Rodina [Aleksei ZHURAVLYOV] ++ United Russia [Dmitriy MEDVEDEV]", "note": { - "text": "note: 64 political parties are registered with Russia's Ministry of Justice (as of September 2018), but only four parties maintain representation in Russia's national legislature" + "text": "note: 64 political parties are registered with Russia's Ministry of Justice (as of September 2018), but only four parties maintain representation in Russia's national legislature" } }, "International organization participation": { @@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ "text": "$1.578 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.5% (2017 est.) / -0.2% (2016 est.) / -2.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.34% (2019 est.) / 2.54% (2018 est.) / 1.83% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$27,900 (2017 est.) / $27,500 (2016 est.) / $27,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ "text": "-1% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "76.53 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "69.923 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.2% (2017 est.) / 5.5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.6% (2019 est.) / 4.8% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "13.3% (2015 est.)" @@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ "text": "3.7% (2017 est.) / 7.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$35.44 billion (2017 est.) / $24.4 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$65.311 billion (2019 est.) / $115.68 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$353 billion (2017 est.) / $281.9 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecom sector impacted by sanctions related to the annexations in Ukraine; the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1 million in 1998 to 255 million in 2016; fixed-line service has improved but a large demand remains; Russia with low broadband penetration is one of Europe's fastest growing markets for fiber-based broadband and moving from DSL to fiber; use by the population of multiple SIM cards; regulator ended roaming charges and works to bring down prices; 4 major operators in the mobile market; deployment of LTE support mobile broadband and data services, mobile on the cusp of 5G (2020)" + "text": "telecom sector impacted by sanctions related to the annexations in Ukraine; the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1 million in 1998 to 255 million in 2016; fixed-line service has improved but a large demand remains; Russia with low broadband penetration is one of Europe's fastest growing markets for fiber-based broadband and moving from DSL to fiber; use by the population of multiple SIM cards; regulator ended roaming charges and works to bring down prices; 4 major operators in the mobile market; deployment of LTE support mobile broadband and data services, mobile on the cusp of 5G (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low-density; 22 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular 164 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ "text": "the Russian Federation's military and paramilitary services are equipped with domestically-produced weapons systems, although since 2010 Russia has imported limited amounts of military hardware from Czechia, France, Israel, Italy, Turkey, and Ukraine; the Russian defense industry is capable of designing, developing, and producing a full range of advanced air, land, missile, and naval systems (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "est. 3,000-5,000 Armenia; est. 7,000-10,000 Georgia; est. 500 Kyrgyzstan; est. 1,500 Moldova; est. 4,000-5,000 Syria; est. 5,000-7,000 Tajikistan; est. 25,000-30,000 Ukraine; contributes approximately 8,000 personnel to CSTO's Rapid Reaction Force (2019 est.)", + "text": "est. 3,000-5,000 Armenia; est. 7,000-10,000 Georgia; est. 500 Kyrgyzstan; est. 1,500 Moldova; est. 4,000-5,000 Syria; est. 5,000-7,000 Tajikistan; est. 25,000-30,000 Ukraine; contributes approximately 8,000 personnel to CSTO's Rapid Reaction Force (2019)", "note": { "text": "it is assessed that as many as 2,500 personnel from a Russian Government-backed private military company are present in Libya supporting Libyan National Army forces (June 2020)" } @@ -999,10 +999,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "75,941 (Ukraine) (2019)" + "text": "41,251 (Ukraine) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "75,679 (2018); note - Russia's stateless population consists of Roma, Meskhetian Turks, and ex-Soviet citizens from the former republics; between 2003 and 2010 more than 600,000 stateless people were naturalized; most Meskhetian Turks, followers of Islam with origins in Georgia, fled or were evacuated from Uzbekistan after a 1989 pogrom and have lived in Russia for more than the required five-year residency period; they continue to be denied registration for citizenship and basic rights by local Krasnodar Krai authorities on the grounds that they are temporary illegal migrants" + "text": "68,209 (2019); note - Russia's stateless population consists of Roma, Meskhetian Turks, and ex-Soviet citizens from the former republics; between 2003 and 2010 more than 600,000 stateless people were naturalized; most Meskhetian Turks, followers of Islam with origins in Georgia, fled or were evacuated from Uzbekistan after a 1989 pogrom and have lived in Russia for more than the required five-year residency period; they continue to be denied registration for citizenship and basic rights by local Krasnodar Krai authorities on the grounds that they are temporary illegal migrants" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/central-asia/ti.json b/central-asia/ti.json index aad032a4..979b706f 100644 --- a/central-asia/ti.json +++ b/central-asia/ti.json @@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ "text": "Ambassador John Mark POMMERSHEIM (since 15 March 2019)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "[992] (37) 229-20-00" + "text": "[992] (37) 229-20-00, 992-37-229-2300 (consular direct line); EMER: 992-98-580-1032" }, "embassy": { "text": "109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe 734019" @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "foreign investment in the telephone system has resulted in major improvements; an increase in mobile broadband penetration, but still in the early stages and remains low compared to those in the region; the country has endeavored to launch 4G/LTE services with mixed results; 7 major cities have 4G coverage; 5 major operators in the market (2020)" + "text": "foreign investment in the telephone system has resulted in major improvements; an increase in mobile broadband penetration, but still in the early stages and remains low compared to those in the region; the country has endeavored to launch 4G/LTE services with mixed results; 7 major cities have 4G coverage; 5 major operators in the market (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed line availability has not changed significantly since 1998, while mobile cellular subscribership, aided by competition among multiple operators, has expanded rapidly; coverage now extends to all major cities and towns; fixed-line 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular 112 per 100 (2019)" @@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "4,616 (2018)" + "text": "7,151 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/central-asia/tx.json b/central-asia/tx.json index 05541d09..0f1fed4f 100644 --- a/central-asia/tx.json +++ b/central-asia/tx.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Present-day Turkmenistan covers territory that has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The area was ruled in antiquity by various Persian empires, and was conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President for Life Saparmyrat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy chairman under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. BERDIMUHAMEDOW won Turkmenistan's first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007, and again in 2012 and in 2017 with over 97% of the vote in both instances, in elections widely regarded as undemocratic. ++ Turkmenistan has sought new export markets for its extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited. As of late 2019, Turkmenistan exported the majority of its gas to China and small levels of gas were also being sent to Russia. Turkmenistan's reliance on gas exports has made the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market, and economic hardships since the drop in energy prices in 2014 have led many Turkmenistanis to emigrate, mostly to Turkey." + "text": "Present-day Turkmenistan covers territory that has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The area was ruled in antiquity by various Persian empires, and was conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President for Life Saparmyrat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy chairman under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. BERDIMUHAMEDOW won Turkmenistan's first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007, and again in 2012 and in 2017 with over 97% of the vote in both instances, in elections widely regarded as undemocratic. ++ Turkmenistan has sought new export markets for its extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited. As of late 2019, Turkmenistan exported the majority of its gas to China and small levels of gas were also being sent to Russia. Turkmenistan's reliance on gas exports has made the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market, and economic hardships since the drop in energy prices in 2014 have led many Turkmenistanis to emigrate, mostly to Turkey." } }, "Geography": { @@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ "text": "UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: derived from the Persian words \"eshq\" meaning \"love\" and \"abad\" meaning \"inhabited place\" or \"city,\" and so loosely translates as \"the city of love\" " + "text": "etymology: derived from the Persian words \"eshq\" meaning \"love\" and \"abad\" meaning \"inhabited place\" or \"city,\" and so loosely translates as \"the city of love\"" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ "text": "[993] (12) 94-00-45" }, "embassy": { - "text": "No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000" + "text": "No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000" }, "mailing address": { "text": "7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070" @@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecommunications network is gradually improving from the former Soviet republic; state control over most economic activities has not helped growth; in cooperation with foreign partners, the telecom sector has installed high-speed fiber-optic lines and has upgraded most of the country's telephone exchanges and switching centers with new digital technology; the mobile market will see slow growth; some rural areas are still without telephones; mobile broadband is in the early stages of development; in 2019 Russia-based operator said to be leaving the country and leaving only 1 public operator (2020)" + "text": "telecommunications network is gradually improving from the former Soviet republic; state control over most economic activities has not helped growth; in cooperation with foreign partners, the telecom sector has installed high-speed fiber-optic lines and has upgraded most of the country's telephone exchanges and switching centers with new digital technology; the mobile market will see slow growth; some rural areas are still without telephones; mobile broadband is in the early stages of development; in 2019 Russia-based operator said to be leaving the country and leaving only 1 public operator (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 163 per 100 persons; first telecommunication satellite was launched in 2015 (2019)" @@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "4,714 (2018)" + "text": "3,688 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/central-asia/uz.json b/central-asia/uz.json index b7f3d9b7..94e80081 100644 --- a/central-asia/uz.json +++ b/central-asia/uz.json @@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ "Languages": { "text": "Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%", "note": { - "text": "note: in the autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status ++  " + "text": "note: in the autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status ++" } }, "Religions": { @@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ "text": "4.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "18.12 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "13.273 million (2018 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "digital exchanges in large cities and in rural areas; increased investment in infrastructure and growing subscriber base; fixed-line is underdeveloped due to preeminence of mobile market; introduction of prepaid Internet has contributed to home Internet usage; increase in mobile broadband penetration yet still early stages; Wi-Fi hotspot in the city of Tashkent in the future (2020)" + "text": "digital exchanges in large cities and in rural areas; increased investment in infrastructure and growing subscriber base; fixed-line is underdeveloped due to preeminence of mobile market; introduction of prepaid Internet has contributed to home Internet usage; increase in mobile broadband penetration yet still early stages; Wi-Fi hotspot in the city of Tashkent in the future (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 11 per 100 person and mobile-cellular 101 per 100; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbek Telecom, owner of the fixed-line telecommunications system, has used loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to upgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digital exchanges; mobile-cellular services are provided by 2 private and 3 state-owned operators with a total subscriber base of 22.8 million as of January 2018 (2019)" @@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "the government controls media; 17 state-owned broadcasters - 13 TV and 4 radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast to local markets; privately owned TV stations are required to lease transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation; in 2019, the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information was reorganized into the Agency of Information and Mass Communications and became part of the Uzbek Presidential Administration with recent appointment of the Uzbek President's elder daughter as it deputy director (2019)" + "text": "the government controls media; 17 state-owned broadcasters - 13 TV and 4 radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast to local markets; privately owned TV stations are required to lease transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation; in 2019, the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information was reorganized into the Agency of Information and Mass Communications and became part of the Uzbek Presidential Administration with recent appointment of the Uzbek President's elder daughter as it deputy director (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".uz" @@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "79,942 (2018)" + "text": "97,346 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json index 62049061..f78c89b2 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Various ethnic Burman and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century, and several minority ethnic groups continue to maintain independent armies and control territory within the country today, in opposition to the central government. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated all the groups within the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, following major battles on its territory during World War II, Burma attained independence from the British Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power. Since independence, successive Burmese governments have fought on-and-off conflicts with armed ethnic groups seeking autonomy in the country's mountainous border regions. ++ Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing an unknown number of people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations - popularly referred to as the Saffron Revolution. In early May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. The 2008 constitution reserves 25% of its seats to the military. Legislative elections held in November 2010, which the NLD boycotted and many in the international community considered flawed, saw the successor ruling junta's mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the contested seats. ++ The national legislature convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN were former or current military officers, the government initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms included releasing hundreds of political prisoners, signing a nationwide cease-fire with several of the country's ethnic armed groups, pursuing legal reform, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, AUNG SAN SUU KYI was elected to the national legislature in April 2012 and became chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Burma served as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014. In a flawed but largely credible national legislative election in November 2015 featuring more than 90 political parties, the NLD again won a landslide victory. Using its overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament, the NLD elected HTIN KYAW, AUNG SAN SUU KYI's confidant and long-time NLD supporter, as president. The new legislature created the position of State Counsellor, according AUNG SAN SUU KYI a formal role in the government and making her the de facto head of state. Burma's first credibly elected civilian government after more than five decades of military dictatorship was sworn into office on 30 March 2016. In March 2018, upon HTIN KYAW's resignation, parliament selected WIN MYINT, another long-time ally of AUNG SAN SUU KYI's, as president. ++ Attacks in October 2016 and August 2017 on security forces in northern Rakhine State by members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Rohingya militant group, resulted in military crackdowns on the Rohingya population that reportedly caused thousands of deaths and human rights abuses. Following the August 2017 violence, over 740,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh as refugees. In November 2017, the US Department of State determined that the August 2017 violence constituted ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas. The UN has called for Burma to allow access to a Fact Finding Mission to investigate reports of human rights violations and abuses and to work with Bangladesh to facilitate repatriation of Rohingya refugees, and in September 2018 the International Criminal Court (ICC) determined it had jurisdiction to investigate reported human rights abuses against Rohingyas. Burma has rejected charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide, and has chosen not to work with the UN Fact Finding Mission or the ICC. In March 2018, President HTIN KYAW announced his voluntary retirement; NLD parliamentarian WIN MYINT was named by the parliament as his successor. In February 2019, the NLD announced it would establish a parliamentary committee to examine options for constitutional reform ahead of national the elections planned for 2020." + "text": "Various ethnic Burman and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century, and several minority ethnic groups continue to maintain independent armies and control territory within the country today, in opposition to the central government. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated all the groups within the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, following major battles on its territory during World War II, Burma attained independence from the British Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power. Since independence, successive Burmese governments have fought on-and-off conflicts with armed ethnic groups seeking autonomy in the country's mountainous border regions. ++ Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing an unknown number of people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations - popularly referred to as the Saffron Revolution. In early May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. The 2008 constitution reserves 25% of its seats to the military. Legislative elections held in November 2010, which the NLD boycotted and many in the international community considered flawed, saw the successor ruling junta's mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the contested seats. ++ The national legislature convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN were former or current military officers, the government initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms included releasing hundreds of political prisoners, signing a nationwide cease-fire with several of the country's ethnic armed groups, pursuing legal reform, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, AUNG SAN SUU KYI was elected to the national legislature in April 2012 and became chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Burma served as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014. In a flawed but largely credible national legislative election in November 2015 featuring more than 90 political parties, the NLD again won a landslide victory. Using its overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament, the NLD elected HTIN KYAW, AUNG SAN SUU KYI's confidant and long-time NLD supporter, as president. The new legislature created the position of State Counsellor, according AUNG SAN SUU KYI a formal role in the government and making her the de facto head of state. Burma's first credibly elected civilian government after more than five decades of military dictatorship was sworn into office on 30 March 2016. In March 2018, upon HTIN KYAW's resignation, parliament selected WIN MYINT, another long-time ally of AUNG SAN SUU KYI's, as president. ++ Attacks in October 2016 and August 2017 on security forces in northern Rakhine State by members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Rohingya militant group, resulted in military crackdowns on the Rohingya population that reportedly caused thousands of deaths and human rights abuses. Following the August 2017 violence, over 740,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh as refugees. In November 2017, the US Department of State determined that the August 2017 violence constituted ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas. The UN has called for Burma to allow access to a Fact Finding Mission to investigate reports of human rights violations and abuses and to work with Bangladesh to facilitate repatriation of Rohingya refugees, and in September 2018 the International Criminal Court (ICC) determined it had jurisdiction to investigate reported human rights abuses against Rohingyas. Burma has rejected charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide, and has chosen not to work with the UN Fact Finding Mission or the ICC. In March 2018, President HTIN KYAW announced his voluntary retirement; NLD parliamentarian WIN MYINT was named by the parliament as his successor. In February 2019, the NLD announced it would establish a parliamentary committee to examine options for constitutional reform ahead of national the elections planned for 2020." } }, "Geography": { @@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ "text": "4% (2017 est.) / 6.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.9 billion (2017 est.) / -$2.475 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$240 million (2019 est.) / -$2.398 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$9.832 billion (2017 est.) / $9.085 billion (2016 est.)", @@ -705,14 +705,17 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { + "population without electricity": { + "text": "27 million (2019)" + }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "57% (2016)" + "text": "51% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "89.5% (2016)" + "text": "76% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "39.8% (2016)" + "text": "39% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -804,13 +807,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "use to claim to be one of the last underdeveloped telecom markets in Asia; the mobile market has recently experienced rapid growth, in 2014 foreign competition was allowed to compete in the market and now they have moved from 1 operator to 3; low compared to other nations in the region, but expanding nationally; moving past fixed broadband to mobile device access for Internet services; rollout of 4G to eventually 5G networks (2020)" + "text": "use to claim to be one of the last underdeveloped telecom markets in Asia; the mobile market has recently experienced rapid growth, in 2014 foreign competition was allowed to compete in the market and now they have moved from 1 operator to 3; low compared to other nations in the region, but expanding nationally; moving past fixed broadband to mobile device access for Internet services; rollout of 4G to eventually 5G networks (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line is 1 per 100, while mobile-cellular is 114 per 100 and shows great potential for the future (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 95; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, SeaMeWe-5, AAE-1 and Singapore-Myanmar optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2019)" + "text": "country code - 95; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, SeaMeWe-5, AAE-1 and Singapore-Myanmar optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -968,7 +971,7 @@ "text": "457,000 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand, natural disasters, forced land evictions) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "495,939 (2018); note - Rohingya Muslims, living predominantly in Rakhine State, are Burma's main group of stateless people; the Burmese Government does not recognize the Rohingya as a \"national race\" and stripped them of their citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Law, categorizing them as \"non-nationals\" or \"foreign residents\"; under the Rakhine State Action Plan drafted in October 2014, the Rohingya must demonstrate their family has lived in Burma for at least 60 years to qualify for a lesser naturalized citizenship and the classification of Bengali or be put in detention camps and face deportation; native-born but non-indigenous people, such as Indians, are also stateless; the Burmese Government does not grant citizenship to children born outside of the country to Burmese parents who left the country illegally or fled persecution, such as those born in Thailand; the number of stateless persons has decreased dramatically since late 2017 because hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017 to escape violence" + "text": "600,000 (2019); note - Rohingya Muslims, living predominantly in Rakhine State, are Burma's main group of stateless people; the Burmese Government does not recognize the Rohingya as a \"national race\" and stripped them of their citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Law, categorizing them as \"non-nationals\" or \"foreign residents\"; under the Rakhine State Action Plan drafted in October 2014, the Rohingya must demonstrate their family has lived in Burma for at least 60 years to qualify for a lesser naturalized citizenship and the classification of Bengali or be put in detention camps and face deportation; native-born but non-indigenous people, such as Indians, are also stateless; the Burmese Government does not grant citizenship to children born outside of the country to Burmese parents who left the country illegally or fled persecution, such as those born in Thailand; the number of stateless persons has decreased dramatically since late 2017 because hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017 to escape violence" }, "note": { "text": "note: estimate does not include stateless IDPs or stateless persons in IDP-like situations because they are included in estimates of IDPs (2017)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json index bbe66e02..87e35ec0 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json @@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Scott E. WOODARD (since 20 May 2020)" + "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Scott E. WOODARD (since 20 May 2020)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[673] 238-4616" @@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -731,13 +731,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US; lots of investment given the high GDP per capita; launch of 5G in 2021 anticipated; while fixed-line is slowing down, mobile broadband has taken over in the advancement in the telecoms access market; broadband penetration slow to moderate growth predicted over the next five years to 2023 (2020)" + "text": "service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US; lots of investment given the high GDP per capita; launch of 5G in 2021 anticipated; while fixed-line is slowing down, mobile broadband has taken over in the advancement in the telecoms access market; broadband penetration slow to moderate growth predicted over the next five years to 2023 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "every service available; 20 per 100 fixed-line, 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 673; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, SJC, AAG, Lubuan-Brunei Submarine Cable via optical telecommunications submarine cables that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 673; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, SJC, AAG, Lubuan-Brunei Submarine Cable via optical telecommunications submarine cables that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "20,863 (2018); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land" + "text": "20,863 (2019); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json index bcedcce6..4dc5e896 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a seven-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off  20 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a cease-fire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders were tried for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. In 2018, the tribunal heard its final cases, but it remains in operation to hear appeals. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local (Commune Council) elections were held in Cambodia in 2012, with little of the violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2013 were disputed, with the opposition - the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) - boycotting the National Assembly. The political impasse was ended nearly a year later, with the CNRP agreeing to enter parliament in exchange for commitments by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to electoral and legislative reforms. The CNRP made further gains in local commune elections in June 2017, accelerating sitting Prime Minister Hun SEN's efforts to marginalize the CNRP before national elections in 2018. Hun Sen arrested CNRP President Kem SOKHA in September 2017. The Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017 and banned its leaders from participating in politics for at least five years. The CNRP's seats in the National Assembly were redistributed to smaller, less influential opposition parties, while all of the CNRP's 5,007 seats in the commune councils throughout the country were reallocated to the CPP. With the CNRP banned, the CPP swept the 2018 national elections, winning all 125 National Assembly seats and effectively turning the country into a one-party state." + "text": "Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a seven-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off 20 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a cease-fire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders were tried for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. In 2018, the tribunal heard its final cases, but it remains in operation to hear appeals. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local (Commune Council) elections were held in Cambodia in 2012, with little of the violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2013 were disputed, with the opposition - the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) - boycotting the National Assembly. The political impasse was ended nearly a year later, with the CNRP agreeing to enter parliament in exchange for commitments by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to electoral and legislative reforms. The CNRP made further gains in local commune elections in June 2017, accelerating sitting Prime Minister Hun SEN's efforts to marginalize the CNRP before national elections in 2018. Hun Sen arrested CNRP President Kem SOKHA in September 2017. The Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017 and banned its leaders from participating in politics for at least five years. The CNRP's seats in the National Assembly were redistributed to smaller, less influential opposition parties, while all of the CNRP's 5,007 seats in the commune councils throughout the country were reallocated to the CPP. With the CNRP banned, the CPP swept the 2018 national elections, winning all 125 National Assembly seats and effectively turning the country into a one-party state." } }, "Geography": { @@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ "text": "UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: Phnom Penh translates as \"Penh's Hill\" in Khmer; the city takes its name from the present Wat Phnom (Hill Temple), the tallest religious structure in the city, whose establishment, according to legend, was inspired in the 14th century by a pious nun, Daun PENH" + "text": "etymology: Phnom Penh translates as \"Penh's Hill\" in Khmer; the city takes its name from the present Wat Phnom (Hill Temple), the tallest religious structure in the city, whose establishment, according to legend, was inspired in the 14th century by a pious nun, Daun PENH" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last held on 25 February 2018 (next to be held in 2024); National Assembly - last held on 29 July 2018 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "  ++ Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 96%, FUNCINPEC 2.4%, KNUP 1.6%; seats by party - CPP 58; composition - men 53, women 9, percent of women 14.5% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 76.9%, FUNCINPEC 5.9%, LDP 4.9%, Khmer Will Party 3.4%, other 8.9%; seats by party - CPP 125; composition - men 100, women 25, percent of women 20%; note - total Parliament of Cambodia percent of women 18.2%" + "text": "++ Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 96%, FUNCINPEC 2.4%, KNUP 1.6%; seats by party - CPP 58; composition - men 53, women 9, percent of women 14.5% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 76.9%, FUNCINPEC 5.9%, LDP 4.9%, Khmer Will Party 3.4%, other 8.9%; seats by party - CPP 125; composition - men 100, women 25, percent of women 20%; note - total Parliament of Cambodia percent of women 18.2%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Cambodia has experienced strong economic growth over the last decade; GDP grew at an average annual rate of over 8% between 2000 and 2010 and about 7% since 2011. The tourism, garment, construction and real estate, and agriculture sectors accounted for the bulk of growth. Around 700,000 people, the majority of whom are women, are employed in the garment and footwear sector. An additional 500,000 Cambodians are employed in the tourism sector, and a further 200,000 people in construction. Tourism has continued to grow rapidly with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007 and reaching 5.6 million visitors in 2017. Mining also is attracting some investor interest and the government has touted opportunities for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. ++   ++ Still, Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia, and long-term economic development remains a daunting challenge, inhibited by corruption, limited human resources, high income inequality, and poor job prospects. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the percentage of the population living in poverty decreased to 13.5% in 2016. More than 50% of the population is less than 25 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the impoverished countryside, which also lacks basic infrastructure. ++   ++ The World Bank in 2016 formally reclassified Cambodia as a lower middle-income country as a result of continued rapid economic growth over the past several years. Cambodia's graduation from a low-income country will reduce its eligibility for foreign assistance and will challenge the government to seek new sources of financing. The Cambodian Government has been working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs; more than 20% of the government budget will come from donor assistance in 2018. A major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. ++   ++ Textile exports, which accounted for 68% of total exports in 2017, have driven much of Cambodia's growth over the past several years. The textile sector relies on exports to the United States and European Union, and Cambodia's dependence on its comparative advantage in textile production is a key vulnerability for the economy, especially because Cambodia has continued to run a current account deficit above 9% of GDP since 2014." + "text": "Cambodia has experienced strong economic growth over the last decade; GDP grew at an average annual rate of over 8% between 2000 and 2010 and about 7% since 2011. The tourism, garment, construction and real estate, and agriculture sectors accounted for the bulk of growth. Around 700,000 people, the majority of whom are women, are employed in the garment and footwear sector. An additional 500,000 Cambodians are employed in the tourism sector, and a further 200,000 people in construction. Tourism has continued to grow rapidly with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007 and reaching 5.6 million visitors in 2017. Mining also is attracting some investor interest and the government has touted opportunities for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. ++ ++ Still, Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia, and long-term economic development remains a daunting challenge, inhibited by corruption, limited human resources, high income inequality, and poor job prospects. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the percentage of the population living in poverty decreased to 13.5% in 2016. More than 50% of the population is less than 25 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the impoverished countryside, which also lacks basic infrastructure. ++ ++ The World Bank in 2016 formally reclassified Cambodia as a lower middle-income country as a result of continued rapid economic growth over the past several years. Cambodia's graduation from a low-income country will reduce its eligibility for foreign assistance and will challenge the government to seek new sources of financing. The Cambodian Government has been working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs; more than 20% of the government budget will come from donor assistance in 2018. A major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. ++ ++ Textile exports, which accounted for 68% of total exports in 2017, have driven much of Cambodia's growth over the past several years. The textile sector relies on exports to the United States and European Union, and Cambodia's dependence on its comparative advantage in textile production is a key vulnerability for the economy, especially because Cambodia has continued to run a current account deficit above 9% of GDP since 2014." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$64.21 billion (2017 est.) / $60.09 billion (2016 est.) / $56.18 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -676,16 +676,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "6 (2017)" + "text": "4 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "49.8% (2016)" + "text": "75% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "36.5% (2016)" + "text": "67% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -777,20 +777,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "well on its way to rollout 5G services, Chinese company Huawei dealing with the infrastructure for the 5G rollout; mobile-cellular phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly spreading in rural areas; competition among mobile operators strong; about 50% of Cambodians own at least one smart phone; in 2018, the MPTC began a free Wi-Fi service for visitors and residents of Phnom Penh, in selected parks around the city customers can access free Wi-Fi services; fixed broadband penetration is predicted to reach over 2% by 2023; in 2021, Cambodia hopes to launch it first communications satellite into orbit (2020)" + "text": "well on its way to rollout 5G services, Chinese company Huawei dealing with the infrastructure for the 5G rollout; mobile-cellular phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly spreading in rural areas; competition among mobile operators strong; about 50% of Cambodians own at least one smart phone; in 2018, the MPTC began a free Wi-Fi service for visitors and residents of Phnom Penh, in selected parks around the city customers can access free Wi-Fi services; fixed broadband penetration is predicted to reach over 2% by 2023; in 2021, Cambodia hopes to launch it first communications satellite into orbit (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line connections stand at about 1 per 100 persons and declining; mobile-cellular usage, aided by competition among service providers, has increased to about 130 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 855; landing points for MCT and AAE-1 via submarine cables providing communication to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 855; landing points for MCT and AAE-1 via submarine cables providing communication to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately owned broadcast media; 27 TV broadcast stations with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting from multiple locations, 11 stations either jointly operated or privately owned with some broadcasting from several locations; multi-channel cable and satellite systems are available (2019); 84 radio broadcast stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a large mixture of public and private broadcasters; one international broadcaster is available (2019) as well as one Chinese joint venture television station with the Ministry of Interior; several television and radio operators broadcast online only (often via Facebook) (2019)" + "text": "mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately owned broadcast media; 27 TV broadcast stations with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting from multiple locations, 11 stations either jointly operated or privately owned with some broadcasting from several locations; multi-channel cable and satellite systems are available (2019); 84 radio broadcast stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a large mixture of public and private broadcasters; one international broadcaster is available (2019) as well as one Chinese joint venture television station with the Ministry of Interior; several television and radio operators broadcast online only (often via Facebook) (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".kh" @@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ "text": "the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces are armed largely with older Chinese and Russian-origin equipment; it has received limited amounts of newer equipment since 2010 with China as the principal provider, followed by Ukraine (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "210 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 290 Mali (MINUSMA) (April 2020)" + "text": "200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 330 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2012)" @@ -928,7 +928,12 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "Cambodia is concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear Temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by an International Court of Justice decision in 1962 and part of a UN World Heritage site; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Vietnam is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands" + "text": "Cambodia is concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear Temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by an International Court of Justice decision in 1962 and part of a UN World Heritage site; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Vietnam is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands" + }, + "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { + "stateless persons": { + "text": "57,444 (2019)" + } }, "Trafficking in persons": { "current situation": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json index f5a30e9a..0d960ff9 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json @@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ "text": "hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)" }, "note": { - "text": "note: a new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in China; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a do not travel advisory for China due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended against travel to China and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in China to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures; as of 10 November 2020, China has reported 92,195 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 4,748 deaths to the World Health Organization" + "text": "note: a new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in China; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a do not travel advisory for China due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended against travel to China and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in China to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures; as of 10 November 2020, China has reported 92,195 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 4,748 deaths to the World Health Organization" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ } }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6.9% (2017 est.) / 6.7% (2016 est.) / 6.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "6.14% (2019 est.) / 6.75% (2018 est.) / 6.92% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$18,200 (2018) / $16,700 (2017 est.) / $15,700 (2016 est.)", @@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ "text": "6.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "806.7 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "774.71 million (2019 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: by the end of 2012, China's working age population (15-64 years) was 1.004 billion" } @@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.9% (2017 est.) / 4% (2016 est.)", + "text": "3.64% (2019 est.) / 3.84% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: data are for registered urban unemployment, which excludes private enterprises and migrants" } @@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ "text": "1.6% (2017 est.) / 2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$164.9 billion (2017 est.) / $202.2 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$141.335 billion (2019 est.) / $25.499 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$2.49 trillion (2018) / $2.216 trillion (2017 est.) / $1.99 trillion (2016 est.)" @@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ "text": "13 per 100 fixed line and 120 per 100 mobile-cellular; a domestic satellite system with several earth stations has been in place since 2018 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 86; landing points for the RJCN, EAC-C2C, TPE, APCN-2, APG, NCP, TEA, SeaMeWe-3, SJC2, Taiwan Strait Express-1, AAE-1, APCN-2, AAG, FEA, FLAG and TSE submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 86; landing points for the RJCN, EAC-C2C, TPE, APCN-2, APG, NCP, TEA, SeaMeWe-3, SJC2, Taiwan Strait Express-1, AAE-1, APCN-2, AAG, FEA, FLAG and TSE submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ "text": "the PLA is outfitted primarily with a mix of older and modern domestically-produced systems heavily influenced by technology derived from other countries; Russia is the top supplier of foreign military equipment since 2010, followed by France and Ukraine (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "425 Mali (MINUSMA); 220 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 360 Sudan (UNAMID); 410 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); est. 250 Djibouti (April 2020)" + "text": "425 Mali (MINUSMA); 220 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 360 Sudan (UNAMID); 410 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); est. 250 Djibouti (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2018)" @@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests" + "text": "China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called \"nine-dash line\") off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json index c6c84eab..5f17b84a 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json @@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ "text": "last held on 4 September 2016; (scheduled for September 2020, but delayed until 2021); note - byelection held on 11 March and 25 November 2018 to fill 5 seats left vacant after 5 legislators were removed from office" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 36%; pro-Beijing 40.2%, localist 19%, other 4.8%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 40 (DAB 12, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 9); pro-democracy 23 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 6, PP-LSD 2, Professional Commons 2, Labor 1, NWSC 1, PTU 1, other democrats 3), localists 6 (ALLinHK 2, CP-PPI-HKRO 1, Demosisto 1, Democracy Groundwork 1, other localist 1), non-aligned independent 1; composition - men 59, women 11, percent of women 15.7%; note - 2 localists were barred from taking office in November 2016 and 4 pro-democracy legislators were removed in July 2017; two pan-democratic, two DAB, and one pro-establishment candidates won the byelections in 2018 to fill the seats vacated by the 5 legislators removed from office; one pro-democracy seat remains unfilled pending a court appeal; percent of vote by block as of March 2019 - pro-Beijing 62% pro-democracy 38%; seats by block/party as of March 2019 - pro-Beijing 43 (DAB 13, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 11); pro-democracy 26 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 5, Professional Commons 2, Civic Passion 1, Labor 1 PTU 1, Council Front 6, independent 3); composition as of March 2019 - men 58, women 11; percent of women 15.7% ++  " + "text": "percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 36%; pro-Beijing 40.2%, localist 19%, other 4.8%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 40 (DAB 12, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 9); pro-democracy 23 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 6, PP-LSD 2, Professional Commons 2, Labor 1, NWSC 1, PTU 1, other democrats 3), localists 6 (ALLinHK 2, CP-PPI-HKRO 1, Demosisto 1, Democracy Groundwork 1, other localist 1), non-aligned independent 1; composition - men 59, women 11, percent of women 15.7%; note - 2 localists were barred from taking office in November 2016 and 4 pro-democracy legislators were removed in July 2017; two pan-democratic, two DAB, and one pro-establishment candidates won the byelections in 2018 to fill the seats vacated by the 5 legislators removed from office; one pro-democracy seat remains unfilled pending a court appeal; percent of vote by block as of March 2019 - pro-Beijing 62% pro-democracy 38%; seats by block/party as of March 2019 - pro-Beijing 43 (DAB 13, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 11); pro-democracy 26 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 5, Professional Commons 2, Civic Passion 1, Labor 1 PTU 1, Council Front 6, independent 3); composition as of March 2019 - men 58, women 11; percent of women 15.7% ++" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ "text": "$341.4 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.8% (2017 est.) / 2.2% (2016 est.) / 2.4% (2015 est.)" + "text": "-1.25% (2019 est.) / 2.86% (2018 est.) / 3.8% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$64,500 (2018) / $61,500 (2017 est.) / $59,500 (2016 est.)", @@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ "text": "1.7% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "3.965 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "3.627 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.1% (2017 est.) / 3.4% (2016 est.)" + "text": "2.93% (2019 est.) / 2.83% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "19.9% (2016 est.)" @@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ "text": "1.5% (2017 est.) / 2.4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$14.75 billion (2017 est.) / $12.71 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$22.469 billion (2019 est.) / $13.516 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$530.6 billion (2018 est.) / $537.8 billion (2017 est.) / $460 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -699,13 +699,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent domestic and international services; some of the highest peak average broadband speeds in the world; HK aims to be among the earliest adopters of 5G mobile technology; almost all households have access to high-speed broadband connectivity; HK broadband penetration rate is among the highest in the world; in the next five years the government has organized the development of 'smart cities' in six areas - \"smart mobility\", \"smart living\", \"smart environment\", \"smart people\", \"smart government\", and \"smart economy\"  by 2024 (2020)" + "text": "excellent domestic and international services; some of the highest peak average broadband speeds in the world; HK aims to be among the earliest adopters of 5G mobile technology; almost all households have access to high-speed broadband connectivity; HK broadband penetration rate is among the highest in the world; in the next five years the government has organized the development of 'smart cities' in six areas - \"smart mobility\", \"smart living\", \"smart environment\", \"smart people\", \"smart government\", and \"smart economy\" by 2024 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network; fixed-line is 55 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 289 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 852; landing points for the APG, ASE, EAC-C2C, HK-G, Bay-to-Bay Express Cable System, H2 Cable, HKA, SJC, SJC2, PLCN, SeaMeWe-3, TGN-IA, APCN-2, AAG, FLAG and FEA submarine cables that provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2019)" + "text": "country code - 852; landing points for the APG, ASE, EAC-C2C, HK-G, Bay-to-Bay Express Cable System, H2 Cable, HKA, SJC, SJC2, PLCN, SeaMeWe-3, TGN-IA, APCN-2, AAG, FLAG and FEA submarine cables that provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json index 73e1fa31..c813e72e 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json @@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 April 2019 (next election 2024)" + "text": "president and vice president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 April 2019 (next election 2024)" }, "election results": { "text": "Joko WIDODO elected president; percent of vote - Joko WIDODO (PDI-P) 55.5%, PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (GERINDRA) 44.5%" @@ -456,10 +456,10 @@ "text": "bicameral People's Consultative Assembly or Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat consists of: Regional Representative Council or Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (136 seats; non-partisan members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - 4 each from the country's 34 electoral districts - by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Regional Representative Council has no legislative authority ++ House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (575 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 5-year terms) (2019)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Regional Representative Council - last held 17 April 2019 (next to be held 2024) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 17 April 2019 (next to be held 2024) (2019)" + "text": "Regional Representative Council - last held 17 April 2019 (next to be held 2024) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 17 April 2019 (next to be held 2024) (2019)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Regional Representative Council - all seats elected on a non-partisan basis; compostion - NA ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDI-P 19.3%, Gerindra 12.6%, Golkar 12.3%,  PKB 9.7%, Nasdem 9.1%, PKS 8.2%, PD 7.8%, PAN 6.8%, PPP 4.5%, other 9.6%; seats by party - PDI-P 128, Golkar 85, Gerindra 78, Nasdem 59, PKB 58, PD 54, PKS 50, PAN 44, PPP 19; composition - men 475, women 100, percent of women 17.9%; total People's Consultative Assembly percent of women NA (2019)" + "text": "Regional Representative Council - all seats elected on a non-partisan basis; compostion - NA ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDI-P 19.3%, Gerindra 12.6%, Golkar 12.3%, PKB 9.7%, Nasdem 9.1%, PKS 8.2%, PD 7.8%, PAN 6.8%, PPP 4.5%, other 9.6%; seats by party - PDI-P 128, Golkar 85, Gerindra 78, Nasdem 59, PKB 58, PD 54, PKS 50, PAN 44, PPP 19; composition - men 475, women 100, percent of women 17.9%; total People's Consultative Assembly percent of women NA (2019)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Democrat Party or PD [Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO] ++ Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR [Airlangga HARTARTO] ++ Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA [PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo] ++ Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri] ++ National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR] ++ National Democratic Party or NasDem [Surya PALOH] ++ National Mandate Party or PAN [Zulkifli HASAN] ++ Party of the Functional Groups or Golkar [Airlangga HARTARTO] ++ People's Conscience Party or HANURA [Oesman Sapta ODANG] ++ Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Muhammad Sohibul IMAN] ++ United Development Party or PPP [Muhammad ROMAHURMUZIY] (2019)" + "text": "Democrat Party or PD [Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO] ++ Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR [Airlangga HARTARTO] ++ Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA [PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo] ++ Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri] ++ National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR] ++ National Democratic Party or NasDem [Surya PALOH] ++ National Mandate Party or PAN [Zulkifli HASAN] ++ Party of the Functional Groups or Golkar [Airlangga HARTARTO] ++ People's Conscience Party or HANURA [Oesman Sapta ODANG] ++ Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Muhammad Sohibul IMAN] ++ United Development Party or PPP [Muhammad ROMAHURMUZIY] (2019)" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IORA, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, MSG (associate member), NAM, OECD (enhanced engagement), OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ "text": "$1.015 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "5.1% (2017 est.) / 5% (2016 est.) / 4.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "5.03% (2019 est.) / 5.17% (2018 est.) / 5.07% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$12,400 (2017 est.) / $12,000 (2016 est.) / $11,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ "text": "4.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "125 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "129.366 million (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.4% (2017 est.) / 5.6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.31% (2018 est.) / 5.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "10.9% (2016 est.)" @@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ "text": "3.8% (2017 est.) / 3.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$17.33 billion (2017 est.) / -$16.95 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$30.359 billion (2019 est.) / -$30.633 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$168.9 billion (2017 est.) / $144.4 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -690,16 +690,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "14 million (2017)" + "text": "2 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "97.6% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "94.8% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -797,14 +797,14 @@ "text": "fixed-line 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular 127 per 100 persons; coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership growing rapidly (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 62; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, DAMAI, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, IGG, JIBA, Link 1, 3, 4,  & 5, PGASCOM, B3J2, Tanjung Pandam-Sungai Kakap Cable System, JAKABARE, JAYABAYA, INDIGO-West, Matrix Cable System, ASC, SJJK, Jaka2LaDeMa, S-U-B Cable System, JBCS, MKCS, BALOK, Palapa Ring East, West and Middle, SMPCS Packet-1 and 2, LTCS, TSCS, SEA-US and Kamal Domestic Submarine Cable System, 35 submarine cable networks that provide links throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 62; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, DAMAI, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, IGG, JIBA, Link 1, 3, 4, & 5, PGASCOM, B3J2, Tanjung Pandam-Sungai Kakap Cable System, JAKABARE, JAYABAYA, INDIGO-West, Matrix Cable System, ASC, SJJK, Jaka2LaDeMa, S-U-B Cable System, JBCS, MKCS, BALOK, Palapa Ring East, West and Middle, SMPCS Packet-1 and 2, LTCS, TSCS, SEA-US and Kamal Domestic Submarine Cable System, 35 submarine cable networks that provide links throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "mixture of about a dozen national TV networks - 1 public broadcaster, the remainder private broadcasters - each with multiple transmitters; more than 100 local TV stations; widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; overall, more than 700 radio stations with more than 650 privately operated (2019)" + "text": "mixture of about a dozen national TV networks - 1 public broadcaster, the remainder private broadcasters - each with multiple transmitters; more than 100 local TV stations; widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; overall, more than 700 radio stations with more than 650 privately operated (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".id" @@ -939,7 +939,7 @@ "Military and security forces": { "text": "Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), includes marines (Korps Marinir, KorMar), naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Komando Pertahanan Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)), Armed Forces Special Operations Command (Koopssus), Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) ++ Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard (Kesatuan Penjagaan Laut dan Pantai, KPLP) is under the Ministry of Transportation (2019)", "note": { - "text": "note:  the Indonesian National Police includes a paramilitary Mobile Brigade Corps (BRIMOB)" + "text": "note: the Indonesian National Police includes a paramilitary Mobile Brigade Corps (BRIMOB)" } }, "Military expenditures": { @@ -952,13 +952,13 @@ "text": "the Indonesian military inventory is comprised of equipment from a wide variety of sources; since 2010, the top suppliers are China, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,025 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,240 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (April 2020)" + "text": "200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,025 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,250 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-45 years of age for voluntary military service, with selective conscription authorized; 2-year service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2013)" }, "Maritime threats": { - "text": "The International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; attacks declined for the third year in a row from 43 incidents in 2016 to 36 in 2018 due to aggressive maritime patrolling by regional authorities; in 2018, 29 commercial vessels were boarded and three crew members were taken hostage; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia (2018)" + "text": "The International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; attacks declined for the third year in a row from 43 incidents in 2016 to 36 in 2018 due to aggressive maritime patrolling by regional authorities; in 2018, 29 commercial vessels were boarded and three crew members were taken hostage; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia (2018)" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -979,6 +979,9 @@ }, "IDPs": { "text": "40,000 (inter-communal, inter-faith, and separatist violence between 1998 and 2004 in Aceh and Papua; religious attacks and land conflicts in 2007 and 2013; most IDPs in Aceh, Maluku, East Nusa Tengarra) (2019)" + }, + "stateless persons": { + "text": "582 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json index b2da1bc4..4c59012a 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json @@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ "text": "$4.873 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.7% (2017 est.) / 1% (2016 est.) / 1.4% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.7% (2019 est.) / 0.29% (2018 est.) / 2.19% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$42,900 (2017 est.) / $42,100 (2016 est.) / $41,700 (2015 est.)", @@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ "text": "1.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "65.01 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "66.54 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / 3.1% (2016 est.)" + "text": "2.36% (2019 est.) / 2.44% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "16.1% (2013 est.)" @@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ "text": "0.5% (2017 est.) / -0.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$196.1 billion (2017 est.) / $194.9 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$185.644 billion (2019 est.) / $177.08 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$688.9 billion (2017 est.) / $634.9 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -755,13 +755,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent domestic and international service; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband and fixed broadband penetration; strong govt. policies for over a decade see over 90% of households with FttX; one of Japan's largest e-commerce companies planning to build its own nationwide stand-alone 5G mobile network; govt. to implement a telecom tax to pay for rural 5G network; FttH will continue to increase its share of total fixed broadband subscriptions as DSL is phased out; mature telecom system will show slow growth in the next few years to 2024 (2020)" + "text": "excellent domestic and international service; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband and fixed broadband penetration; strong govt. policies for over a decade see over 90% of households with FttX; one of Japan's largest e-commerce companies planning to build its own nationwide stand-alone 5G mobile network; govt. to implement a telecom tax to pay for rural 5G network; FttH will continue to increase its share of total fixed broadband subscriptions as DSL is phased out; mature telecom system will show slow growth in the next few years to 2024 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind; 50 per 100 for fixed-line and 140 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 81; numerous submarine cables with landing points for HSCS, JIH, RJCN, APCN-2, JUS, EAC-C2C, PC-1, Tata TGN-Pacific, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC, SJC2, Unity/EAC-Pacific, JGA-N, APG, ASE, AJC, JUPITER, MOC, Okinawa Cellular Cable, KJCN, GOKI, KJCN, and SeaMeWE-3, submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2019)" + "text": "country code - 81; numerous submarine cables with landing points for HSCS, JIH, RJCN, APCN-2, JUS, EAC-C2C, PC-1, Tata TGN-Pacific, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC, SJC2, Unity/EAC-Pacific, JGA-N, APG, ASE, AJC, JUPITER, MOC, Okinawa Cellular Cable, KJCN, GOKI, KJCN, and SeaMeWE-3, submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ "text": "the JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically-produced equipment; Japan is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; the majority of its weapons imports are from the US and some domestically-produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "est. 170 Djibouti (2019 )" + "text": "approximately 170 Djibouti (2020 )" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers (2012)" @@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "709 (2018)" + "text": "687 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json index 85b7fcd1..940b3fae 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic \"self-reliance\" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. Under KIM Jong Il's rein, the DPRK continued developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has since occupied the regime's highest political and military posts.  ++ After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has faced chronic food shortages. In recent years, the North's domestic agricultural production has increased, but still falls far short of producing sufficient food to provide for its entire population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community and have limited the DPRK's international engagement, particularly economically. In 2013, the DPRK declared a policy of simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and economy. In late 2017, KIM Jong Un declared the North's nuclear weapons development complete. In 2018, KIM announced a pivot towards diplomacy, including a re-prioritization of economic development, a pause in missile testing beginning in late 2017, and a refrain from anti-US rhetoric starting in June 2018. Since 2018, KIM has participated in four meetings with Chinese President XI Jinping, three with ROK President MOON Jae-in, and three with US President TRUMP. Since July 2019, North Korea has restarted its short-range missile tests and issued statements condemning the US." + "text": "An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic \"self-reliance\" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. Under KIM Jong Il's rein, the DPRK continued developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has since occupied the regime's highest political and military posts. ++ After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has faced chronic food shortages. In recent years, the North's domestic agricultural production has increased, but still falls far short of producing sufficient food to provide for its entire population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community and have limited the DPRK's international engagement, particularly economically. In 2013, the DPRK declared a policy of simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and economy. In late 2017, KIM Jong Un declared the North's nuclear weapons development complete. In 2018, KIM announced a pivot towards diplomacy, including a re-prioritization of economic development, a pause in missile testing beginning in late 2017, and a refrain from anti-US rhetoric starting in June 2018. Since 2018, KIM has participated in four meetings with Chinese President XI Jinping, three with ROK President MOON Jae-in, and three with US President TRUMP. Since July 2019, North Korea has restarted its short-range missile tests and issued statements condemning the US." } }, "Geography": { @@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending and development of its ballistic missile and nuclear programs severely draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. ++   ++ The mid 1990s through mid-2000s were marked by severe famine and widespread starvation. Significant food aid was provided by the international community through 2009. Since that time, food assistance has declined significantly. In the last few years, domestic corn and rice production has improved, although domestic production does not fully satisfy demand. A large portion of the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed semi-private markets to begin selling a wider range of goods, allowing North Koreans to partially make up for diminished public distribution system rations. It also implemented changes in the management process of communal farms in an effort to boost agricultural output. ++   ++ In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities. In February 2016, South Korea ceased its remaining bilateral economic activity by closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test a month earlier. This nuclear test and another in September 2016 resulted in two United Nations Security Council Resolutions that targeted North Korea's foreign currency earnings, particularly coal and other mineral exports. Throughout 2017, North Korea's continued nuclear and missile tests led to a tightening of UN sanctions, resulting in full sectoral bans on DPRK exports and drastically limited key imports. Over the last decade, China has been North Korea's primary trading partner. ++   ++ The North Korean Government continues to stress its goal of improving the overall standard of living, but has taken few steps to make that goal a reality for its populace. In 2016, the regime used two mass mobilizations — one totaling 70 days and another 200 days — to spur the population to increase production and complete construction projects quickly. The regime released a five-year economic development strategy in May 2016 that outlined plans for promoting growth across sectors. Firm political control remains the government's overriding concern, which likely will inhibit formal changes to North Korea's current economic system." + "text": "North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending and development of its ballistic missile and nuclear programs severely draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. ++ ++ The mid 1990s through mid-2000s were marked by severe famine and widespread starvation. Significant food aid was provided by the international community through 2009. Since that time, food assistance has declined significantly. In the last few years, domestic corn and rice production has improved, although domestic production does not fully satisfy demand. A large portion of the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed semi-private markets to begin selling a wider range of goods, allowing North Koreans to partially make up for diminished public distribution system rations. It also implemented changes in the management process of communal farms in an effort to boost agricultural output. ++ ++ In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities. In February 2016, South Korea ceased its remaining bilateral economic activity by closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test a month earlier. This nuclear test and another in September 2016 resulted in two United Nations Security Council Resolutions that targeted North Korea's foreign currency earnings, particularly coal and other mineral exports. Throughout 2017, North Korea's continued nuclear and missile tests led to a tightening of UN sanctions, resulting in full sectoral bans on DPRK exports and drastically limited key imports. Over the last decade, China has been North Korea's primary trading partner. ++ ++ The North Korean Government continues to stress its goal of improving the overall standard of living, but has taken few steps to make that goal a reality for its populace. In 2016, the regime used two mass mobilizations — one totaling 70 days and another 200 days — to spur the population to increase production and complete construction projects quickly. The regime released a five-year economic development strategy in May 2016 that outlined plans for promoting growth across sectors. Firm political control remains the government's overriding concern, which likely will inhibit formal changes to North Korea's current economic system." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$40 billion (2015 est.) / $40 billion (2014 est.) / $40 billion (2013 est.)", @@ -621,16 +621,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "19 million (2017)" + "text": "19 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "26% (2016)" + "text": "26% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "36% (2016)" + "text": "36% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "11% (2016)" + "text": "11% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanded beyond Pyongyang; infrastructure underdeveloped yet growing mobile penetration by means of foreign investment; Chinese services being increasingly favored and FaceBook and Instagram actions dropped and now absent; low broadband penetration; mobile penetration in North Korea believed to stay well below other Asian nations due to government restrictions; 3G network deployed among universal population (2020)" + "text": "nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanded beyond Pyongyang; infrastructure underdeveloped yet growing mobile penetration by means of foreign investment; Chinese services being increasingly favored and FaceBook and Instagram actions dropped and now absent; low broadband penetration; mobile penetration in North Korea believed to stay well below other Asian nations due to government restrictions; 3G network deployed among universal population (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; mobile service launched in late 2008 for the Pyongyang area and considerable progress in expanding to other parts of the country since; fixed-lines are 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular 15 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json index ce44ae3e..f21e4bce 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the US in 1945. After World War II, a democratic government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a communist-style government was installed in the north (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a DPRK invasion supported by communist China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the Peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime, from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea in 1979. ++ South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his \"Sunshine\" policy of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former ROK President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In December 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, immediately suspending her presidential authorities. The impeachment was upheld in March 2017, triggering an early presidential election in May 2017 won by MOON Jae-in. South Korea hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February 2018, in which North Korea also participated. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, the exchange of artillery fire across the DMZ in 2015, and multiple nuclear and missile tests in 2016 and 2017. North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics, dispatch of a senior delegation to Seoul, and three inter-Korean summits in 2018 appear to have ushered in a temporary period of respite, buoyed by the historic US-DPRK summits in 2018 and 2019.  " + "text": "An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the US in 1945. After World War II, a democratic government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a communist-style government was installed in the north (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a DPRK invasion supported by communist China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the Peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime, from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea in 1979. ++ South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his \"Sunshine\" policy of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former ROK President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In December 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, immediately suspending her presidential authorities. The impeachment was upheld in March 2017, triggering an early presidential election in May 2017 won by MOON Jae-in. South Korea hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February 2018, in which North Korea also participated. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, the exchange of artillery fire across the DMZ in 2015, and multiple nuclear and missile tests in 2016 and 2017. North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics, dispatch of a senior delegation to Seoul, and three inter-Korean summits in 2018 appear to have ushered in a temporary period of respite, buoyed by the historic US-DPRK summits in 2018 and 2019." } }, "Geography": { @@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ "Major infectious diseases": { "text": "Covid-19 (see note) (2020)", "note": { - "text": "note: a novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a Travel Advisory recommending avoiding all international travel due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended against all international travel and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/ ; as of 10 November 2020, South Korea has reported 27,427 confirmed cases of COVID19 with 478 deaths" + "text": "note: a novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a Travel Advisory recommending avoiding all international travel due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended against all international travel and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/ ; as of 10 November 2020, South Korea has reported 27,427 confirmed cases of COVID19 with 478 deaths" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador LEE Soo-hyuck (since 6 January 2020)" + "text": "Ambassador LEE Soo-hyuck (since 6 January 2020)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008" @@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ "text": "$1.54 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.1% (2017 est.) / 2.9% (2016 est.) / 2.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.04% (2019 est.) / 2.91% (2018 est.) / 3.16% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$39,500 (2017 est.) / $38,500 (2016 est.) / $37,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ "text": "4.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "27.75 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "26.839 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.7% (2017 est.) / 3.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.76% (2019 est.) / 3.85% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "14.4% (2016 est.)" @@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ "text": "1.9% (2017 est.) / 1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$78.46 billion (2017 est.) / $99.24 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$59.971 billion (2019 est.) / $77.467 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$577.4 billion (2017 est.) / $512 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,13 +766,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies; ranked 2nd out of 34 Asian telecom companies; exceedingly high mobile and mobile broadband penetration and very high fixed broadband penetration; highest number of broadband per capita; strong support from govt., savvy population has catapulted the nation into one of the world's most active telecommunication markets; 5G services live for enterprise customers in 2019, all 3 mobile operators offer 5G networks; slower growth predicted over the next five years to 2023 due to saturation and maturity of market; Chinese telecommunications company Huawei has partnered with other MNOs in South Korea (2020)" + "text": "excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies; ranked 2nd out of 34 Asian telecom companies; exceedingly high mobile and mobile broadband penetration and very high fixed broadband penetration; highest number of broadband per capita; strong support from govt., savvy population has catapulted the nation into one of the world's most active telecommunication markets; 5G services live for enterprise customers in 2019, all 3 mobile operators offer 5G networks; slower growth predicted over the next five years to 2023 due to saturation and maturity of market; Chinese telecommunications company Huawei has partnered with other MNOs in South Korea (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 48 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 135 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 82; landing points for EAC-C2C, FEA, SeaMeWe-3, TPE, APCN-2, APG, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, KJCN, NCP, and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 82; landing points for EAC-C2C, FEA, SeaMeWe-3, TPE, APCN-2, APG, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, KJCN, NCP, and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -915,12 +915,12 @@ "text": "the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are equipped with a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems; domestic production includes armored fighting vehicles, artillery, aircraft, and naval ships; the top foreign weapons supplier is the US and some domestically-produced systems are built under US license; Germany is the second largest supplier of armaments since 2010 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "280 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 170 United Arab Emirates; note - since 2009, the ROK has kept a naval flotilla with approximately 300 personnel in the waters of the Middle East (April 2020)" + "text": "280 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 270 South Sudan (UNMISS); 170 United Arab Emirates; note - since 2009, the ROK has kept a naval flotilla with approximately 300 personnel in the waters off of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-28 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum conscript service obligation varies by service- 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, are able to serve in all branches (2019)", "note": { - "text": "note:  South Korea intends to reduce the length of military service to 18 – 22 months by 2022" + "text": "note: South Korea intends to reduce the length of military service to 18 – 22 months by 2022" } } }, @@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "197 (2018)" + "text": "197 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json index d598739b..67fb8d0d 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json @@ -664,13 +664,13 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "87.1% (2016)" + "text": "95% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "97.4% (2016)" + "text": "98% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "80.3% (2016)" + "text": "93% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas; the regulatory reform is below industry standards but is trying to strengthen its telecommunication infrastructure and subsequently attract foreign investment; low fixed-broadband penetration due to dominance of mobile platforms; strong boost in mobile broadband penetration but still low compared to other Asian markets; mobile sector growth held back by regulators trying to keep hold on pricing and open competition; development of mobile broadband Internet services given the expansion of 4G services (2020)" + "text": "the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas; the regulatory reform is below industry standards but is trying to strengthen its telecommunication infrastructure and subsequently attract foreign investment; low fixed-broadband penetration due to dominance of mobile platforms; strong boost in mobile broadband penetration but still low compared to other Asian markets; mobile sector growth held back by regulators trying to keep hold on pricing and open competition; development of mobile broadband Internet services given the expansion of 4G services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 21 per 100 and 61 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json index f624851d..4d261dc2 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json @@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ "text": "2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "400,000 (2017 est.)" + "text": "392,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; high mobile subscriber numbers and mobile penetration with 4 network operators; offering 4G, LTE services and 1st phase of 5G network rollout; possible synchronizing with neighboring regions; Macau's smart city project spans areas of transportation, medical services, tourism and 3-government (2020)" + "text": "modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; high mobile subscriber numbers and mobile penetration with 4 network operators; offering 4G, LTE services and 1st phase of 5G network rollout; possible synchronizing with neighboring regions; Macau's smart city project spans areas of transportation, medical services, tourism and 3-government (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 20 per 100 and mobile-cellular 345 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json index dfce53a6..ba56f560 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/mg.json @@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ "text": "last held on 24 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - MPP 44.9%, DP 24.5%, Our Coalition 8.1%, independent 8.7%, Right Person Electorate Coalition 5.2%, other 8.5%; seats by party - MPP 62, DP 11, Our Coalition 1, Right Person Electorate Coalition 1; independent 1; composition -  63 men, 13 women; percent of women 17.1%; note - the MPRP, Civil Will-Green Party, and Mongolian Traditionally United Party formed Our Coalition for the 2020 election; the Right Person Electorate Coalition was established in 2020 by the National Labor Party, Mongolian Social Democratic Party, and Justice Party" + "text": "percent of vote by party - MPP 44.9%, DP 24.5%, Our Coalition 8.1%, independent 8.7%, Right Person Electorate Coalition 5.2%, other 8.5%; seats by party - MPP 62, DP 11, Our Coalition 1, Right Person Electorate Coalition 1; independent 1; composition - 63 men, 13 women; percent of women 17.1%; note - the MPRP, Civil Will-Green Party, and Mongolian Traditionally United Party formed Our Coalition for the 2020 election; the Right Person Electorate Coalition was established in 2020 by the National Labor Party, Mongolian Social Democratic Party, and Justice Party" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -665,13 +665,13 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "81.8% (2016)" + "text": "91% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "95.8% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "44.2% (2016)" + "text": "73% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "liberalized and competitive telecoms market; mobile broadband seen steady growth, but fixed-line broadband is an attractive option; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services; compared to other Asian countries, Mongolia's growth in telecommunications is moderate; mobile broadband is growing with 4 competitive MNOs (mobile network operators) along with better tariffs; 3G mobile broadband products are very popular, launch of 4G LTE services by all major operators; in May 2018 a South Korean company completed the sale of 40% stake back to Mongolian government (2020)" + "text": "liberalized and competitive telecoms market; mobile broadband seen steady growth, but fixed-line broadband is an attractive option; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services; compared to other Asian countries, Mongolia's growth in telecommunications is moderate; mobile broadband is growing with 4 competitive MNOs (mobile network operators) along with better tariffs; 3G mobile broadband products are very popular, launch of 4G LTE services by all major operators; in May 2018 a South Korean company completed the sale of 40% stake back to Mongolian government (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "very low fixed-line teledensity 12 per 100; there are four mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing with 137 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ "text": "the MAF are armed with Soviet-era equipment supplemented by deliveries of second-hand Russian weapons; since 2010, Russia is the sole provider of armaments to Mongolia (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "850 South Sudan (UNMISS); 230 Afghanistan (NATO) (April 2020)" + "text": "850 South Sudan (UNMISS); 230 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation in army or air forces or police for males only; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; citizens can also voluntarily join the armed forces (2017)" @@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "17 (2018)" + "text": "17 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json index 0f3b59d7..9f19e5bc 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json @@ -427,17 +427,17 @@ } }, "Suffrage": { - "text": "18 years of age; universal (2019)" + "text": "18 years of age; universal (2019)" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King Sultan ABDULLAH Sultan Ahmad Shah (since 24 January 2019); note - King MUHAMMAD V (formerly known as Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra) (selected on 14 October 2016; installed on 13 December 2016) resigned on 6 January 2019; the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Tan Sri MUHYIDDIN Yassin (since 1 March 2020); note - Prime Minister MAHATHIR resigned on 24 February 2020 but King ABDULLAH asked that he stay on as interim prime minister until Malaysian's King ABDULLAH picked MUHYIDDIN to step in as Prime Minister; note - previous Deputy Prime Minister WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail (21 May 2018 - 24 February 2020) was the first female in this position (2019)" + "text": "Prime Minister Tan Sri MUHYIDDIN Yassin (since 1 March 2020); note - Prime Minister MAHATHIR resigned on 24 February 2020 but King ABDULLAH asked that he stay on as interim prime minister until Malaysian's King ABDULLAH picked MUHYIDDIN to step in as Prime Minister; note - previous Deputy Prime Minister WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail (21 May 2018 - 24 February 2020) was the first female in this position (2019)" }, "cabinet": { - "text": "Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king; note - cabinet dissolved 24 February 2020 with Prime Minister MAHATHIR resignation" + "text": "Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king; note - cabinet dissolved 24 February 2020 with Prime Minister MAHATHIR resignation" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "king elected by and from the hereditary rulers of 9 states for a 5-year term; election is on a rotational basis among rulers of the 9 states; election last held on 24 January 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who commands support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister" @@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ "text": "Senate - appointed; composition - men 54, women 14, percent of women 20.6% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - PH 45.6%, BN 33.8%, PAS 16.9%, WARISAN 2.3%, other 1.4%; seats by party/coalition - PH 113, BN 79, PAS 18, WARISAN 8, USA 1, independent 3; composition - men 199, women 23, percent of women 10.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 12.8%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: as of 16 November 2019, seats by party - PH 129, BN 41, GS 18, GPS 18, WARISAN 9, GBS 3, UPKO 1, PSB 1, independent 1, vacant 1" + "text": "note: as of 16 November 2019, seats by party - PH 129, BN 41, GS 18, GPS 18, WARISAN 9, GBS 3, UPKO 1, PSB 1, independent 1, vacant 1" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN: ++ Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [LIOW Tiong Lai] ++ Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. SUBRAMANIAM] ++ United Malays National Organization or UMNO [MOHAMAD Hasan, acting] ++ (Formerly - Coalition of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH (formerly the People's Alliance, before former PM MAHATHIR resigns 24 February 2020):  ++ Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [TAN Kok Wai] ++ Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM [Tan Sri MUHYIDDIN Yassin; note - former PM MAHATHIR steps down 24 Feb 2020] ++ National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH [Mohamad SABU] ++ People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [ANWAR Ibrahim] ++ New - Fighters of the Nation Party (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air) or Pejuang [former PM MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; interim president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir note - started August 2020]  ++ ++ Other: ++ Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang] ++ Progressive Democratic Party or PDP [TIONG King Sing] ++ Sabah Heritage Party (Parti Warisan Sabah) or WARISAN [SHAFIE Apdal] ++ Sarawak Parties Alliance (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or GPS [ABANG JOHARI Openg] (includes PBB, SUPP, PRS, PDP) ++ Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS [James MASING] ++ Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [Dr. SIM Kui Hian] ++ United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Wilfred Madius TANGAU] ++ United Sabah Alliance or USA (Gabungan Sabah) ++ United Sabah Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Maximus ONGKILI] ++ United Sabah People's (Party Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS [Joseph KURUP] ++ United Traditional Bumiputera Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB; note - PBB is listed under GPS above" + "text": "National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN: ++ Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [LIOW Tiong Lai] ++ Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. SUBRAMANIAM] ++ United Malays National Organization or UMNO [MOHAMAD Hasan, acting] ++ (Formerly - Coalition of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH (formerly the People's Alliance, before former PM MAHATHIR resigns 24 February 2020): ++ Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [TAN Kok Wai] ++ Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM [Tan Sri MUHYIDDIN Yassin; note - former PM MAHATHIR steps down 24 Feb 2020] ++ National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH [Mohamad SABU] ++ People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [ANWAR Ibrahim] ++ New - Fighters of the Nation Party (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air) or Pejuang [former PM MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; interim president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir note - started August 2020] ++ ++ Other: ++ Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang] ++ Progressive Democratic Party or PDP [TIONG King Sing] ++ Sabah Heritage Party (Parti Warisan Sabah) or WARISAN [SHAFIE Apdal] ++ Sarawak Parties Alliance (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or GPS [ABANG JOHARI Openg] (includes PBB, SUPP, PRS, PDP) ++ Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS [James MASING] ++ Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [Dr. SIM Kui Hian] ++ United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Wilfred Madius TANGAU] ++ United Sabah Alliance or USA (Gabungan Sabah) ++ United Sabah Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Maximus ONGKILI] ++ United Sabah People's (Party Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS [Joseph KURUP] ++ United Traditional Bumiputera Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB; note - PBB is listed under GPS above" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ "text": "$312.4 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "5.9% (2017 est.) / 4.2% (2016 est.) / 5.1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.31% (2019 est.) / 4.77% (2018 est.) / 5.81% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$29,100 (2017 est.) / $27,900 (2016 est.) / $27,100 (2015 est.)", @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ "text": "5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "14.94 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "15.139 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.4% (2017 est.) / 3.5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.3% (2019 est.) / 3.33% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "3.8% (2009 est.)" @@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ } }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$9.296 billion (2017 est.) / $7.236 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$12.295 billion (2019 est.) / $8.027 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$187.9 billion (2017 est.) / $165.3 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 20 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 140 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 60; landing points for BBG, FEA, SAFE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, AAE-1, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, BRCS, ACE, AAG, East-West Submarine Cable System, SEAX-1, SKR1M, APCN-2, APG, BtoBe,  BaSICS, and Labuan-Brunei Submarine and MCT submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean); launch of Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 60; landing points for BBG, FEA, SAFE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, AAE-1, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, BRCS, ACE, AAG, East-West Submarine Cable System, SEAX-1, SKR1M, APCN-2, APG, BtoBe, BaSICS, and Labuan-Brunei Submarine and MCT submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean); launch of Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable, and satellite - has moderated" @@ -935,13 +935,13 @@ "text": "the Malaysian Armed Forces field a diverse mix of imported weapons systems; the chief suppliers since 2010 are Germany, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "820 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (April 2020)" + "text": "820 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent and proof of age); mandatory retirement age 60; women serve in the Malaysian Armed Forces; no conscription (2017)" }, "Maritime threats": { - "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports that the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea remain high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; in the past, commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; 11 attacks were reported in 2018 including eight ships boarded and seven crew taken hostage" + "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports that the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea remain high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; in the past, commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; 11 attacks were reported in 2018 including eight ships boarded and seven crew taken hostage" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -958,10 +958,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "114,227 (Burma) (2018)" + "text": "119,230 (Burma) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "9,631 (2018); note - Malaysia's stateless population consists of Rohingya refugees from Burma, ethnic Indians, and the children of Filipino and Indonesian illegal migrants; Burma stripped the Rohingya of their nationality in 1982; Filipino and Indonesian children who have not been registered for birth certificates by their parents or who received birth certificates stamped \"foreigner\" are not eligible to attend government schools; these children are vulnerable to statelessness should they not be able to apply to their parents' country of origin for passports" + "text": "108,332 (2019); note - Malaysia's stateless population consists of Rohingya refugees from Burma, ethnic Indians, and the children of Filipino and Indonesian illegal migrants; Burma stripped the Rohingya of their nationality in 1982; Filipino and Indonesian children who have not been registered for birth certificates by their parents or who received birth certificates stamped \"foreigner\" are not eligible to attend government schools; these children are vulnerable to statelessness should they not be able to apply to their parents' country of origin for passports" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/pg.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/pg.json index a98dd82d..b4d5f7f1 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/pg.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/pg.json @@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military - note": { - "text": "Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam ++ China: assessed to have 7 outposts (Fiery Cross, Mischief, Subi, Cuarteron, Gavin, Hughes, and Johnson reefs); the outposts on Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi include air bases with helipads and dozens of fighter jet hangers, naval port facilities, surveillance radars, air defense sites, anti-ship cruise missiles, and other military infrastructure such as communications, barracks, maintenance facilities, and ammunition and fuel bunkers ++ Malaysia:  assessed to have 5 outposts in the southern portion of the archipelago, closest to the Malaysian state of Sabah (Ardasier Reef, Eric Reef, Mariveles Reef, Shallow Reef, and Investigator Shoal); all the outposts have helicopter landing pads, while Shallow Reef also has an airstrip ++ Philippines: assessed to occupy 9 features (Commodore Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, Flat Island, Loaita Cay, Loaita Island, Nanshan Island, Northeast Cay, Thitu Island, and West York Island); Thitu Island has the only Philippine airstrip in the Spratlys ++ Taiwan: maintains an outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island ++ Vietnam: assessed to occupy about 49 outposts spread across 27 features, including facilities on 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, plus 14 platforms known as “economic, scientific, and technological service stations,” or Dịch vụ-Khoa (DK1), on six underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; Spratly Island includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers; the six underwater banks with outposts include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra (2020)" + "text": "Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam ++ China: assessed to have 7 outposts (Fiery Cross, Mischief, Subi, Cuarteron, Gavin, Hughes, and Johnson reefs); the outposts on Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi include air bases with helipads and dozens of fighter jet hangers, naval port facilities, surveillance radars, air defense sites, anti-ship cruise missiles, and other military infrastructure such as communications, barracks, maintenance facilities, and ammunition and fuel bunkers ++ Malaysia: assessed to have 5 outposts in the southern portion of the archipelago, closest to the Malaysian state of Sabah (Ardasier Reef, Eric Reef, Mariveles Reef, Shallow Reef, and Investigator Shoal); all the outposts have helicopter landing pads, while Shallow Reef also has an airstrip ++ Philippines: assessed to occupy 9 features (Commodore Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, Flat Island, Loaita Cay, Loaita Island, Nanshan Island, Northeast Cay, Thitu Island, and West York Island); Thitu Island has the only Philippine airstrip in the Spratlys ++ Taiwan: maintains an outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island ++ Vietnam: assessed to occupy about 49 outposts spread across 27 features, including facilities on 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, plus 14 platforms known as \"economic, scientific, and technological service stations,\" or Dịch vụ-Khoa (DK1), on six underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; Spratly Island includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers; the six underwater banks with outposts include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra (2020)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/pp.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/pp.json index 57a31955..9854887a 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/pp.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/pp.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives. Since 2001, Bougainville has experienced autonomy; a referendum asking the population if they would like independence or greater self rule occurred in November 2019, with almost 98% of voters choosing independence." + "text": "The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives. Since 2001, Bougainville has experienced autonomy; a referendum asking the population if they would like independence or greater self rule occurred in November 2019, with almost 98% of voters choosing independence." } }, "Geography": { @@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Charles ABEL (since 4 August 2017)" + "text": "Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Charles ABEL (since 4 August 2017)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister" @@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Erin Elizabeth MCKEE (since 27 November 2019); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu" + "text": "Ambassador Erin Elizabeth MCKEE (since 27 November 2019); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu" }, "telephone": { "text": "[675] 321-1455" @@ -765,13 +765,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "services are minimal; Internet slow and expensive; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services; a great deal of the population is under served in telecommunications; terrain, living conditions and economic stability is not high; 2G still exists in rural areas, 3G and 4G LTE in urban areas; the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019, will improve most services in the region (2020)" + "text": "services are minimal; Internet slow and expensive; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services; a great deal of the population is under served in telecommunications; terrain, living conditions and economic stability is not high; 2G still exists in rural areas, 3G and 4G LTE in urban areas; the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019, will improve most services in the region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "access to telephone services is not widely available; fixed-line 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular 48 per 100 person, teledensity has increased (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 675; landing points for the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System, PNG-LNG, APNG-2, CSCS and the PPC-1 submarine cables to Australia, Guam, PNG and Solomon Islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 675; landing points for the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System, PNG-LNG, APNG-2, CSCS and the PPC-1 submarine cables to Australia, Guam, PNG and Solomon Islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "9,368 (Indonesia) (2018)" + "text": "9,368 (Indonesia) (2019)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "14,000 (natural disasters, tribal conflict, inter-communal violence, development projects) (2019)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/rp.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/rp.json index de19eb9e..ef639768 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/rp.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/rp.json @@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ "text": "leptospirosis" }, "note": { - "text": "note - on 8 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice regarding a polio outbreak in the Philippines; CDC recommends that all travelers to the Philippines be vaccinated fully against polio; before traveling to the Philippines, adults who completed their routine polio vaccine series as children should receive a single, lifetime adult booster dose of polio vaccine" + "text": "note - on 8 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice regarding a polio outbreak in the Philippines; CDC recommends that all travelers to the Philippines be vaccinated fully against polio; before traveling to the Philippines, adults who completed their routine polio vaccine series as children should receive a single, lifetime adult booster dose of polio vaccine" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ "text": "bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of: Senate or Senado (24 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) ++ House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (297 seats; 238 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 59 representing minorities directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Senate - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held on 13 May 2019) ++ House of Representatives - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held on 13 May 2019)" + "text": "Senate - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held on 13 May 2019) ++ House of Representatives - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held on 13 May 2019)" }, "election results": { "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - LP 31.3%, NPC 10.1%, UNA 7.6%, Akbayan 5.0%, other 30.9%, independent 15.1%; seats by party - LP 6, NPC 3, UNA 4, Akbayan 1, other 10; composition - men 18, women 6, percent of women 25% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LP 41.7%, NPC 17.0%, UNA 6.6%, NUP 9.7%, NP 9.4%, independent 6.0%, others 10.1%; seats by party - LP 115, NPC 42, NUP 23, NP 24, UNA 11, other 19, independent 4, party-list 59; composition - men 210, women 87, percent of women 29.8%; note - total Congress percent of women 29.4%" @@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ "text": "$313.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6.7% (2017 est.) / 6.9% (2016 est.) / 6.1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "6.04% (2019 est.) / 6.34% (2018 est.) / 6.94% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$8,400 (2017 est.) / $8,000 (2016 est.) / $7,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ "text": "7.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "42.78 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "41.533 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.7% (2017 est.) / 5.5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.11% (2019 est.) / 5.29% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "21.6% (2017 est.)" @@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / 1.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.518 billion (2017 est.) / -$1.199 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$3.386 billion (2019 est.) / -$8.877 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$48.2 billion (2017 est.) / $57.41 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -679,16 +679,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "12 million (2017)" + "text": "4 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "88% (2017)" + "text": "96% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "98% (2017)" + "text": "100% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "80% (2017)" + "text": "93% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate; National Broadband Plan to improve connectivity in rural areas underway; dominance of mobile platform and mobile broadband over fixed broadband penetration; 4G available now in most areas with 5G roll outs soon; smart city pilot has begun; with more mobile services there is demand for data center services and iCloud; launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 will improve telecommunication for the region (2020)" + "text": "good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate; National Broadband Plan to improve connectivity in rural areas underway; dominance of mobile platform and mobile broadband over fixed broadband penetration; 4G available now in most areas with 5G roll outs soon; smart city pilot has begun; with more mobile services there is demand for data center services and iCloud; launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 will improve telecommunication for the region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and (very small aperture terminal) VSAT, fiber-optic cable, and satellite for redundant international connectivity; fixed-line 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular 155 per 100 (2019)" @@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ "text": "1% of GDP (2019) / 0.9% of GDP (2018) / 1.3% of GDP (2017) / 1.1% of GDP (2016) / 1.1% of GDP (2015)" }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { - "text": "the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have approximately 130,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 24,000 Navy; 16,000 Air Force);  note - the Navy includes about 8,500 marines) (2019 est.)" + "text": "the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have approximately 130,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 24,000 Navy; 16,000 Air Force); note - the Navy includes about 8,500 marines) (2019 est.)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the AFP is equipped with a mix of imported weapons systems, particularly second-hand equipment from the US; since 2014, its top weapons suppliers are Brazil, Indonesia, South Korea, and the US (2019)" @@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ "text": "182,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; armed attacks, political violence, and communal tensions in Mindanao) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,068 (2018); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants" + "text": "383 (2019); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/sn.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/sn.json index 503aa755..e0d8de19 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/sn.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/sn.json @@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a fixed term of 6-years (there are no term limits); election last held on 13 September 2017 (next to be held in 2023); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president" + "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a fixed term of 6-years (there are no term limits); election last held on 13 September 2017 (next to be held in 2023); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president" }, "election results": { "text": "HALIMAH Yacob was declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate; Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president in the previous contested election on 27 August 2011; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2% , TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 4.9%" @@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Parliament (104 seats; 93 members directly elected by popular vote, up to 9 nominated by a parliamentary selection committee and appointed by the president, and up to 12 non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms); note - the number of nominated members will increase to 12 for the 2020 election for the first time (2020)" + "text": "unicameral Parliament (104 seats; 93 members directly elected by popular vote, up to 9 nominated by a parliamentary selection committee and appointed by the president, and up to 12 non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms); note - the number of nominated members will increase to 12 for the 2020 election for the first time (2020)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 10 July 2020 (next must be held by 2025)" @@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { - "text": "Supreme Court (although the number of judges varies - as of April 2019, the court totaled 20 judges, 7 judicial commissioners, 4 judges of appeal, and 16 international judges); the court is organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court" + "text": "Supreme Court (although the number of judges varies - as of April 2019, the court totaled 20 judges, 7 judicial commissioners, 4 judges of appeal, and 16 international judges); the court is organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended" @@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ "text": "$323.9 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.6% (2017 est.) / 2.4% (2016 est.) / 2.2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.73% (2019 est.) / 3.48% (2018 est.) / 4.34% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$94,100 (2017 est.) / $90,900 (2016 est.) / $89,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ "text": "5.7% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "3.657 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "3.778 million (2019 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: excludes non-residents" } @@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "2.2% (2017 est.) / 2.1% (2016 est.)" + "text": "2.25% (2019 est.) / 2.1% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" @@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ "text": "0.6% (2017 est.) / -0.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$60.99 billion (2017 est.) / $58.85 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$63.109 billion (2019 est.) / $64.042 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$396.8 billion (2017 est.) / $338 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -755,20 +755,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent service; world leader in telecommunications and perhaps the first 'Smart Nation' where a sensor network is implemented, for water and air, smart logistics and smart sensor in the home of elderly or chronically ill; roll out of 4G and 5G networks to ensure faster speeds; wireless and fiber broadband growing segments of telecommunications; roll out of 'Next Generation Network' (NGNBN) almost complete with FttH and wireless network fiber based services; mobile sector saturated, but with mobile operators competing to offer more to the consumer such as value-added services; 4 MNVO; demand for data storage in Singapore (2020)" + "text": "excellent service; world leader in telecommunications and perhaps the first 'Smart Nation' where a sensor network is implemented, for water and air, smart logistics and smart sensor in the home of elderly or chronically ill; roll out of 4G and 5G networks to ensure faster speeds; wireless and fiber broadband growing segments of telecommunications; roll out of 'Next Generation Network' (NGNBN) almost complete with FttH and wireless network fiber based services; mobile sector saturated, but with mobile operators competing to offer more to the consumer such as value-added services; 4 MNVO; demand for data storage in Singapore (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "excellent domestic facilities; fixed-line 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular 156 per 100 teledensity; multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 65; landing points for INDIGO-West, SeaMeWe -3,-4,-5, SIGMAR, SJC, i2icn, PGASCOM, BSCS, IGG, B3JS, SAEx2, APCN-2, APG, ASC, SEAX-1, ASE, EAC-C2C, Matrix Cable System and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3, Bukit Timah, Seletar, and Sentosa; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2019 )" + "text": "country code - 65; landing points for INDIGO-West, SeaMeWe -3,-4,-5, SIGMAR, SJC, i2icn, PGASCOM, BSCS, IGG, B3JS, SAEx2, APCN-2, APG, ASC, SEAX-1, ASE, EAC-C2C, Matrix Cable System and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3, Bukit Timah, Seletar, and Sentosa; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2019 )" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state controls broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp which is wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; a total of 19 domestic radio stations broadcasting, with MediaCorp operating 11, Singapore Press Holdings, also government-linked, another 5, 2 controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association and one owned by BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available as is BBC; a number of Internet service radio stations are also available (2019)" + "text": "state controls broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp which is wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; a total of 19 domestic radio stations broadcasting, with MediaCorp operating 11, Singapore Press Holdings, also government-linked, another 5, 2 controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association and one owned by BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available as is BBC; a number of Internet service radio stations are also available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".sg" @@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Singapore Armed Forces: Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense);  Police Coast Guard (subordinate to the Singapore Police Force) (2019)" + "text": "Singapore Armed Forces: Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense); Police Coast Guard (subordinate to the Singapore Police Force) (2019)" }, "Military expenditures": { "text": "3.2% of GDP (2019) / 3.1% of GDP (2018) / 3.1% of GDP (2017) / 3.2% of GDP (2016) / 3.1% of GDP (2015)" @@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,303 (2018)" + "text": "1,303 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/th.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/th.json index b72912a8..09bdf42d 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/th.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/th.json @@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "10.539 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.399 Chon Buri, 1.307 million Samut Prakan, 1.167 million Chiang Mai, 967,000 Songkla, 963,000 Nothaburi (2020)" + "text": "10.539 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.399 Chon Buri, 1.307 million Samut Prakan, 1.167 million Chiang Mai, 967,000 Songkla, 963,000 Nothaburi (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ "text": "UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: Bangkok was likely originally a colloquial name, but one that was widely adopted by foreign visitors; the name may derive from \"bang ko,\" where \"bang\" is the Thai word for \"village on a stream\" and \"ko\" means \"island,\" both referencing the area's landscape, which was carved by rivers and canals; alternatively, the name may come from \"bang makok,\" where \"makok\" is the name of the Java plum, a plant bearing olive-like fruit; this possibility is supported by the former name of Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok; ++ Krung Thep, the city's Thai name, means \"City of the Deity\" and is a shortening of the full ceremonial name: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit; translated the meaning is: City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest; it holds the world's record as the longest place name (169 letters)" + "text": "etymology: Bangkok was likely originally a colloquial name, but one that was widely adopted by foreign visitors; the name may derive from \"bang ko,\" where \"bang\" is the Thai word for \"village on a stream\" and \"ko\" means \"island,\" both referencing the area's landscape, which was carved by rivers and canals; alternatively, the name may come from \"bang makok,\" where \"makok\" is the name of the Java plum, a plant bearing olive-like fruit; this possibility is supported by the former name of Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok; ++ Krung Thep, the city's Thai name, means \"City of the Deity\" and is a shortening of the full ceremonial name: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit; translated the meaning is: City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest; it holds the world's record as the longest place name (169 letters)" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -443,18 +443,18 @@ "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; the House of Representatives and Senate approves a person for Prime Minister who must then be appointed by the King (as stated in the transitory provision of the 2017 constitution); the office of prime minister can be held for up to a total of 8 years" }, "note": { - "text": "note:  PRAYUT Chan-ocha was appointed interim prime minister in August 2014, three months after he staged the coup that removed the previously elected government of Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat; on 5 June 2019 PRAYUT (independent) was approved as prime minister by the parliament - 498 votes to 244 for THANATHON Chuengrungrueangkit (FFP)" + "text": "note: PRAYUT Chan-ocha was appointed interim prime minister in August 2014, three months after he staged the coup that removed the previously elected government of Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat; on 5 June 2019 PRAYUT (independent) was approved as prime minister by the parliament - 498 votes to 244 for THANATHON Chuengrungrueangkit (FFP)" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral National Assembly or Rathhasapha consists of: Senate or Wuthissapha (250 seats; members appointed by the Royal Thai Army to serve 5-year terms) ++ House of Representatives or Saphaphuthan Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 150 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)" + "text": "bicameral National Assembly or Rathhasapha consists of: Senate or Wuthissapha (250 seats; members appointed by the Royal Thai Army to serve 5-year terms) ++ House of Representatives or Saphaphuthan Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 150 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held on 14 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 24 March 2019 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 224, women 26, percent of women 10.4% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PPRP 23.7%, PTP 22.2%, FFP 17.8%, DP 11.1%, PJT 10.5%, TLP 2.3%, CTP 2.2%, NEP 1.4%, PCC 1.4%, ACT 1.2%, PCP 1.2%,  other 5.1%; seats by party - PTP 136, PPRP 116, FFP 81, DP 53, PJT 51, CTP 10, TLP 10, PCC 7, PCP 5, NEP 6, ACT 5, other 20; composition - men 421, women 79, percent of women 15.8%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 14%" + "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 224, women 26, percent of women 10.4% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PPRP 23.7%, PTP 22.2%, FFP 17.8%, DP 11.1%, PJT 10.5%, TLP 2.3%, CTP 2.2%, NEP 1.4%, PCC 1.4%, ACT 1.2%, PCP 1.2%, other 5.1%; seats by party - PTP 136, PPRP 116, FFP 81, DP 53, PJT 51, CTP 10, TLP 10, PCC 7, PCP 5, NEP 6, ACT 5, other 20; composition - men 421, women 79, percent of women 15.8%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 14%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ "text": "$455.4 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.9% (2017 est.) / 3.3% (2016 est.) / 3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.62% (2019 est.) / 4.31% (2018 est.) / 4.26% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$17,900 (2017 est.) / $17,200 (2016 est.) / $16,700 (2015 est.)", @@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ "text": "1.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "38.37 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "37.546 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "0.7% (2017 est.) / 0.8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "0.99% (2019 est.) / 1.06% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "7.2% (2015 est.)" @@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ "text": "0.7% (2017 est.) / 0.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$51.08 billion (2017 est.) / $48.24 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$37.033 billion (2019 est.) / $28.423 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$235.1 billion (2017 est.) / $214.3 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok; mobile and mobile broadband penetration are on the increase; Fiber-to-the-home (FttH) has seen strong growth in the major cities; 4G TD-LTE available and moving to 5G services; seven smart cities with the hope of 100 smart cities within its borders in the next two decades; one of the biggest e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia; fixed broadband remains relative compared to other developed Asian telecom markets and with the dominance of the mobile platform (2020)" + "text": "high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok; mobile and mobile broadband penetration are on the increase; Fiber-to-the-home (FttH) has seen strong growth in the major cities; 4G TD-LTE available and moving to 5G services; seven smart cities with the hope of 100 smart cities within its borders in the next two decades; one of the biggest e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia; fixed broadband remains relative compared to other developed Asian telecom markets and with the dominance of the mobile platform (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line system provided by both a government-owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly; fixed-line 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular 186 per 100 (2019)" @@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ "text": "the RTARF has a diverse array of foreign-supplied weapons systems, including a large amount of obsolescent or second-hand US equipment; since 2015, the top suppliers are China, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "270 South Sudan (UNMISS) (March 2020)" + "text": "270 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation based on lottery (2018)" @@ -950,10 +950,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "93,269 (Burma) (2020)" + "text": "91,806 (Burma) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "478,883 (2018) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving" + "text": "475,009 (2019) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving" }, "note": { "text": "note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/tt.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/tt.json index 22333f2d..5ef82049 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/tt.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/tt.json @@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ "text": "floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones" }, "Environment - current issues": { - "text": "air pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion; loss of biodiversity" + "text": "air pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion; loss of biodiversity" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { @@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ "text": "Ambassador Kathleen FITZPATRICK (since 19 January 2018)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "(670) 332-4684" + "text": "(670) 332-4684, EMER: +(670) 7723-1328" }, "embassy": { "text": "Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili" @@ -776,20 +776,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "service in urban and some rural areas, which is expanding with the entrance of new competitors; 4G LTE service, with about 97% of population having access, among 3 mobile operators; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. aims to boost e-govt. services with new national terrestrial optical fiber network; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 satellite is important to the telecom sector for the entire region (2020)" + "text": "service in urban and some rural areas, which is expanding with the entrance of new competitors; 4G LTE service, with about 97% of population having access, among 3 mobile operators; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. aims to boost e-govt. services with new national terrestrial optical fiber network; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 satellite is important to the telecom sector for the entire region (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services, less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular services have been expanding and are now available in urban and most rural areas with teledensity of 110 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 670;  international service is available; partnership with Australia telecom companies for potential deployment of a submarine fiber-optic link (NWCS); geostationary earth orbit satellite" + "text": "country code - 670; international service is available; partnership with Australia telecom companies for potential deployment of a submarine fiber-optic link (NWCS); geostationary earth orbit satellite" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage; 2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019)" + "text": "7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage; 2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".tl" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json index 1e5f5193..80daba1c 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json @@ -405,8 +405,11 @@ "chief of mission": { "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Taiwan; commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts; it is managed by Director William Brent CHRISTENSEN (since 11 August 2018); telephone [886] 7-335-5006; FAX [886] 7-338-0551" }, - "office": { - "text": "#7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei 10659, Taiwan" + "telephone": { + "text": "(+886) (02) 2162-2000" + }, + "branch office(s)": { + "text": "American Institute in Taiwan ++ No. 100, Jinhu Road, ++ Neihu District 11461, Taipei City" }, "other offices": { "text": "Kaohsiung (Branch Office)" @@ -447,7 +450,7 @@ "text": "$572.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / 1.4% (2016 est.) / 0.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.71% (2019 est.) / 2.75% (2018 est.) / 3.31% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$50,500 (2017 est.) / $49,100 (2016 est.) / $48,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -499,7 +502,7 @@ "text": "3.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "11.78 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "11.498 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -513,7 +516,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.8% (2017 est.) / 3.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.73% (2019 est.) / 3.69% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "1.5% (2012 est.)" @@ -553,7 +556,7 @@ "text": "1.1% (2017 est.) / 1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$82.88 billion (2017 est.) / $72.78 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$65.173 billion (2019 est.) / $70.843 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$329.5 billion (2019)" @@ -679,14 +682,14 @@ "text": "fixed-line 55 per 100 and mobile-cellular 123 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 886; landing points for the EAC-C2C, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC2, TSE-1, TPE, APG, SeaMeWe-3, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, HKA, NCP, and PLCN submarine fiber cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 886; landing points for the EAC-C2C, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC2, TSE-1, TPE, APG, SeaMeWe-3, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, HKA, NCP, and PLCN submarine fiber cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "5 nationwide television networks operating roughly 22 TV stations; more than 300 satellite TV channels are available; about 60% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV; 99.9% of households subscribe to digital cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 171 radio stations (2019)" + "text": "5 nationwide television networks operating roughly 22 TV stations; more than 300 satellite TV channels are available; about 60% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV; 99.9% of households subscribe to digital cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 171 radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".tw" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/vm.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/vm.json index f63c3c4e..17957fe0 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/vm.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/vm.json @@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "8.602 million Ho Chi Minh City, 4.678 million HANOI (capital), 1.618 million Can Tho, 1.300 million Hai Phong, 1.125 million Da Nang, 1.013 million Bien Hoa (2020)" + "text": "8.602 million Ho Chi Minh City, 4.678 million HANOI (capital), 1.618 million Can Tho, 1.300 million Hai Phong, 1.125 million Da Nang, 1.013 million Bien Hoa (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ "text": "$220.4 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6.8% (2017 est.) / 6.2% (2016 est.) / 6.7% (2015 est.)" + "text": "6.8% (2017 est.) / 7.16% (2017 est.) / 6.2% (2016 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$6,900 (2017 est.) / $6,600 (2016 est.) / $6,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ "text": "8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "54.8 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "54.659 million (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "2.2% (2017 est.) / 2.3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.11% (2018 est.) / 2.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "8% (2017 est.)" @@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ "text": "3.5% (2017 est.) / 2.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$5.401 billion (2017 est.) / $5.924 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$12.478 billion (2019 est.) / $5.769 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$214.1 billion (2017 est.) / $176.6 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -675,17 +675,8 @@ }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { - "population without electricity": { - "text": "1 million (2017)" - }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "99% (2017)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2017)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "98% (2017)" + "text": "100% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -777,13 +768,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "despite being a communist country there are plans to part privatize the state's holdings in telecom companies as well as a large number of other enterprises; competition is thriving in the market place; mobile dominates over fixed-line; FttH market growing, as is e-commerce; govt. is the driving force for growth and moving towards commercializing 5G services with test licenses issued in 2019; 5 major operators; Ho Chi Minh City to become the first smart city in Vietnam with cloud computing infrastructure, big data, data centers and security-monitoring centers (2020)" + "text": "despite being a communist country there are plans to part privatize the state's holdings in telecom companies as well as a large number of other enterprises; competition is thriving in the market place; mobile dominates over fixed-line; FttH market growing, as is e-commerce; govt. is the driving force for growth and moving towards commercializing 5G services with test licenses issued in 2019; 5 major operators; Ho Chi Minh City to become the first smart city in Vietnam with cloud computing infrastructure, big data, data centers and security-monitoring centers (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly; fixed-line 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular 141 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 84; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, APG, SJC2, AAE-1, AAG and the TGN-IA submarine cable system providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2020)" + "text": "country code - 84; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, APG, SJC2, AAE-1, AAG and the TGN-IA submarine cable system providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -941,7 +932,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "34,110 (2018); note - Vietnam's stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship" + "text": "30,581 (2019); note - Vietnam's stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/al.json b/europe/al.json index 796f1a85..bf2c059c 100644 --- a/europe/al.json +++ b/europe/al.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939 and occupied by Germany in 1943. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of isolated communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. ++ Albania has made progress in its democratic development since it first held multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. Most of Albania's post-communist elections were marred by claims of electoral fraud; however, international observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and in June 2014 became an EU candidate. Albania in April 2017 received a European Commission recommendation to open EU accession negotiations following the passage of historic EU-mandated justice reforms in 2016. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, it has slowed, and the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. A large informal economy and a weak energy and transportation infrastructure remain obstacles." + "text": "Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939 and occupied by Germany in 1943. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of isolated communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. ++ Albania has made progress in its democratic development since it first held multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. Most of Albania's post-communist elections were marred by claims of electoral fraud; however, international observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and in June 2014 became an EU candidate. Albania in April 2017 received a European Commission recommendation to open EU accession negotiations following the passage of historic EU-mandated justice reforms in 2016. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, it has slowed, and the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. A large informal economy and a weak energy and transportation infrastructure remain obstacles." } }, "Geography": { @@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ "text": "Supreme Court (consists of 19 judges, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the chairman)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman is elected for a single 3-year term by the court members; appointments of Constitutional Court judges are rotated among the president, Parliament, and Supreme Court from a list of pre-qualified candidates (each institution selects 3 judges), to serve single 9-year terms; candidates are pre-qualified by a randomly selected body of experienced judges and prosecutors; Constitutional Court chairman is elected by the court members for a single, renewable 3-year term" + "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman is elected for a single 3-year term by the court members; appointments of Constitutional Court judges are rotated among the president, Parliament, and Supreme Court from a list of pre-qualified candidates (each institution selects 3 judges), to serve single 9-year terms; candidates are pre-qualified by a randomly selected body of experienced judges and prosecutors; Constitutional Court chairman is elected by the court members for a single, renewable 3-year term" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized courts: Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (responsible for corruption, organized crime, and crimes of high officials)" @@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Yuri KIM (since 27 January 2020)" + "text": "Ambassador Yuri KIM (since 27 January 2020)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008" @@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Albania, a formerly closed, centrally planned state, is a developing country with a modern open-market economy. Albania managed to weather the first waves of the global financial crisis but, the negative effects of the crisis caused a significant economic slowdown. Since 2014, Albania's economy has steadily improved and economic growth reached 3.8% in 2017. However, close trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of possible debt crises and weak growth in the euro zone. ++   ++ Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth, declined from 12-15% of GDP before the 2008 financial crisis to 5.8% of GDP in 2015, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy. The agricultural sector, which accounts for more than 40% of employment but less than one quarter of GDP, is limited primarily to small family operations and subsistence farming, because of a lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Complex tax codes and licensing requirements, a weak judicial system, endemic corruption, poor enforcement of contracts and property issues, and antiquated infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment making attracting foreign investment difficult. Since 2015, Albania has launched an ambitious program to increase tax compliance and bring more businesses into the formal economy. In July 2016, Albania passed constitutional amendments reforming the judicial system in order to strengthen the rule of law and to reduce deeply entrenched corruption. ++   ++ Albania's electricity supply is uneven despite upgraded transmission capacities with neighboring countries. However, the government has recently taken steps to stem non-technical losses and has begun to upgrade the distribution grid. Better enforcement of electricity contracts has improved the financial viability of the sector, decreasing its reliance on budget support. Also, with help from international donors, the government is taking steps to improve the poor road and rail networks, a long standing barrier to sustained economic growth. ++   ++ Inward foreign direct investment has increased significantly in recent years as the government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. The government is focused on the simplification of licensing requirements and tax codes, and it entered into a new arrangement with the IMF for additional financial and technical support. Albania's three-year IMF program, an extended fund facility arrangement, was successfully concluded in February 2017. The Albanian Government has strengthened tax collection amid moderate public wage and pension increases in an effort to reduce its budget deficit. The country continues to face high public debt, exceeding its former statutory limit of 60% of GDP in 2013 and reaching 72% in 2016." + "text": "Albania, a formerly closed, centrally planned state, is a developing country with a modern open-market economy. Albania managed to weather the first waves of the global financial crisis but, the negative effects of the crisis caused a significant economic slowdown. Since 2014, Albania's economy has steadily improved and economic growth reached 3.8% in 2017. However, close trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of possible debt crises and weak growth in the euro zone. ++ ++ Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth, declined from 12-15% of GDP before the 2008 financial crisis to 5.8% of GDP in 2015, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy. The agricultural sector, which accounts for more than 40% of employment but less than one quarter of GDP, is limited primarily to small family operations and subsistence farming, because of a lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Complex tax codes and licensing requirements, a weak judicial system, endemic corruption, poor enforcement of contracts and property issues, and antiquated infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment making attracting foreign investment difficult. Since 2015, Albania has launched an ambitious program to increase tax compliance and bring more businesses into the formal economy. In July 2016, Albania passed constitutional amendments reforming the judicial system in order to strengthen the rule of law and to reduce deeply entrenched corruption. ++ ++ Albania's electricity supply is uneven despite upgraded transmission capacities with neighboring countries. However, the government has recently taken steps to stem non-technical losses and has begun to upgrade the distribution grid. Better enforcement of electricity contracts has improved the financial viability of the sector, decreasing its reliance on budget support. Also, with help from international donors, the government is taking steps to improve the poor road and rail networks, a long standing barrier to sustained economic growth. ++ ++ Inward foreign direct investment has increased significantly in recent years as the government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. The government is focused on the simplification of licensing requirements and tax codes, and it entered into a new arrangement with the IMF for additional financial and technical support. Albania's three-year IMF program, an extended fund facility arrangement, was successfully concluded in February 2017. The Albanian Government has strengthened tax collection amid moderate public wage and pension increases in an effort to reduce its budget deficit. The country continues to face high public debt, exceeding its former statutory limit of 60% of GDP in 2013 and reaching 72% in 2016." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$36.01 billion (2017 est.) / $34.67 billion (2016 est.) / $33.55 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ "text": "$13.07 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.8% (2017 est.) / 3.4% (2016 est.) / 2.2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.24% (2019 est.) / 4.07% (2018 est.) / 3.8% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$12,500 (2017 est.) / $12,100 (2016 est.) / $11,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ "text": "6.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "1.198 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "1.104 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "13.8% (2017 est.) / 15.2% (2016 est.)", + "text": "5.83% (2019 est.) / 6.32% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: these official rates may not include those working at near-subsistence farming" } @@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -760,13 +760,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996 and dominates over fixed-line capacity; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005 and the government continues to supports the improvement of broadband availability and access conditions; Albania has received financial aid to build its infrastructure and works towards the EU accession process, an adherence to careful scrutiny of its regulatory regime helps the telecom sector advance; Internet cafes are popular in major urban areas; 1.3 million use mobile broadband services (3G/4G) (2020)" + "text": "mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996 and dominates over fixed-line capacity; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005 and the government continues to supports the improvement of broadband availability and access conditions; Albania has received financial aid to build its infrastructure and works towards the EU accession process, an adherence to careful scrutiny of its regulatory regime helps the telecom sector advance; Internet cafes are popular in major urban areas; 1.3 million use mobile broadband services (3G/4G) (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 8 per 100, teledensity continues to decline due to heavy use of mobile-cellular telephone services; mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective, 91 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 355; submarine cables for the Adria 1 and Italy-Albania provide connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2019)" + "text": "country code - 355; submarine cables for the Adria 1 and Italy-Albania provide connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "4,160 (2018)" + "text": "3,687 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 11,052 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2020)" diff --git a/europe/an.json b/europe/an.json index 0d378014..460f3bfb 100644 --- a/europe/an.json +++ b/europe/an.json @@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ "text": "unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (a minimum of 28 seats; 14 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies (parishes) by simple majority vote and 14 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - voters cast two separate ballots - one for a national list and one for a parish list" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held on April 2023)" + "text": "last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held on April 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - DA 35.1%, PS 30.6%, L'A 12.5%, Third Way/Lauredian Union 10.4%, other 22.4%; seats by party - DA 11, PS 7, L'A 4, Third Way/Lauredian Union 4, other 2; composition - men 14, women 14, percent of women 50%" @@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "modern automatic telephone system; broadband Internet and LTE mobile lines for both consumer and enterprise customers available (2019)" + "text": "modern automatic telephone system; broadband Internet and LTE mobile lines for both consumer and enterprise customers available (2019)" }, "domestic": { "text": "51 per 100 fixed-line, 113 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" diff --git a/europe/be.json b/europe/be.json index 303346bb..bddf7a15 100644 --- a/europe/be.json +++ b/europe/be.json @@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ "text": "$493.7 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.7% (2017 est.) / 1.4% (2016 est.) / 1.4% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.41% (2019 est.) / 1.49% (2018 est.) / 1.9% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$46,600 (2017 est.) / $46,000 (2016 est.) / $45,700 (2015 est.)", @@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ "text": "0.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "5.324 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "4.122 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "7.1% (2017 est.) / 7.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.36% (2019 est.) / 5.96% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "15.1% (2013 est.)" @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ "text": "2.2% (2017 est.) / 1.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$807 million (2017 est.) / $451 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "$1.843 billion (2019 est.) / -$4.135 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$300.8 billion (2017 est.) / $277.7 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; LTE availability is nearly universal in mobile sector; ongoing investments in developing applications and services for migration to 5G, operators are looking into repurposing 3G infrastructure and spectrum as they gear up for 5G; Europe-wide approach to simultaneous movement to 5G on going; 5G will be main motivation for growth and revenue in years to come; consumer are interested in quad-play/bundled services (broadband +television +telephone +wireless services) which will mean MNOs (mobile network operators) are enhancing their fixed-line offerings (2020)" + "text": "highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; LTE availability is nearly universal in mobile sector; ongoing investments in developing applications and services for migration to 5G, operators are looking into repurposing 3G infrastructure and spectrum as they gear up for 5G; Europe-wide approach to simultaneous movement to 5G on going; 5G will be main motivation for growth and revenue in years to come; consumer are interested in quad-play/bundled services (broadband +television +telephone +wireless services) which will mean MNOs (mobile network operators) are enhancing their fixed-line offerings (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "34 per 100 fixed-line, 100 per 100 mobile-cellular; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network (2019)" @@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ "text": "16,604 (Syria), 5,602 (Iraq), 5,070 (Afghanistan) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "7,695 (2018)" + "text": "10,933 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/bk.json b/europe/bk.json index 23d3f426..7e09b022 100644 --- a/europe/bk.json +++ b/europe/bk.json @@ -423,16 +423,16 @@ "text": "Chairman of the Presidency Sefik DZAFEROVIC (chairman since 20 March 2020, presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Bosniak seat); Zeljko KOMSIC (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Milorad DODIK (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Serb seat)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zoran TEGELTIJA  (since 5 December 2019)" + "text": "Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zoran TEGELTIJA (since 5 December 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman, approved by the state-level House of Representatives" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022); the chairman of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives" + "text": "3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022); the chairman of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat" + "text": "percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat" }, "note": { "text": "note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko CAVARA (since 11 February 2015); Vice Presidents Melika MAHMUTBEGOVIC (since 11 February 2015), Milan DUNOVIC (since 11 February 2015); President of the Republika Srpska Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (since 18 November 2018); Vice Presidents Ramiz SALKIC (since 24 November 2014), Josip JERKOVIC (since 24 November 2014)" @@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ "text": "House of Peoples - last held on 18 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "House of Peoples - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - NA; composition - men 13, women 2, percent of women 13.3% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - SDA 17%, SNSD 16%, SDS/NDP/NS/SRS-VS 9.8%, SDP 9.1%, HDZ-BiH/HSS/HKDU/HSP-AS BiH/HDU BiH 9.1%, DF, 5.8%, PDP 5.1%, DNS 4.2%, SBB BiH 4.2%, NS/HC 2.9%, NB 2.5%, PDA 2.3%, SP 1.9%, A-SDA 1.8%, other 17.4%; seats by coalition/party - SDA 9, SNSD 6, SDP 5, HDZ-BiH/HSS/HKDU/HSP-AS BiH/HDU BiH 5, SDS/NDP/NS/SRS-VS 3, DF 3, PDP 2, SBB BiH 2, NS/HC 2, DNS 1, NB 1 PDA 1, SP 1, A-SDA 1; composition - men 33, women 9, percent of women 21.4%; note - total Parliamentary Assembly percent of women 19.3%" + "text": "House of Peoples - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - NA; composition - men 13, women 2, percent of women 13.3% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - SDA 17%, SNSD 16%, SDS/NDP/NS/SRS-VS 9.8%, SDP 9.1%, HDZ-BiH/HSS/HKDU/HSP-AS BiH/HDU BiH 9.1%, DF, 5.8%, PDP 5.1%, DNS 4.2%, SBB BiH 4.2%, NS/HC 2.9%, NB 2.5%, PDA 2.3%, SP 1.9%, A-SDA 1.8%, other 17.4%; seats by coalition/party - SDA 9, SNSD 6, SDP 5, HDZ-BiH/HSS/HKDU/HSP-AS BiH/HDU BiH 5, SDS/NDP/NS/SRS-VS 3, DF 3, PDP 2, SBB BiH 2, NS/HC 2, DNS 1, NB 1 PDA 1, SP 1, A-SDA 1; composition - men 33, women 9, percent of women 21.4%; note - total Parliamentary Assembly percent of women 19.3%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Bojan VUJIC (since 16 September 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Bojan VUJIC (since 16 September 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037" @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ "text": "3% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "1.38 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "806,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "20.5% (2017 est.) / 25.4% (2016 est.)", + "text": "33.28% (2019 est.) / 35.97% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: official rate; actual rate is lower as many technically unemployed persons work in the gray economy" } @@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "mobile services dominate fixed-line; integration with the EU has given stability to the present economy, as an EU candidate country, the regulatory framework and telecom market has been liberalized and the regulator has given LTE license to 3 MNOs; DSL and cable are the chief platforms for fixed-line connectivity, there is a small market presence of fiber broadband; new mobile roaming fees come into effect similar to other EU countries; rural areas still suffer from insufficient connectivity (2020)" + "text": "mobile services dominate fixed-line; integration with the EU has given stability to the present economy, as an EU candidate country, the regulatory framework and telecom market has been liberalized and the regulator has given LTE license to 3 MNOs; DSL and cable are the chief platforms for fixed-line connectivity, there is a small market presence of fiber broadband; new mobile roaming fees come into effect similar to other EU countries; rural areas still suffer from insufficient connectivity (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity roughly 24 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly and stands at roughly 112 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ "text": "99,000 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced by inter-ethnic violence, human rights violations, and armed conflict during the 1992-95 war) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "90 (2018)" + "text": "75 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 68,087 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2020)" diff --git a/europe/bo.json b/europe/bo.json index fe2b9ee2..a578ab8e 100644 --- a/europe/bo.json +++ b/europe/bo.json @@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "72.1% (2017)", "note": { - "text": "note:  percent of women aged 18-49" + "text": "note: percent of women aged 18-49" } }, "Drinking water source": { @@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ "text": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; Minsk may originally have been located 16 km to the southwest, on the banks of Menka River; remnants of a 10th-century settlement on the banks of the Menka have been found " + "text": "etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; Minsk may originally have been located 16 km to the southwest, on the banks of Menka River; remnants of a 10th-century settlement on the banks of the Menka have been found" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ "text": "$54.44 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.4% (2017 est.) / -2.5% (2016 est.) / -3.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.22% (2019 est.) / 3.17% (2018 est.) / 2.53% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$18,900 (2017 est.) / $18,400 (2016 est.) / $19,000 (2015 est.)", @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "govt. and telecom regulator have plans to develop the telecom sector for the migration to 5G; Chinese company Huawei have started 5G trials to deliver data at 2Gb/s; fiber network reaches two million establishments; 10,000km of fiber cabling laid; August 2018 almost two million GPON connections (Gigabit Passive Optical Network, point-to-multi point access mechanism); Belarus launched its first telecoms satellite in 2016; LTE use reaches 75% of mobile subscribers (2020)" + "text": "govt. and telecom regulator have plans to develop the telecom sector for the migration to 5G; Chinese company Huawei have started 5G trials to deliver data at 2Gb/s; fiber network reaches two million establishments; 10,000km of fiber cabling laid; August 2018 almost two million GPON connections (Gigabit Passive Optical Network, point-to-multi point access mechanism); Belarus launched its first telecoms satellite in 2016; LTE use reaches 75% of mobile subscribers (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved, 48 per 100 fixed-line; mobile-cellular teledensity now approaches 123 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "6,025 (2018)" + "text": "6,466 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/europe/bu.json b/europe/bu.json index 4b561402..bd52e306 100644 --- a/europe/bu.json +++ b/europe/bu.json @@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA (since 18 October 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA (since 18 October 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[359] (2) 937-5100" @@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ "text": "$56.94 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.6% (2017 est.) / 3.9% (2016 est.) / 3.6% (2015 est.)" + "text": "3.39% (2019 est.) / 3.2% (2018 est.) / 3.5% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$21,800 (2017 est.) / $20,900 (2016 est.) / $19,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ "text": "3.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "3.357 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "3.113 million (2020 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: number of employed persons" } @@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.2% (2017 est.) / 7.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.66% (2019 est.) / 6.18% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "23.4% (2016 est.)" @@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ "text": "1.2% (2017 est.) / -1.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$2.562 billion (2017 est.) / $1.207 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$2.06 billion (2019 est.) / $611 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$29.08 billion (2017 est.) / $25.37 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -763,13 +763,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecom sector has benefited from Bulgaria's adaptation of EU regulatory measures, more privatization and less govt. monopoly; population is moving to fiber networks for broadband; govt. investment in programs for broadband in rural areas; 5G trials by 2 operators; quality has improved with a modern digital trunk line connecting switching centers in most of the regions; remaining areas are connected by digital microwave radio relay; Bulgaria has a mature mobile market with active competition (2020)" + "text": "telecom sector has benefited from Bulgaria's adaptation of EU regulatory measures, more privatization and less govt. monopoly; population is moving to fiber networks for broadband; govt. investment in programs for broadband in rural areas; 5G trials by 2 operators; quality has improved with a modern digital trunk line connecting switching centers in most of the regions; remaining areas are connected by digital microwave radio relay; Bulgaria has a mature mobile market with active competition (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 14 per 100 persons, mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, is over 116 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 359; Caucasus Cable System via submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine, Georgia and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 359; Caucasus Cable System via submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine, Georgia and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ "text": "the Bulgarian Armed Forces inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years, Bulgaria has attempted to procure more modern weapons systems from Western countries; since 2010, it has acquired limited quantities of military equipment from France, Israel, Italy, Norway, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "160 Afghanistan (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "160 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months (2012)" @@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ "text": "17,551 (Syria) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "92 (2018)" + "text": "116 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 58,073 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2020); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country and hosts approximately 992 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of September 2018; 2,576 migrant arrivals in 2018" diff --git a/europe/cy.json b/europe/cy.json index 0aa03f0b..6247a38b 100644 --- a/europe/cy.json +++ b/europe/cy.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority communities came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued, forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the \"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\" (\"TRNC\"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. An UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The most recent round of negotiations to reunify the island were suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the \"TRNC.\" However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of EU states." + "text": "A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority communities came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued, forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the \"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\" (\"TRNC\"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. An UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The most recent round of negotiations to reunify the island were suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the \"TRNC.\" However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of EU states." } }, "Geography": { @@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ "Government type": { "text": "Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; \"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\" (self-declared) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency", "note": { - "text": "note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot \"President\" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the \"TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey" + "text": "note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot \"President\" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the \"TRNC,\" which is recognized only by Turkey" } }, "Capital": { @@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ "text": "ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the \"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\" (\"TRNC\"); in 1985, the \"TRNC\" approved its own constitution" }, "amendments": { - "text": "constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the \"Greek Community\" and the \"Turkish Community\"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended 10 times, last in 2016 ++ constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” - proposed by at least 10 members of the \"Assembly of the Republic\"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014" + "text": "constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the \"Greek Community\" and the \"Turkish Community\"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended 10 times, last in 2016 ++ constitution of the \"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\" - proposed by at least 10 members of the \"Assembly of the Republic\"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President  Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government" + "text": "President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government" }, "head of government": { "text": "President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013)" @@ -447,12 +447,12 @@ "text": "Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Savros MALAS 44%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 202 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; results - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; the second round to be held on 18 October " + "text": "note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 202 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; results - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; the second round to be held on 18 October" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots, but only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members directly elected by both proportional representation and preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral \"Assembly of the Republic\" or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected to 5-year terms by proportional representation system using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preferences for individual candidates" + "text": "area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots, but only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members directly elected by both proportional representation and preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral \"Assembly of the Republic\" or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected to 5-year terms by proportional representation system using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preferences for individual candidates" }, "elections": { "text": "area under government control: last held on 22 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2021); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 7 January 2018 (next to be held in 2023, unless early election called)" @@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ "text": "$21.7 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.9% (2017 est.) / 3.4% (2016 est.) / 2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "3.08% (2019 est.) / 5.25% (2018 est.) / 5.16% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$37,200 (2017 est.) / $36,100 (2016 est.) / $34,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ "text": "13.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "426,600 (2017 est.)" + "text": "416,000 (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "11.1% (2017 est.) / 13% (2016 est.)" + "text": "7.07% (2019 est.) / 8.37% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" @@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ "text": "0.7% (2017 est.) / -1.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$1.458 billion (2017 est.) / -$984 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$1.578 billion (2019 est.) / -$958 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$2.805 billion (2017 est.) / $2.7 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -685,14 +685,14 @@ "Exchange rates": { "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar - / 0.885 (2017 est.) / 0.903 (2016 est.) / 0.9214 (2015 est.) / 0.885 (2014 est.) / 0.7634 (2013 est.)" }, - "": { + "Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots": { "text": "Economy - overview: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU \"acquis communautaire\" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the \"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\" (\"TRNC\"), until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the \"TRNC\" is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector, which includes the public sector, trade, tourism, and education, contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year, light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. The \"TRNC\" maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation, the \"TRNC\" has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey, which supports the \"TRNC\" defense, telecommunications, water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The \"TRNC\" remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The \"TRNC\" weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development, the health of the Turkish economy, and its separation from the rest of the island. The \"TRNC\" economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.; ++ GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.); ++ GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (2014 est.); ++ 2.8% (2013 est.); ++ GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.); ++ GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.); ++ Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.); ++ Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%,; industry: 29%,; services: 56.5% (2004); ++ Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.); ++ Population below poverty line: %NA; ++ Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006); ++ Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion,; expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006); ++ Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb; ++ Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture; ++ Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.); ++ Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005); ++ Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005); ++ Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.); ++ Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles; ++ Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; ++ Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.); ++ Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery; ++ Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; ++ Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: NA; ++ Debt - external: NA; ++ Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL); ++ Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar:; 1.9 (2013); 1.8 (2012); 1.668 (2011); 1.5026 (2010); 1.55 (2009);" } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -784,13 +784,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "broadband market steadily developing with one of the highest penetrations rates in the region; despite the growth of Cyprus's telecom sector, the market overall continues to be dominated by the incumbent, Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA), which is still fully-owned by the state, but it is losing ground to its competition annually; improved regulatory circumstances, especially in relation to network interconnection and access, has given competing operators the certainty to invest in network infrastructure, and to launch competing services; fiber infrastructure in the early days and DSL remains the dominate access platform (2020)" + "text": "broadband market steadily developing with one of the highest penetrations rates in the region; despite the growth of Cyprus's telecom sector, the market overall continues to be dominated by the incumbent, Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA), which is still fully-owned by the state, but it is losing ground to its competition annually; improved regulatory circumstances, especially in relation to network interconnection and access, has given competing operators the certainty to invest in network infrastructure, and to launch competing services; fiber infrastructure in the early days and DSL remains the dominate access platform (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "fixed-line is 37 per 100, and  144 per 100 for mobile-cellular; open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay (2019)" + "text": "fixed-line is 37 per 100, and 144 per 100 for mobile-cellular; open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, CADMOS, MedNautilus Submarine System, POSEIDON, TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medes, UGARIT, Aphrodite2, Hawk, Lev Submarine System, and Tamares combine to provide connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Southeast Asia; Turcyos-1 and Turcyos-2 submarine cable in Turkish North Cyprus link to Turkey; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, CADMOS, MedNautilus Submarine System, POSEIDON, TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medes, UGARIT, Aphrodite2, Hawk, Lev Submarine System, and Tamares combine to provide connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Southeast Asia; Turcyos-1 and Turcyos-2 submarine cable in Turkish North Cyprus link to Turkey; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ "text": "228,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2019)" }, "note": { - "text": "note: 10,690 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2019)" + "text": "note: 10,690 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/da.json b/europe/da.json index f9d81e32..8764c532 100644 --- a/europe/da.json +++ b/europe/da.json @@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ "text": "$325.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.3% (2017 est.) / 2% (2016 est.) / 1.6% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.85% (2019 est.) / 2.18% (2018 est.) / 2.83% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$50,100 (2017 est.) / $49,300 (2016 est.) / $48,800 (2015 est.)", @@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ "text": "2.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.998 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.736 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.7% (2017 est.) / 6.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.05% (2019 est.) / 3.07% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "13.4% (2011 est.)", @@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ "text": "1.1% (2017 est.) / 0.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$24.82 billion (2017 est.) / $22.47 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$30.935 billion (2019 est.) / $24.821 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$113.6 billion (2017 est.) / $103.6 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -752,13 +752,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent telephone and Internet services; Denmark's competitive telecom market has led to the country having the second highest broadband penetration rate in Europe; the fixed-line sector continues to see a decline in revenue while customers move to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and mobile alternatives; comprehensive LTE coverage and a fast-developing 5G segment; the government is able to offer broadband coverage in rural areas (2020)" + "text": "excellent telephone and Internet services; Denmark's competitive telecom market has led to the country having the second highest broadband penetration rate in Europe; the fixed-line sector continues to see a decline in revenue while customers move to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and mobile alternatives; comprehensive LTE coverage and a fast-developing 5G segment; the government is able to offer broadband coverage in rural areas (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 17 per 100, 126 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 45; landing points for the NSC, COBRAcable, CANTAT-3, DANICE, Havfrue/AEC-2, TAT-14m Denmark-Norway-5 & 6, Skagenfiber West & East, GC1, GC2, GC3, GC-KPN, Kattegat 1 & 2 & 3, Energinet Lyngsa-Laeso, Energinet Laeso-Varberg, Fehmarn Balt, Baltica, German-Denmark 2 & 3, Ronne-Rodvig, Denmark-Sweden 15 & 16 & 17 & 18, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Scandinavian South, Scandinavian Ring North, Danica North, 34 series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, US and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2019)" + "text": "country code - 45; landing points for the NSC, COBRAcable, CANTAT-3, DANICE, Havfrue/AEC-2, TAT-14m Denmark-Norway-5 & 6, Skagenfiber West & East, GC1, GC2, GC3, GC-KPN, Kattegat 1 & 2 & 3, Energinet Lyngsa-Laeso, Energinet Laeso-Varberg, Fehmarn Balt, Baltica, German-Denmark 2 & 3, Ronne-Rodvig, Denmark-Sweden 15 & 16 & 17 & 18, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Scandinavian South, Scandinavian Ring North, Danica North, 34 series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, US and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ "text": "20,046 (Syria), 5,320 (Eritrea) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "8,236 (2018)" + "text": "8,672 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/europe/ee.json b/europe/ee.json index 4dc813fe..fe94bf0b 100644 --- a/europe/ee.json +++ b/europe/ee.json @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ { "Introduction": { - "": { + "Preliminary statement": { "text": "The evolution of what is today the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of history. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe; on a few occasions even country-level unions were arranged - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were examples. But for such a large number of nation-states to cede some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is unique. ++ Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN or Mercosur, and it has certain attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, currency (for some members), and law-making abilities, as well as diplomatic representation and a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with external partners. ++ Thus, inclusion of basic intelligence on the EU has been deemed appropriate as a separate entity in The World Factbook. However, because of the EU's special status, this description is placed after the regular country entries." }, "Background": { @@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ "Population": { "text": "453,007,803", "note": { - "text": "rank by population: Germany - 80,159,662;  France - 67,848,156;  Italy - 62,402,659;  Spain - 50,015,792;  Poland - 38,282,325;  Romania - 21,302,893;  Netherlands - 17,280,397;  Belgium - 11,720,716;  Czechia - 10,702,498;  Greece - 10,607,051;  Portugal - 10,302,674;  Sweden - 10,202,491;  Hungary - 9,771,827;  Austria - 8,859,449;  Bulgaria - 6,966,899;  Denmark - 5,869,410;  Finland - 5,571,665;  Slovakia - 5,440,602;  Ireland - 5,176,569;  Croatia - 4,227,746;  Lithuania - 2,731,464;  Slovenia - 2,102,678;  Latvia - 1,881,232;  Cyprus - 1,266,676;  Estonia - 1,228,624;  Luxembourg - 628,381;  Malta - 457,267 (July 2020 est.)" + "text": "rank by population: Germany - 80,159,662; France - 67,848,156; Italy - 62,402,659; Spain - 50,015,792; Poland - 38,282,325; Romania - 21,302,893; Netherlands - 17,280,397; Belgium - 11,720,716; Czechia - 10,702,498; Greece - 10,607,051; Portugal - 10,302,674; Sweden - 10,202,491; Hungary - 9,771,827; Austria - 8,859,449; Bulgaria - 6,966,899; Denmark - 5,869,410; Finland - 5,571,665; Slovakia - 5,440,602; Ireland - 5,176,569; Croatia - 4,227,746; Lithuania - 2,731,464; Slovenia - 2,102,678; Latvia - 1,881,232; Cyprus - 1,266,676; Estonia - 1,228,624; Luxembourg - 628,381; Malta - 457,267 (July 2020 est.)" } }, "Languages": { @@ -217,12 +217,17 @@ } }, "Government": { - "": { - "text": "27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; note - candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey ++ there are 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) (1 with Denmark [Greenland], 6 with France [French Polynesia; French Southern and Antarctic Lands; New Caledonia; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Wallis and Futuna], and 6 with the Netherlands [Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten]), all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)", - "note": { - "text": "note: there are non-European OCTs having special relations with Denmark, France, and the Netherlands (list is annexed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), that are associated with the EU to promote their economic and social development; member states apply to their trade with OCTs the same treatment as they accord each other pursuant to the treaties; OCT nationals are in principle EU citizens, but these countries are neither part of the EU, nor subject to the EU" + "Union name": { + "conventional long form": { + "text": "European Union" + }, + "abbreviation": { + "text": "EU" } }, + "Political structure": { + "text": "a hybrid and unique intergovernmental and supranational organization" + }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg, Frankfurt (Germany); note - the European Council, a gathering of the EU heads of state and/or government, and the Council of the European Union, a ministerial-level body of ten formations, meet in Brussels, Belgium, except for Council meetings held in Luxembourg in April, June, and October; the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and has administrative offices in Luxembourg; the Court of Justice of the European Union is located in Luxembourg; and the European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany" @@ -240,6 +245,12 @@ "text": "note: the 27 European Union countries spread across three time zones; a proposal has been put forward to do away with daylight savings time in all EU countries" } }, + "Member states": { + "text": "27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; note - candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey ++ there are 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) (1 with Denmark [Greenland], 6 with France [French Polynesia; French Southern and Antarctic Lands; New Caledonia; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Wallis and Futuna], and 6 with the Netherlands [Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten]), all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)", + "note": { + "text": "note: there are non-European OCTs having special relations with Denmark, France, and the Netherlands (list is annexed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), that are associated with the EU to promote their economic and social development; member states apply to their trade with OCTs the same treatment as they accord each other pursuant to the treaties; OCT nationals are in principle EU citizens, but these countries are neither part of the EU, nor subject to the EU" + } + }, "Independence": { "text": "7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)", "note": { @@ -282,7 +293,7 @@ }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { - "text": "Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a \"Grand Chamber\" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges" + "text": "Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a \"Grand Chamber\" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms" @@ -348,7 +359,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "The 27 member states that make up the EU have adopted an internal single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. The EU, which is also a customs union, aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic weight in international affairs. ++   ++ Despite great differences in per capita income among member states (from $28,000 to $109,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU has achieved a high degree of coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. A common currency – the euro – circulates among 19 of the member states that make up the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eleven member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later). Since 2004, 13 states acceded to the EU. Of the 13, Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), and Lithuania (2015) have adopted the euro; seven other member states - excluding Denmark, which has a formal opt-out - are required by EU treaties to adopt the common currency upon meeting fiscal and monetary convergence criteria. ++   ++ The EU economy posted moderate GDP growth for 2014 through 2017, capping five years of sustained growth since the 2008-09 global economic crisis and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone in 2011. However, the bloc's recovery was uneven. Some EU member states (Czechia, Ireland, Malta, Romania, Sweden, and Spain) recorded strong growth, others (Italy) experienced modest expansion, and Greece finally ended its EU rescue program in August 2018. Overall, the EU's recovery was buoyed by lower commodities prices and accommodative monetary policy, which lowered interest rates and stimulated demand. The euro zone, which makes up about 70% of the total EU economy, performed well, achieving a growth rate not seen in a decade. In October 2017 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced it would extend its bond-buying program through September 2018, and possibly beyond that date, to keep the euro zone recovery on track. The ECB's efforts to spur more lending and investment through its asset-buying program, negative interest rates, and long-term loan refinancing programs have not yet raised inflation in line with the ECB's statutory target of just under 2%. ++   ++ Despite its performance, high unemployment in some member states, high levels of public and private debt, muted productivity, an incomplete single market in services, and an aging population remain sources of potential drag on the EU's future growth. Moreover, the EU economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown of global trade and bouts of political and financial turmoil. In June 2016, the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, the first member country ever to attempt to secede. Continued uncertainty about the implications of the UK's exit from the EU (concluded January 2020) could hurt consumer and investor confidence and dampen EU growth, particularly if trade and cross-border investment significantly declines. Political disagreements between EU member states on reforms to fiscal and economic policy also may impair the EU's ability to bolster its crisis-prevention and resolution mechanisms. International investors' fears of a broad dissolution of the single currency area have largely dissipated, but these concerns could resurface if elected leaders implement policies that contravene euro-zone budget or banking rules. State interventions in ailing banks, including rescue of banks in Italy and resolution of banks in Spain, have eased financial vulnerabilities in the European banking sector even though some banks are struggling with low profitability and a large stock of bad loans, fragilities that could precipitate localized crises. Externally, the EU has continued to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements to expand EU external market share, particularly with Asian countries; EU and Japanese leaders reached a political-level agreement on a free trade agreement in July 2017, and agreement with Mexico in April 2018 on updates to an existing free trade agreement." + "text": "The 27 member states that make up the EU have adopted an internal single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. The EU, which is also a customs union, aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic weight in international affairs. ++ ++ Despite great differences in per capita income among member states (from $28,000 to $109,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU has achieved a high degree of coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. A common currency – the euro – circulates among 19 of the member states that make up the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eleven member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later). Since 2004, 13 states acceded to the EU. Of the 13, Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), and Lithuania (2015) have adopted the euro; seven other member states - excluding Denmark, which has a formal opt-out - are required by EU treaties to adopt the common currency upon meeting fiscal and monetary convergence criteria. ++ ++ The EU economy posted moderate GDP growth for 2014 through 2017, capping five years of sustained growth since the 2008-09 global economic crisis and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone in 2011. However, the bloc's recovery was uneven. Some EU member states (Czechia, Ireland, Malta, Romania, Sweden, and Spain) recorded strong growth, others (Italy) experienced modest expansion, and Greece finally ended its EU rescue program in August 2018. Overall, the EU's recovery was buoyed by lower commodities prices and accommodative monetary policy, which lowered interest rates and stimulated demand. The euro zone, which makes up about 70% of the total EU economy, performed well, achieving a growth rate not seen in a decade. In October 2017 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced it would extend its bond-buying program through September 2018, and possibly beyond that date, to keep the euro zone recovery on track. The ECB's efforts to spur more lending and investment through its asset-buying program, negative interest rates, and long-term loan refinancing programs have not yet raised inflation in line with the ECB's statutory target of just under 2%. ++ ++ Despite its performance, high unemployment in some member states, high levels of public and private debt, muted productivity, an incomplete single market in services, and an aging population remain sources of potential drag on the EU's future growth. Moreover, the EU economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown of global trade and bouts of political and financial turmoil. In June 2016, the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, the first member country ever to attempt to secede. Continued uncertainty about the implications of the UK's exit from the EU (concluded January 2020) could hurt consumer and investor confidence and dampen EU growth, particularly if trade and cross-border investment significantly declines. Political disagreements between EU member states on reforms to fiscal and economic policy also may impair the EU's ability to bolster its crisis-prevention and resolution mechanisms. International investors' fears of a broad dissolution of the single currency area have largely dissipated, but these concerns could resurface if elected leaders implement policies that contravene euro-zone budget or banking rules. State interventions in ailing banks, including rescue of banks in Italy and resolution of banks in Spain, have eased financial vulnerabilities in the European banking sector even though some banks are struggling with low profitability and a large stock of bad loans, fragilities that could precipitate localized crises. Externally, the EU has continued to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements to expand EU external market share, particularly with Asian countries; EU and Japanese leaders reached a political-level agreement on a free trade agreement in July 2017, and agreement with Mexico in April 2018 on updates to an existing free trade agreement." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$20.85 trillion (2017 est.) / $20.38 trillion (2016 est.) / $19.98 trillion (2015 est.)", diff --git a/europe/ei.json b/europe/ei.json index ce90b7f1..26c6d7c3 100644 --- a/europe/ei.json +++ b/europe/ei.json @@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last held in April and May 2016 (next to be held no later than 2021) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 8 February 2020 (next to be held no later than 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "  ++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Sinn Fein 7, Labor Party 5, Green Party 1, independent 14; composition - men 42, women 18, percent of women 30%   ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Sinn Fein 23%, Fianna Fail 23%, Fine Gael 22%, Green Party 8%, Labor Party 4%, Social Democrats 4%, AAA-PBD 3%, Aontu 0.6%, Independents for Change 0.6%, Ceann Comhairle 0.6%, Independents 12%; seats by party - Sinn Fein 37, Fianna Fail 37, Fine Gael 35, Green Party 12, Labor Party 6, Social Democrats 6, AAA-PBD 5, Aontu l, Independents for Change 1, Ceann Comhairle 1, Independents 19; composition - men 123, women 35, percent of women 22.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 24.3%" + "text": "++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Sinn Fein 7, Labor Party 5, Green Party 1, independent 14; composition - men 42, women 18, percent of women 30% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Sinn Fein 23%, Fianna Fail 23%, Fine Gael 22%, Green Party 8%, Labor Party 4%, Social Democrats 4%, AAA-PBD 3%, Aontu 0.6%, Independents for Change 0.6%, Ceann Comhairle 0.6%, Independents 12%; seats by party - Sinn Fein 37, Fianna Fail 37, Fine Gael 35, Green Party 12, Labor Party 6, Social Democrats 6, AAA-PBD 5, Aontu l, Independents for Change 1, Ceann Comhairle 1, Independents 19; composition - men 123, women 35, percent of women 22.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 24.3%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Edward F. CRAWFORD (since 1 July 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Edward F. CRAWFORD (since 1 July 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[353] (1) 668-8777" @@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ "text": "$331.5 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "7.2% (2017 est.) / 4.9% (2016 est.) / 25% (2015 est.)" + "text": "5.86% (2019 est.) / 9.42% (2018 est.) / 9.49% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$73,200 (2017 est.) / $69,100 (2016 est.) / $66,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ "text": "7.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.226 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.289 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.7% (2017 est.) / 8.4% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.98% (2019 est.) / 5.78% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "8.2% (2013 est.)" @@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ "text": "0.3% (2017 est.) / -0.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$28.14 billion (2017 est.) / -$12.59 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$44.954 billion (2019 est.) / $24.154 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$219.7 billion (2017 est.) / $206 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -740,20 +740,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "a previous depressed economic climate has changed to one with Ireland having one of the highest GDP growth rates in Europe, which translates to mean spending among telecom consumers; introduction of flat-rate plans; upgraded LTE technologies in rural areas; govt. intends to spend millions on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) initiative to change the broadband landscape; plans to auction spectrum suitable for 5G services; broadband market seen steady development; 20 towns see commercial 5G services (2020)" + "text": "a previous depressed economic climate has changed to one with Ireland having one of the highest GDP growth rates in Europe, which translates to mean spending among telecom consumers; introduction of flat-rate plans; upgraded LTE technologies in rural areas; govt. intends to spend millions on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) initiative to change the broadband landscape; plans to auction spectrum suitable for 5G services; broadband market seen steady development; 20 towns see commercial 5G services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas; fixed-line 36 per 100 and mobile-cellular 105 per 100 subscriptions; digital system using cable and microwave radio relay (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 353; landing point for the AEConnect -1, Celtic-Norse, Havfrue/AEC-2, GTT Express, Celtic, ESAT-1, IFC-1, Solas, Pan European Crossing, ESAT-2, CeltixConnect -1 & 2, GTT Atlantic, Sirius South, Emerald Bridge Fibres and Geo Eirgrid submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, Norway, Isle of Man and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 353; landing point for the AEConnect -1, Celtic-Norse, Havfrue/AEC-2, GTT Express, Celtic, ESAT-1, IFC-1, Solas, Pan European Crossing, ESAT-2, CeltixConnect -1 & 2, GTT Atlantic, Sirius South, Emerald Bridge Fibres and Geo Eirgrid submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, Norway, Isle of Man and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019)" + "text": "publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ie" @@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ "text": "the Irish Defense Forces have a small inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of European countries, as well as South Africa and the US; the UK is the leading supplier of military hardware to Ireland since 2010 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 290 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (April 2020)" + "text": "130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 340 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Defence Forces (18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-26 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 12-year service (5 active, 7 reserves); Irish citizen, European Economic Area citizenship, or refugee status (2019)" @@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "99 (2018)" + "text": "99 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/en.json b/europe/en.json index a1352e50..4605bc65 100644 --- a/europe/en.json +++ b/europe/en.json @@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ } }, "Administrative divisions": { - "text": "15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular vald) ++ urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru ++ rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru" + "text": "15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular vald) ++ urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru ++ rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru" }, "Independence": { "text": "24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)" @@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ "text": "$25.97 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.9% (2017 est.) / 2.1% (2016 est.) / 1.7% (2015 est.)" + "text": "5% (2019 est.) / 4.36% (2018 est.) / 5.51% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$31,700 (2017 est.) / $30,200 (2016 est.) / $29,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ "text": "9.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "670,200 (2017 est.)" + "text": "648,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.8% (2017 est.) / 6.8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.94% (2019 est.) / 4.73% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "21.1% (2016 est.)" @@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ "text": "3.7% (2017 est.) / 0.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$809 million (2017 est.) / $443 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "$616 million (2019 est.) / $280 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$13.44 billion (2017 est.) / $12.36 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "a range of regulatory measures, competition and foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures has greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high-quality voice, data, and Internet services; one of the most advanced mobile markets in Europe; one of the highest broadband penetration in Europe; govt. commits 20 million euro to rural broadband program; regulator auctions spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for LTE and 5G services (2020)" + "text": "a range of regulatory measures, competition and foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures has greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high-quality voice, data, and Internet services; one of the most advanced mobile markets in Europe; one of the highest broadband penetration in Europe; govt. commits 20 million euro to rural broadband program; regulator auctions spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for LTE and 5G services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "25 per 100 for fixed-line and 147 per 100 for mobile-cellular; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income tax returns online, and online voting - in local and parliamentary elections - has climbed steadily since first being introduced in 2005; a large percent of Estonian households have broadband access (2019)" @@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "77,877 (2018); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old" + "text": "75,599 (2019); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/ez.json b/europe/ez.json index bff45d49..ff5b1fda 100644 --- a/europe/ez.json +++ b/europe/ez.json @@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ "text": "$215.8 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.3% (2017 est.) / 2.5% (2016 est.) / 5.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.27% (2019 est.) / 3.18% (2018 est.) / 5.35% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$35,500 (2017 est.) / $34,200 (2016 est.) / $33,400 (2015 est.)", @@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ "text": "7.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "5.427 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "5.222 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / 3.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "2.8% (2019 est.) / 3.18% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "9.7% (2015 est.)" @@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ "text": "2.4% (2017 est.) / 0.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$2.317 billion (2017 est.) / $3.037 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$678 million (2019 est.) / $1.259 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$144.8 billion (2017 est.) / $131.1 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "good telephone and Internet service; the Czech Republic has a sophisticated telecom market; mobile sector showing steady growth, but perhaps without enough competition, regulator makes progress for 5G services; the govt. trying to stimulate competition, improve end-users pricing and step up quality; strong growth in cable and fiber sectors; fixed wireless broadband remains strong, with penetration among the highest in the EU (2020)" + "text": "good telephone and Internet service; the Czech Republic has a sophisticated telecom market; mobile sector showing steady growth, but perhaps without enough competition, regulator makes progress for 5G services; the govt. trying to stimulate competition, improve end-users pricing and step up quality; strong growth in cable and fiber sectors; fixed wireless broadband remains strong, with penetration among the highest in the EU (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "14 per 100 fixed-line and mobile telephone usage increased to 124 per 100 mobile-cellular, the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population (2019)" @@ -894,7 +894,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,502 (2018)" + "text": "1,394 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/fi.json b/europe/fi.json index 32a0dec3..9a52faf8 100644 --- a/europe/fi.json +++ b/europe/fi.json @@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ "text": "last held on 14 April 2019 (next to be held on April 2023) (e.g. 2019)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - SDP 17.7%, Finn Party 17.5%, Kok 17.0%. Centre Party  13.8%, Green League 11.5%, Left Alliance 8.2%; seats by party/coalition -SDP 40, Finn Party 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Green League 20, Left Alliance 16; composition men 107, women 93, percent of women 46.5% (e.g. 2019)" + "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - SDP 17.7%, Finn Party 17.5%, Kok 17.0%. Centre Party 13.8%, Green League 11.5%, Left Alliance 8.2%; seats by party/coalition -SDP 40, Finn Party 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Green League 20, Left Alliance 16; composition men 107, women 93, percent of women 46.5% (e.g. 2019)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ "text": "$252.8 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.8% (2017 est.) / 2.5% (2016 est.) / 0.1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.15% (2019 est.) / 1.52% (2018 est.) / 3.27% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$44,500 (2017 est.) / $43,400 (2016 est.) / $42,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ "text": "6.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.473 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.52 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "8.5% (2017 est.) / 8.8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.63% (2019 est.) / 7.38% (2018 est.)" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ "text": "0.8% (2017 est.) / 0.4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$1.806 billion (2017 est.) / -$819 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$603 million (2019 est.) / -$4.908 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$67.73 billion (2017 est.) / $51.9 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -743,13 +743,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent service; one of the most progressive in Europe; one of the highest broadband and mobile penetrations rates in the region; for 2025 and 2030 FttP (fiber to the home) and DOCSIS3.1 (new generation of cable services for high speed connections) technologies; subscribers are migrating from 3G to LTE and 5G networks; astute regulatory measures have encouraged market competition and company investment (2020)" + "text": "excellent service; one of the most progressive in Europe; one of the highest broadband and mobile penetrations rates in the region; for 2025 and 2030 FttP (fiber to the home) and DOCSIS3.1 (new generation of cable services for high speed connections) technologies; subscribers are migrating from 3G to LTE and 5G networks; astute regulatory measures have encouraged market competition and company investment (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 5 per 100 subscription and 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ "text": "a mix of 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are broadcast digitally; Internet television, such as Netflix and others, is available; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters and access to Internet radio" }, "Internet country code": { - "text": ".fi ++  ", + "text": ".fi ++", "note": { "text": "note - Aland Islands assigned .ax" } @@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Finnish Defense Forces consists of a wide mix of mostly modern Western and domestically-produced weapons systems, as well as a limited quantity of Soviet-era equipment, particularly artillery and armored personnel carriers; since 2010, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the US are the leading foreign suppliers of armaments to Finland; the Finish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (April 2020)" + "text": "200 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "at age 18, all Finnish men are obligated to serve 6-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard, and women may volunteer for service; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 60 (2019)" @@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ "text": "8,862 (Iraq) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "2,759 (2018)" + "text": "2,801 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/europe/fo.json b/europe/fo.json index 84c8a2b8..ef25eefc 100644 --- a/europe/fo.json +++ b/europe/fo.json @@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ "Languages": { "text": "Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note:  data represent population by primary language" + "text": "note: data represent population by primary language" } }, "Religions": { @@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) ++ the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms" }, "elections": { - "text": "Faroese Parliament - last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023) ++ Faroese seats in the Danish Parliament last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held no later than June 2023)" + "text": "Faroese Parliament - last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023) ++ Faroese seats in the Danish Parliament last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held no later than June 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - People's Party 24.5%, JF 22.1%, Union Party 20.3%, Republic 18.1%, Center Party 5.4%, Progressive Party 4.6%, New Self-Government Party 3.4%, other 1.4%, seats by party - People's Party 8, JF 7, Union Party 7, Republic 6, Center Party 2, Progressive Party 2, New Self-Government Party 1, composition - men 25, women 8; percent of women 24.2% ++ Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Republican Party 1; composition - 2 men" @@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ "text": "37 per 100 for fixed-line and 116 per 100 for mobile-cellular; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faeroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019)" + "text": "country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faeroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/europe/fr.json b/europe/fr.json index b3d4cc3c..216c0261 100644 --- a/europe/fr.json +++ b/europe/fr.json @@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ "Coastline": { "text": "4,853 km", "note": { - "text": "metropolitan France: 3,427 km" + "text": "metropolitan France: 3,427 km" } }, "Maritime claims": { @@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last held on 24 September 2017 (next to be held on 24 September 2020) ++ National Assembly - last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held in June 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by political caucus (party or group of parties)  - LR 144, PS 73, UC 51. LREM 23, RDSE 22, CRCE 16, RTLI 13, other 6; composition - men 246, women 102, percent of women 29.3% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party first round - LREM 28.2%, LR 15.8%. FN 13.2%, FI 11%, PS 7.4%, other 24.4%; percent of vote by party second round - LREM 43.1%, LR 22.2%, FN 8.8%, MoDEM 6.1%, PS 5.7%. FI 4.9%, other 9.2%; seats by political caucus (party or group of parties) - LREM 306, LR 104, MoDEM 46, UDI/Agir 29, PS 29, UDI 18, FI 17, Liberties and Territories 16, PCF 16, other 14; composition - men 349, women 228, percent of women 39.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 35.7%" + "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by political caucus (party or group of parties) - LR 144, PS 73, UC 51. LREM 23, RDSE 22, CRCE 16, RTLI 13, other 6; composition - men 246, women 102, percent of women 29.3% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party first round - LREM 28.2%, LR 15.8%. FN 13.2%, FI 11%, PS 7.4%, other 24.4%; percent of vote by party second round - LREM 43.1%, LR 22.2%, FN 8.8%, MoDEM 6.1%, PS 5.7%. FI 4.9%, other 9.2%; seats by political caucus (party or group of parties) - LREM 306, LR 104, MoDEM 46, UDI/Agir 29, PS 29, UDI 18, FI 17, Liberties and Territories 16, PCF 16, other 14; composition - men 349, women 228, percent of women 39.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 35.7%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Presidential majority Parties [Edouard PHILIPPE] ++      Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] ++      La Republique en Marche! or LREM [Richard FERRAND] ++      Movement of Progressives or MDP  Robert HUE] ++ Parliamentary right Parties [Francois BAROIN] ++      Hunting, Fishing, Nature and Tradition or CPNT [Eddie PUYJAION] ++      The Republicans or LR [Annie GENEVARD] ++      Union of Democrats and Independents or UDI [Jean-Christophe    CAMBADELIS] ++       ++ Parliamentary left Parties [Bernard CAZENEUVE] ++      Sociatlist Party or PS [Jean-Christophe CAMBADEMAND] ++      Radical Party of the Left or PRG [Sylvia PINEL] ++      Citizen and Republican Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT] ++      Martinican Progressive Party or PPM [Aiem CESAIRE] ++ Debout la France or DLF [Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN] ++ Ecology Democracy Solidarity or EDS [Paula FORTEZA, Matthieu ORPHELIN ++ (splinter party formed in May 2020 by defectors of LREM) ++ Europe Ecologists - the Greens or EELV [David CORMAND] ++ French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT] ++ La France Insoumise or FI [Jean-Luc MELENCHONLIS] ++ National Front or FN [Marine LE PEN] ++" + "text": "Presidential majority Parties [Edouard PHILIPPE] ++ Democratic Movement or MoDem [Francois BAYROU] ++ La Republique en Marche! or LREM [Richard FERRAND] ++ Movement of Progressives or MDP Robert HUE] ++ Parliamentary right Parties [Francois BAROIN] ++ Hunting, Fishing, Nature and Tradition or CPNT [Eddie PUYJAION] ++ The Republicans or LR [Annie GENEVARD] ++ Union of Democrats and Independents or UDI [Jean-Christophe CAMBADELIS] ++ Parliamentary left Parties [Bernard CAZENEUVE] ++ Sociatlist Party or PS [Jean-Christophe CAMBADEMAND] ++ Radical Party of the Left or PRG [Sylvia PINEL] ++ Citizen and Republican Movement or MRC [Jean-Luc LAURENT] ++ Martinican Progressive Party or PPM [Aiem CESAIRE] ++ Debout la France or DLF [Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN] ++ Ecology Democracy Solidarity or EDS [Paula FORTEZA, Matthieu ORPHELIN ++ (splinter party formed in May 2020 by defectors of LREM) ++ Europe Ecologists - the Greens or EELV [David CORMAND] ++ French Communist Party or PCF [Pierre LAURENT] ++ La France Insoumise or FI [Jean-Luc MELENCHONLIS] ++ National Front or FN [Marine LE PEN] ++" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" @@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ "text": "$2.588 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.3% (2017 est.) / 1.1% (2016 est.) / 1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.49% (2019 est.) / 1.81% (2018 est.) / 2.42% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$44,100 (2017 est.) / $43,200 (2016 est.) / $42,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ "text": "2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "30.68 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "27.742 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "9.4% (2017 est.) / 10.1% (2016 est.)", + "text": "8.12% (2019 est.) / 8.69% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: includes overseas territories" } @@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ "text": "1.2% (2017 est.) / 0.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$14.83 billion (2017 est.) / -$18.55 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$18.102 billion (2019 est.) / -$16.02 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$549.9 billion (2017 est.) / $507 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -796,16 +796,16 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the largest mobile phone markets in Europe, worth 13 billion annually; LTE has universal coverage with extensive 5G launching any day, one of the largest broadband subscriber bases in Europe; regional govt. and telecom companies have invested in higher bandwidth w/ fiber infrastructure improvements, an investment more than 20 billion euros (2020)" + "text": "one of the largest mobile phone markets in Europe, worth 13 billion annually; LTE has universal coverage with extensive 5G launching any day, one of the largest broadband subscriber bases in Europe; regional govt. and telecom companies have invested in higher bandwidth w/ fiber infrastructure improvements, an investment more than 20 billion euros (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "58 per 100 persons for fixed-line and 111 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 33; landing points for Circe South, TAT-14, INGRID, FLAG Atlantic-1, Apollo, HUGO, IFC-1, ACE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4, Dunant, Africa-1, AAE-1, Atlas Offshore, Hawk, IMEWE, Med Cable, PEACE Cable, and TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries (2019)" + "text": "country code - 33; landing points for Circe South, TAT-14, INGRID, FLAG Atlantic-1, Apollo, HUGO, IFC-1, ACE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4, Dunant, Africa-1, AAE-1, Atlas Offshore, Hawk, IMEWE, Med Cable, PEACE Cable, and TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries (2019)" }, "overseas departments": { - "text": "country codes: French Guiana - 594; landing points for Ella Link, Kanawa, Americas II to South America, Europe, Caribbean and US; Guadeloupe - 590; landing points for GCN, Southern Caribbean Fiber, and ECFS around the Caribbean and US; Martinique - 596; landing points for Americas II, ECFS, and Southern Caribbean Fiber to South America, US and around the Caribbean;  Mayotte - 262; landing points for FLY-LION3 and LION2 to East Africa and East African Islands in Indian Ocean; Reunion - 262; landing points for SAFE, METISS, and LION submarine cables to Asia, South and East Africa, Southeast Asia and nearby Indian Ocean Island countries of Mauritius, and Madagascar (2019)" + "text": "country codes: French Guiana - 594; landing points for Ella Link, Kanawa, Americas II to South America, Europe, Caribbean and US; Guadeloupe - 590; landing points for GCN, Southern Caribbean Fiber, and ECFS around the Caribbean and US; Martinique - 596; landing points for Americas II, ECFS, and Southern Caribbean Fiber to South America, US and around the Caribbean; Mayotte - 262; landing points for FLY-LION3 and LION2 to East Africa and East African Islands in Indian Ocean; Reunion - 262; landing points for SAFE, METISS, and LION submarine cables to Asia, South and East Africa, Southeast Asia and nearby Indian Ocean Island countries of Mauritius, and Madagascar (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -954,7 +954,7 @@ } }, "Transportation - note": { - "text": "begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe" + "text": "begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe" } }, "Military and Security": { @@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ "text": "the French military's inventory consists almost entirely of domestically-produced weapons systems, including some jointly-produced with other European countries; there is a limited mix of armaments from other Western countries, particularly the US; since 2010, the US is the leading foreign supplier of military hardware to France; France has a defense industry capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "5,100 Burkina Faso/Chad/Mali/Niger (Operation Barkhane); 950 Cote D'Ivoire; 1,450 Djibouti; 300 Baltics (NATO); 2,000 French Guiana; 1,200 French Polynesia; 1,000 French West Indies; 350 Gabon; 500-1,000 Middle East; 630 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,600 New Caledonia; 1,600 Reunion Island; 350 Senegal; 650 United Arab Emirates; note - France has been a contributing member of the EuroCorps since 1992 (2019 est.)" + "text": "5,100 Burkina Faso/Chad/Mali/Niger (Operation Barkhane); 900 Cote D'Ivoire; 1,450 Djibouti; 300 Baltics (NATO); 2,000 French Guyana; 900 French Polynesia; 1,000 French West Indies; 350 Gabon; est. 500 Middle East (Iraq/Jordan/Syria); 780 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,400-1,500 New Caledonia; 1,700 Reunion Island; 350 Senegal; 650 United Arab Emirates; note - France has been a contributing member of the EuroCorps since 1992 (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts (2013)" @@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ "text": "24,293 (Afghanistan), 23,821 (Sri Lanka), 18,473 (Sudan), 18,244 (Syria), 17,512 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 16,412 (Russia), 14,141 (Serbia and Kosovo), 11,863 (Turkey), 11,038 (Guinea), 11,021 (Cambodia), 8,829 (Iraq), 7,735 (Vietnam), 6,918 (China), 6,464 (Laos), 6,372 (Eritrea), 6,156 (Bangladesh), 5,675 (Mauritania), 5,652 (Cote d'Ivoire), 5,169 (Mali) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,493 (2018)" + "text": "1,521 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/gi.json b/europe/gi.json index 2b41a0e3..01590ca6 100644 --- a/europe/gi.json +++ b/europe/gi.json @@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ "text": "last held on 17 October 2019 (next to be held in 2023) (e.g. 2019)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 52.5% (GSLP 37.0%, LPG 15.5%), GSD 25.6%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6; composition of elected members - men 15, women 2, percent of women 11.8% (e.g. 2019)" + "text": "percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 52.5% (GSLP 37.0%, LPG 15.5%), GSD 25.6%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6; composition of elected members - men 15, women 2, percent of women 11.8% (e.g. 2019)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -488,6 +488,11 @@ } }, "Energy": { + "Electricity access": { + "electrification - total population": { + "text": "100% (2020)" + } + }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "238.8 million kWh (2016 est.)" }, @@ -583,7 +588,7 @@ "text": "automatic exchange facilities; 50 per 100 fixed-line and 120 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 350; landing point for the EIG to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East via submarine cables; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 350; landing point for the EIG to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East via submarine cables; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { diff --git a/europe/gk.json b/europe/gk.json index 6f5426bc..7e8f396f 100644 --- a/europe/gk.json +++ b/europe/gk.json @@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } } }, @@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular 113 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 44; landing points for Guernsey-Jersey, HUGO, INGRID, Channel Islands -9 Liberty and UK-Channel Islands-7 submarine cable to UK and France (2019)" + "text": "country code - 44; landing points for Guernsey-Jersey, HUGO, INGRID, Channel Islands -9 Liberty and UK-Channel Islands-7 submarine cable to UK and France (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/europe/gm.json b/europe/gm.json index 159b7c01..345045dd 100644 --- a/europe/gm.json +++ b/europe/gm.json @@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ "Ethnic groups": { "text": "German 87.2%, Turkish 1.8%, Polish 1%, Syrian 1%, other 9% (2017 est.)", "note": { - "text": "++ note:  data represent population by nationality" + "text": "++ note: data represent population by nationality" } }, "Languages": { @@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ "text": "$3.701 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.5% (2017 est.) / 2.2% (2016 est.) / 1.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.59% (2019 est.) / 1.3% (2018 est.) / 2.91% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$50,800 (2017 est.) / $49,800 (2016 est.) / $49,100 (2015 est.)", @@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ "text": "3.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "45.9 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "44.585 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.8% (2017 est.) / 4.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.98% (2019 est.) / 5.19% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "16.7% (2015 est.)" @@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ "text": "1.7% (2017 est.) / 0.4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$291 billion (2017 est.) / $297.5 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$280.238 billion (2019 est.) / $297.434 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$1.434 trillion (2017 est.) / $1.322 trillion (2016 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ "text": "extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; 48 per 100 for fixed-line and 128 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 49; landing points for SeaMeWe-3, TAT-14, AC-1, CONTACT-3, Fehmarn Balt, C-Lion1, GC1, GlobalConnect-KPN, and Germany-Denmark 2 & 3 - submarine cables to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2019)" + "text": "country code - 49; landing points for SeaMeWe-3, TAT-14, AC-1, CONTACT-3, Fehmarn Balt, C-Lion1, GC1, GlobalConnect-KPN, and Germany-Denmark 2 & 3 - submarine cables to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ "text": "the German Federal Armed Forces inventory is mostly comprised of weapons systems produced domestically or jointly with other European countries; since 2010, the US is the leading foreign supplier of armaments to Germany, followed by the Netherlands and Switzerland; Germany's defense industry is capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,300 Afghanistan (NATO); approximately 100-200 Middle East (NATO/Counter-ISIS campaign); 110 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 550 Lithuania (NATO); 350 Mali (MINUSMA); 350 Mali (EUTM); note - Germany is a contributing member of the EuroCorps (2020)" + "text": "1,300 Afghanistan (NATO); approximately 100-200 Middle East (NATO/Counter-ISIS campaign); 110 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 500 Lithuania (NATO); 400 Mali (MINUSMA); 350 Mali (EUTM); note - Germany is a contributing member of the EuroCorps (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription ended 1 July 2011; service obligation 8-23 months or 12 years; women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001 (2013)" @@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ "text": "572,818 (Syria), 141,650 (Iraq), 140,366 (Afghanistan), 58,569 (Eritrea), 43,244 (Iran), 28,470 (Turkey), 26,015 (Somalia), 8,722 (Russia), 8,639 (Serbia and Kosovo), 8,125 (Pakistan), 7,828 (Nigeria) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "14,779 (2018)" + "text": "14,947 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/gr.json b/europe/gr.json index 4bf5e713..f26afbc1 100644 --- a/europe/gr.json +++ b/europe/gr.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974 following the collapse of the dictatorship, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 2001. Greece has suffered a severe economic crisis since late 2009, due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements - with the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), the IMF, and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in August 2018." + "text": "Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974 following the collapse of the dictatorship, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 2001. Greece has suffered a severe economic crisis since late 2009, due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements - with the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), the IMF, and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in August 2018." } }, "Geography": { @@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Ekaterini SAKELLAROPOULOU (since 13 March 2020)" + "text": "President Ekaterini SAKELLAROPOULOU (since 13 March 2020)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 8 July 2019)" @@ -423,18 +423,18 @@ "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2020 (next to be held by February 2025); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament" + "text": "president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2020 (next to be held by February 2025); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament" }, "election results": { - "text": "Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes; note - SAKELLAROPOULOU is Greece's first woman president" + "text": "Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes; note - SAKELLAROPOULOU is Greece's first woman president" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 280 members in multi-seat constituencies and 12 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; 8 members in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote; members serve up to 4 years);  note - only parties surpassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold" + "text": "unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 280 members in multi-seat constituencies and 12 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; 8 members in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote; members serve up to 4 years); note - only parties surpassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 7 July 2019 (next to be held by July 2023)" + "text": "last held on 7 July 2019 (next to be held by July 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - ND 39.9%, SYRIZA 31.5%, KINAL 8.1%, KKE 5.3%, Greek Solution 3.7%, MeRA25 3.4%, other 8.1%; seats by party - ND 158, SYRIZA 86, KINAL 22, KKE 15, Greek Solution 10, MeRA25 9; composition - men 244, women 56, percent of women 18.7%" @@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [collective leadership] ++ Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexios (Alexis) TSIPRAS] ++ Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitrios KOUTSOUMBAS] ++ Democratic Left or DIMAR [Athanasios (Thanasis) THEOCHAROPOULOS] ++ European Realistic Disobedience Front or MeRA25 [Yanis VAROUFAKIS] ++ Greek Solution [Kyriakos VELOPOULOS] ++ Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panagiotis (Panos) KAMMENOS] ++ Movement for Change or KINAL [Foteini (Fofi) GENIMMATA] ++ New Democracy or ND [Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS] ++ People's Association-Golden Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS] ++ Popular Unity or LAE [Panagiotis LAFAZANIS] ++ The River (To Potami) [Stavros THEODORAKIS] ++ Union of Centrists or EK [Vasileios (Vasilis) LEVENTIS]" + "text": "Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [collective leadership] ++ Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexios (Alexis) TSIPRAS] ++ Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitrios KOUTSOUMBAS] ++ Democratic Left or DIMAR [Athanasios (Thanasis) THEOCHAROPOULOS] ++ European Realistic Disobedience Front or MeRA25 [Yanis VAROUFAKIS] ++ Greek Solution [Kyriakos VELOPOULOS] ++ Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panagiotis (Panos) KAMMENOS] ++ Movement for Change or KINAL [Foteini (Fofi) GENIMMATA] ++ New Democracy or ND [Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS] ++ People's Association-Golden Dawn [Nikolaos MICHALOLIAKOS] ++ Popular Unity or LAE [Panagiotis LAFAZANIS] ++ The River (To Potami) [Stavros THEODORAKIS] ++ Union of Centrists or EK [Vasileios (Vasilis) LEVENTIS]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" @@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ "text": "$200.7 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.4% (2017 est.) / -0.2% (2016 est.) / -0.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.87% (2019 est.) / 1.91% (2018 est.) / 1.44% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$27,800 (2017 est.) / $27,400 (2016 est.) / $27,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ "text": "3.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "4.769 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "4 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "21.5% (2017 est.) / 23.6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "17.3% (2019 est.) / 19.34% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "36% (2014 est.)" @@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ "text": "1.1% (2017 est.) / 0% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$1.596 billion (2017 est.) / -$2.072 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$3.114 billion (2019 est.) / -$6.245 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$31.54 billion (2017 est.) / $27.1 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -760,13 +760,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "good mobile telephone and international services; 3 mobile network operators; broadband penetration developing steadily despite rough economic conditions; plans to repurpose 3G network for LTE and 5G by 2022 (2020)" + "text": "good mobile telephone and international services; 3 mobile network operators; broadband penetration developing steadily despite rough economic conditions; plans to repurpose 3G network for LTE and 5G by 2022 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands; 48 per 100 for fixed-line and 114 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 30; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, Adria-1, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGLOBE, MedNautilus Submarine System, Aphrodite 2, AAE-1 and Silphium optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia;  tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 30; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, Adria-1, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGLOBE, MedNautilus Submarine System, Aphrodite 2, AAE-1 and Silphium optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Hellenic Armed Forces consists mostly of a mix of imported weapons from Europe and the US, as well as a limited number of domestically produced systems, particularly naval vessels; Germany is the leading supplier of weapons systems to Greece since 2010, followed by France and the US; Greece's defense industry is capable of producing naval vessels and associated subsystems (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "est. 1,000 Cyprus; 110 Kosovo (NATO); 140 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2019 est.)" + "text": "est. 1,000 Cyprus; 110 Kosovo (NATO); 140 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 18 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation is 1 year for the Army and 9 months for the Air Force and Navy; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2014)" @@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ "text": "26,696 (Syria), 17,685 (Afghanistan), 9,614 (Afghanistan) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "198 (2018)" + "text": "4,734 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 1,203,437 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2020); as of the end of December 2019, an estimated 112,300 migrants and refugees were stranded in Greece since 2015-16; 50,215 migrant arrivals in 2018" diff --git a/europe/hr.json b/europe/hr.json index c81615c1..894ed6c8 100644 --- a/europe/hr.json +++ b/europe/hr.json @@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ "text": "$54.76 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.8% (2017 est.) / 3.5% (2016 est.) / 2.4% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.94% (2019 est.) / 2.7% (2018 est.) / 3.14% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$24,700 (2017 est.) / $23,800 (2016 est.) / $22,800 (2015 est.)", @@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ "text": "1.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "1.559 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "1.656 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "12.4% (2017 est.) / 15% (2016 est.)" + "text": "8.07% (2019 est.) / 9.86% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "19.5% (2015 est.)" @@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ "text": "1.1% (2017 est.) / -1.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$2.15 billion (2017 est.) / $1.338 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$1.597 billion (2019 est.) / $1 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$13.15 billion (2017 est.) / $13.88 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -762,20 +762,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "the mobile market has one of the highest penetration rates in the Balkans region; covering much of what were once inaccessible areas; local lines are digital; telecom market in Croatia has been shaped by Croatia becoming part of the European Union in 2013, a process which opened up the market and the creation of a regulatory environment leading to competition in mobile and broadband; investment among operators has led to a relatively high broadband penetration in the region; trials for 5G technologies underway (2020)" + "text": "the mobile market has one of the highest penetration rates in the Balkans region; covering much of what were once inaccessible areas; local lines are digital; telecom market in Croatia has been shaped by Croatia becoming part of the European Union in 2013, a process which opened up the market and the creation of a regulatory environment leading to competition in mobile and broadband; investment among operators has led to a relatively high broadband penetration in the region; trials for 5G technologies underway (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity has dropped somewhat to about 32 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions 107 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 385;  the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik (2019)" + "text": "country code - 385; the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 4 national radio networks and 23 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations (2019)" + "text": "the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians living abroad, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters operate national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 4 national radio networks and 23 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".hr" @@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "2,886 (2018)" + "text": "2,886 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 713,772 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2020); flows slowed considerably in 2017; Croatia is predominantly a transit country and hosts about 340 asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018" diff --git a/europe/hu.json b/europe/hu.json index 68e8f347..45d6a7ad 100644 --- a/europe/hu.json +++ b/europe/hu.json @@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ "text": "last held on 8 April 2018 (next to be held in April 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party list - Fidesz-KDNP 49.3%, Jobbik 19.1%, MSZP-PM 11.9%, LMP 7.1%, DK 5.4%, Momentum Movement 3.1%, Together 0.7%, LdU 0.5%, other 2.9%; seats by party - Fidesz 117, Jobbik 26, KDNP 16, MSZP 15,  DK 9, LMP 8, PM 5, Together 1, LdU 1, independent 1; composition - men 174, women 25, percent of women 12.6%" + "text": "percent of vote by party list - Fidesz-KDNP 49.3%, Jobbik 19.1%, MSZP-PM 11.9%, LMP 7.1%, DK 5.4%, Momentum Movement 3.1%, Together 0.7%, LdU 0.5%, other 2.9%; seats by party - Fidesz 117, Jobbik 26, KDNP 16, MSZP 15, DK 9, LMP 8, PM 5, Together 1, LdU 1, independent 1; composition - men 174, women 25, percent of women 12.6%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Hungary has transitioned from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy with a per capita income approximately two thirds of the EU-28 average; however, in recent years the government has become more involved in managing the economy. Budapest has implemented unorthodox economic policies to boost household consumption and has relied on EU-funded development projects to generate growth. ++   ++ Following the fall of communism in 1990, Hungary experienced a drop-off in exports and financial assistance from the former Soviet Union. Hungary embarked on a series of economic reforms, including privatization of state-owned enterprises and reduction of social spending programs, to shift from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy, and to reorient its economy towards trade with the West. These efforts helped to spur growth, attract investment, and reduce Hungary's debt burden and fiscal deficits. Despite these reforms, living conditions for the average Hungarian initially deteriorated as inflation increased and unemployment reached double digits. Conditions slowly improved over the 1990s as the reforms came to fruition and export growth accelerated. Economic policies instituted during that decade helped position Hungary to join the European Union in 2004. Hungary has not yet joined the euro-zone. Hungary suffered a historic economic contraction as a result of the global economic slowdown in 2008-09 as export demand and domestic consumption dropped, prompting it to take an IMF-EU financial assistance package. ++   ++ Since 2010, the government has backpedaled on many economic reforms and taken a more populist approach towards economic management. The government has favored national industries and government-linked businesses through legislation, regulation, and public procurements. In 2011 and 2014, Hungary nationalized private pension funds, which squeezed financial service providers out of the system, but also helped Hungary curb its public debt and lower its budget deficit to below 3% of GDP, as subsequent pension contributions have been channeled into the state-managed pension fund. Hungary's public debt (at 74.5% of GDP) is still high compared to EU peers in Central Europe. Real GDP growth has been robust in the past few years due to increased EU funding, higher EU demand for Hungarian exports, and a rebound in domestic household consumption. To further boost household consumption ahead of the 2018 election, the government embarked on a six-year phased increase to minimum wages and public sector salaries, decreased taxes on foodstuffs and services, cut the personal income tax from 16% to 15%, and implemented a uniform 9% business tax for small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies. Real GDP growth slowed in 2016 due to a cyclical decrease in EU funding, but increased to 3.8% in 2017 as the government pre-financed EU funded projects ahead of the 2018 election. ++   ++ Systemic economic challenges include pervasive corruption, labor shortages driven by demographic declines and migration, widespread poverty in rural areas, vulnerabilities to changes in demand for exports, and a heavy reliance on Russian energy imports." + "text": "Hungary has transitioned from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy with a per capita income approximately two thirds of the EU-28 average; however, in recent years the government has become more involved in managing the economy. Budapest has implemented unorthodox economic policies to boost household consumption and has relied on EU-funded development projects to generate growth. ++ ++ Following the fall of communism in 1990, Hungary experienced a drop-off in exports and financial assistance from the former Soviet Union. Hungary embarked on a series of economic reforms, including privatization of state-owned enterprises and reduction of social spending programs, to shift from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy, and to reorient its economy towards trade with the West. These efforts helped to spur growth, attract investment, and reduce Hungary's debt burden and fiscal deficits. Despite these reforms, living conditions for the average Hungarian initially deteriorated as inflation increased and unemployment reached double digits. Conditions slowly improved over the 1990s as the reforms came to fruition and export growth accelerated. Economic policies instituted during that decade helped position Hungary to join the European Union in 2004. Hungary has not yet joined the euro-zone. Hungary suffered a historic economic contraction as a result of the global economic slowdown in 2008-09 as export demand and domestic consumption dropped, prompting it to take an IMF-EU financial assistance package. ++ ++ Since 2010, the government has backpedaled on many economic reforms and taken a more populist approach towards economic management. The government has favored national industries and government-linked businesses through legislation, regulation, and public procurements. In 2011 and 2014, Hungary nationalized private pension funds, which squeezed financial service providers out of the system, but also helped Hungary curb its public debt and lower its budget deficit to below 3% of GDP, as subsequent pension contributions have been channeled into the state-managed pension fund. Hungary's public debt (at 74.5% of GDP) is still high compared to EU peers in Central Europe. Real GDP growth has been robust in the past few years due to increased EU funding, higher EU demand for Hungarian exports, and a rebound in domestic household consumption. To further boost household consumption ahead of the 2018 election, the government embarked on a six-year phased increase to minimum wages and public sector salaries, decreased taxes on foodstuffs and services, cut the personal income tax from 16% to 15%, and implemented a uniform 9% business tax for small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies. Real GDP growth slowed in 2016 due to a cyclical decrease in EU funding, but increased to 3.8% in 2017 as the government pre-financed EU funded projects ahead of the 2018 election. ++ ++ Systemic economic challenges include pervasive corruption, labor shortages driven by demographic declines and migration, widespread poverty in rural areas, vulnerabilities to changes in demand for exports, and a heavy reliance on Russian energy imports." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$289.6 billion (2017 est.) / $278.5 billion (2016 est.) / $272.5 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ "text": "$139.2 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4% (2017 est.) / 2.2% (2016 est.) / 3.4% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.58% (2019 est.) / 5.44% (2018 est.) / 4.45% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$29,600 (2017 est.) / $28,300 (2016 est.) / $27,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ "text": "7.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "4.599 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "4.414 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.2% (2017 est.) / 5.1% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.45% (2019 est.) / 3.71% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "14.9% (2015 est.)" @@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ "text": "2.4% (2017 est.) / 0.4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$4.39 billion (2017 est.) / $7.597 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$392 million (2019 est.) / $510 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$98.74 billion (2017 est.) / $91.6 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Hungarian Defense Forces consists largely of Soviet-era weapons, with a smaller mix of more modern European and US equipment; since 2010, Hungary has received limited quantities of equipment from Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "160 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 160 Iraq (counter-ISIS coalition); 500 Kosovo (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "160 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 150 Iraq (counter-ISIS coalition); 400 Kosovo (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 6-month service obligation (2012)" @@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ "text": "5,950 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "144 (2018)" + "text": "76 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 432,744 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2018); Hungary is predominantly a transit country and hosts 137 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018; 1,626 migrant arrivals in 2017" diff --git a/europe/ic.json b/europe/ic.json index 7bcd6c6f..eca447a8 100644 --- a/europe/ic.json +++ b/europe/ic.json @@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ "text": "$24.48 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4% (2017 est.) / 7.4% (2016 est.) / 4.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.94% (2019 est.) / 3.88% (2018 est.) / 4.57% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$52,200 (2017 est.) / $51,700 (2016 est.) / $48,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ "text": "2.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "198,700 (2017 est.)" + "text": "200,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "2.8% (2017 est.) / 3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.62% (2019 est.) / 2.73% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA", @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ "text": "1.8% (2017 est.) / 1.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$857 million (2017 est.) / $1.556 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$1.496 billion (2019 est.) / $814 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$4.957 billion (2017 est.) / $4.483 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -735,14 +735,14 @@ "text": "liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the mobile services segment of the market; 37 per 100 for fixed line and 122 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 354; landing points for the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system that provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 354; landing points for the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system that provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally (RUV and RUV 2, though RUV 2 is used less frequently);  RUV broadcasts nationally, every household in Iceland is required to have RUV as it doubles as the emergency broadcast network; RUV also operates stringer offices in the north (Akureyri) and the east (Egilsstadir) but operations are all run out of RUV headquarters in Reykjavik;  there are 3 privately owned TV stations;  Stod 2 (Channel 2) is owned by Syn, following 365 Media and Vodafone merger, and is headquartered in Reykjavik;  Syn also operates 4 sports channels under Stod 2;  N4 is the only television station headquartered outside of Reykjavik, in Akureyri, with local programming for the north, south, and east of Iceland;  Hringbraut is the newest station and is headquartered in Reykjavik;  all of these television stations have nationwide penetration as 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections ++ RUV operates 3 radio stations (RAS 1, RAS2, and Rondo) as well as 4 regional stations (but they mostly act as range extenders for RUV radio broadcasts nationwide);  there is 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), that broadcasts nationwide, and 3 other radio stations that broadcast to the most densely populated regions of the country.  In addition there are upwards of 20 radio stations that operate regionally (2019)" + "text": "state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally (RUV and RUV 2, though RUV 2 is used less frequently); RUV broadcasts nationally, every household in Iceland is required to have RUV as it doubles as the emergency broadcast network; RUV also operates stringer offices in the north (Akureyri) and the east (Egilsstadir) but operations are all run out of RUV headquarters in Reykjavik; there are 3 privately owned TV stations; Stod 2 (Channel 2) is owned by Syn, following 365 Media and Vodafone merger, and is headquartered in Reykjavik; Syn also operates 4 sports channels under Stod 2; N4 is the only television station headquartered outside of Reykjavik, in Akureyri, with local programming for the north, south, and east of Iceland; Hringbraut is the newest station and is headquartered in Reykjavik; all of these television stations have nationwide penetration as 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections ++ RUV operates 3 radio stations (RAS 1, RAS2, and Rondo) as well as 4 regional stations (but they mostly act as range extenders for RUV radio broadcasts nationwide); there is 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), that broadcasts nationwide, and 3 other radio stations that broadcast to the most densely populated regions of the country. In addition there are upwards of 20 radio stations that operate regionally (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".is" @@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "69 (2018)" + "text": "48 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/europe/im.json b/europe/im.json index 099ca90b..a8b41199 100644 --- a/europe/im.json +++ b/europe/im.json @@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ } }, "Legal system": { - "text": "the laws of the UK apply where applicable and include Manx statutes" + "text": "the laws of the UK apply where applicable and include Manx statutes" }, "Citizenship": { "note": { @@ -332,10 +332,10 @@ "text": "bicameral Tynwald or the High Court of Tynwald consists of: Legislative Council (11 seats; includes the President of Tynwald, 2 ex-officio members - the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and the attorney general (non-voting) - and 8 members indirectly elected by the House of Keys with renewal of 4 members every 2 years; elected members serve 4-year terms) ++ House of Keys (24 seats; 2 members directly elected by simple majority vote from 12 constituencies to serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Legislative Council - last held 28 February 2018 (next to be held 12 March 2020) ++ House of Keys - last held on 22 September 2016 (next to be held on 23 September 2021)" + "text": "Legislative Council - last held 28 February 2018 (next to be held 12 March 2020) ++ House of Keys - last held on 22 September 2016 (next to be held on 23 September 2021)" }, "election results": { - "text": "  ++ Legislative Council - composition - men 6, women 5, percent of women 45.5% ++ House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 6.4%, independent 92.3%, other 1.3%; seats by party - Liberal Vannin 3, independent 21; composition - men 19, women 5, percent of women 20.8%; note - total Tynwald percent of women 28.6%" + "text": "++ Legislative Council - composition - men 6, women 5, percent of women 45.5% ++ House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 6.4%, independent 92.3%, other 1.3%; seats by party - Liberal Vannin 3, independent 21; composition - men 19, women 5, percent of women 20.8%; note - total Tynwald percent of women 28.6%" }, "note": { "text": "note: as of January 2019, seats by party - Liberal Vannin 2, independent 22" @@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "text": "none (British crown dependency); +(44)(20) 7499-9000; US Embassy London, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US, United Kingdom" + "text": "none (British crown dependency)" }, "Flag description": { "text": "red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on the coat of arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III (r. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol" @@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } } }, diff --git a/europe/it.json b/europe/it.json index 416c9677..fca248cc 100644 --- a/europe/it.json +++ b/europe/it.json @@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of: Senate or Senato della Repubblica (321 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 193 members in multi-seat constituencies and 6 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 6 ex-officio members appointed by the president of the Republic to serve for life) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 629 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member from Valle d'Aosta elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - a 29 March 2020 referendum on the proposed reduction of Parliament membership has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic" + "text": "bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of: Senate or Senato della Repubblica (321 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 193 members in multi-seat constituencies and 6 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 6 ex-officio members appointed by the president of the Republic to serve for life) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 629 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member from Valle d'Aosta elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - a 29 March 2020 referendum on the proposed reduction of Parliament membership has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023)" @@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ "text": "$1.939 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.5% (2017 est.) / 0.9% (2016 est.) / 1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.34% (2019 est.) / 0.83% (2018 est.) / 1.73% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$38,200 (2017 est.) / $37,600 (2016 est.) / $37,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ "text": "2.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "25.94 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "22.92 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "11.3% (2017 est.) / 11.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "9.88% (2019 est.) / 10.63% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "29.9% (2012 est.)" @@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ "text": "1.3% (2017 est.) / -0.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$53.42 billion (2017 est.) / $47.64 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$59.517 billion (2019 est.) / $51.735 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$496.3 billion (2017 est.) / $454.1 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -775,13 +775,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "well-developed, fully automated telephone, and data services; highest mobile penetration rates in Europe, benefitted from progressive govt. programs aimed at developing fiber in broadband sector; leading edge of development with 5G in 6 cities; regulator consults on extending 3.5 Gz licensing; fiber network reaches 60% of population (2020)" + "text": "well-developed, fully automated telephone, and data services; highest mobile penetration rates in Europe, benefitted from progressive govt. programs aimed at developing fiber in broadband sector; leading edge of development with 5G in 6 cities; regulator consults on extending 3.5 Gz licensing; fiber network reaches 60% of population (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks; 32 per 100 for fixed-line and 133 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 39; landing points for Italy-Monaco, Italy-Libya, Italy-Malta, Italy-Greece-1, Italy-Croatia, BlueMed, Janna, FEA, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, Trapani-Kelibia, Columbus-III, Didon, GO-1, HANNIBAL System, MENA, Bridge International, Malta-Italy Interconnector, Melita1, IMEWE, VMSCS, AAE-1, and OTEGLOBE, submarine cables that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 39; landing points for Italy-Monaco, Italy-Libya, Italy-Malta, Italy-Greece-1, Italy-Croatia, BlueMed, Janna, FEA, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, Trapani-Kelibia, Columbus-III, Didon, GO-1, HANNIBAL System, MENA, Bridge International, Malta-Italy Interconnector, Melita1, IMEWE, VMSCS, AAE-1, and OTEGLOBE, submarine cables that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ "text": "the Italian Armed Forces' inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced, jointly-produced, and imported European and US weapons systems; the US is the leading supplier of weapons to Italy since 2010, followed by Germany; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in naval vessels and aircraft; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "900 Afghanistan (NATO); 100 Djibouti; 1,100 Middle East/Iraq/Kuwait (NATO, counter-ISIS campaign, European Assistance Mission Iraq); 540 Kosovo (NATO); 160 Latvia (NATO); 900 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 400 Libya; 290 Niger; 120 Somalia (EUTM); 120 United Arab Emirates (April 2020)" + "text": "900 Afghanistan (NATO); 120 Djibouti; 1,100 Middle East/Iraq/Kuwait (NATO, counter-ISIS campaign, European Assistance Mission Iraq); 620 Kosovo (NATO); 200 Latvia (NATO); 1,050 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 400 Libya; 290 Niger; 150 Somalia (EUTM); 100 United Arab Emirates (April 2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 1-year service obligation (2013)" @@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ "text": "25,241 (Nigeria), 20,063 (Pakistan), 17,849 (Afghanistan), 15,842 (Mali), 14,029 (Somalia), 12,968 (Gambia), 8,974 (Bangladesh), 7,659 (Cote d'Ivoire), 7,644 (Senegal), 7,118 (Eritrea), 6,995 (Iraq), 6,353 (Ukraine), 5,953 (Ghana) (2019); note - estimate for Ukraine represents asylum applicants since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in 2014 to July 2018" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "732 (2018)" + "text": "15,822 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 520,474 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-November 2020); hosts an estimated 96,862 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of October 2019; 23,370 arrivals in 2018" diff --git a/europe/je.json b/europe/je.json index cf88fee8..0785cb60 100644 --- a/europe/je.json +++ b/europe/je.json @@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ "text": "Jersey 46.4%, British 32.7%, Portuguese/Madeiran 8.2%, Polish 3.3%, Irish, French, and other white 7.1%, other 2.4% (2011 est.)" }, "Languages": { - "text": "English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other .9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.)", + "text": "English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other .9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note: data represent main spoken language; the traditional language of Jersey is Jerriais or Jersey French (a Norman language), which was spoken by fewer than 3,000 people as of 2001;  two-thirds of Jerriais speakers are aged 60 and over " + "text": "note: data represent main spoken language; the traditional language of Jersey is Jerriais or Jersey French (a Norman language), which was spoken by fewer than 3,000 people as of 2001; two-thirds of Jerriais speakers are aged 60 and over" } }, "Religions": { @@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/europe/jn.json b/europe/jn.json index 295ba654..a91cd218 100644 --- a/europe/jn.json +++ b/europe/jn.json @@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ "text": "territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service; in 2010, Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve" }, "Legal system": { - "text": "the laws of Norway apply where applicable " + "text": "the laws of Norway apply where applicable" }, "Flag description": { "text": "the flag of Norway is used" diff --git a/europe/kv.json b/europe/kv.json index 3068d5a7..65778db4 100644 --- a/europe/kv.json +++ b/europe/kv.json @@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ }, "Constitution": { "history": { - "text": "previous 1974, 1990; latest (postindependence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008; note - amendment 24, passed by the Assembly in August 2015, established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Institution, referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chamber or \"Specialist Court,\" to try war crimes allegedly committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the late 1990s" + "text": "previous 1974, 1990; latest (postindependence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008; note - amendment 24, passed by the Assembly in August 2015, established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Institution, referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chamber or \"Specialist Court,\" to try war crimes allegedly committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the late 1990s" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by the government, by the president of the republic, or by one fourth of Assembly deputies; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, including two-thirds majority vote of deputies representing non-majority communities, followed by a favorable Constitutional Court assessment; amended several times, last in 2016" @@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "Kosovo being part of the EU pre-accession process has helped with their progress in the telecom industry, following a regulatory framework, European standards, and a market of new players encourages development in its telecommunications; 2 MNOs dominate the sector; poor telecom infrastructure means low fixed-line penetration; little expansion of fiber networks for broadband; expansion of LTE services (2020)" + "text": "Kosovo being part of the EU pre-accession process has helped with their progress in the telecom industry, following a regulatory framework, European standards, and a market of new players encourages development in its telecommunications; 2 MNOs dominate the sector; poor telecom infrastructure means low fixed-line penetration; little expansion of fiber networks for broadband; expansion of LTE services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line stands at 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 32 per 100 persons (2019)" diff --git a/europe/lg.json b/europe/lg.json index 4eefa5eb..6bfd6245 100644 --- a/europe/lg.json +++ b/europe/lg.json @@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ "text": "president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament" }, "election results": { - "text": "Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61 votes, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39" + "text": "Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61 votes, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ "text": "$30.33 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.5% (2017 est.) / 2.2% (2016 est.) / 3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.08% (2019 est.) / 4.2% (2018 est.) / 3.23% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$27,700 (2017 est.) / $26,200 (2016 est.) / $25,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ "text": "10.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "990,000 (2017 est.)" + "text": "885,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "8.7% (2017 est.) / 9.6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.14% (2019 est.) / 6.51% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "25.5% (2015)" @@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / 0.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$231 million (2017 est.) / $378 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$222 million (2019 est.) / -$99 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$12.84 billion (2017 est.) / $11.35 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed-line is decreasing as mobile-cellular telephone service expands; EU regulatory policies, and framework provide guidelines for growth; govt. adopted measures to build a national fiber broadband network, part-funded by European Commission; new competition in mobile markets with extensive LTE-A technologies and 5G service growth (2020)" + "text": "recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed-line is decreasing as mobile-cellular telephone service expands; EU regulatory policies, and framework provide guidelines for growth; govt. adopted measures to build a national fiber broadband network, part-funded by European Commission; new competition in mobile markets with extensive LTE-A technologies and 5G service growth (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 109 per 100 subscriptions (2019)" @@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "224,844 (2018); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem" + "text": "216,851 (2019); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/lh.json b/europe/lh.json index 2e4fe1df..84befd0a 100644 --- a/europe/lh.json +++ b/europe/lh.json @@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ "text": "President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Saulius SKVERNELIS (since 13 December 2016)" + "text": "Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament" @@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ "text": "$47.26 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.9% (2017 est.) / 2.3% (2016 est.) / 2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.33% (2019 est.) / 3.99% (2018 est.) / 4.37% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$32,400 (2017 est.) / $30,700 (2016 est.) / $29,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ "text": "5.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "1.467 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "1.333 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "7.1% (2017 est.) / 7.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "8.4% (2019 est.) / 8.5% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "22.2% (2015 est.)" @@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ "text": "3.7% (2017 est.) / 0.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$364 million (2017 est.) / -$479 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "$1.817 billion (2019 est.) / $131 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$29.12 billion (2017 est.) / $24.23 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -753,13 +753,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "adequate; improved international capability and better residential access; SIM card penetration is high for the region; prepaid sector accounts for most subscribers; postpaid subscribers is increasing; LTE networks available to more than 99% of the population; Lithuanian FttP (fiber to the home cable connections for Internet) penetration ranked third highest in Europe; govt. and telecoms invest in fiber, fiber accounts for most new broadband connections; effective competition with 3 network operators in mobile sector and all investing in LTE and mobile data services (2020)" + "text": "adequate; improved international capability and better residential access; SIM card penetration is high for the region; prepaid sector accounts for most subscribers; postpaid subscribers is increasing; LTE networks available to more than 99% of the population; Lithuanian FttP (fiber to the home cable connections for Internet) penetration ranked third highest in Europe; govt. and telecoms invest in fiber, fiber accounts for most new broadband connections; effective competition with 3 network operators in mobile sector and all investing in LTE and mobile data services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "13 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 169 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia ; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019)" + "text": "country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia ; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "3,039 (2018)" + "text": "2,904 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/lo.json b/europe/lo.json index 9feb081d..2d2d6d04 100644 --- a/europe/lo.json +++ b/europe/lo.json @@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ "text": "$95.96 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.4% (2017 est.) / 3.3% (2016 est.) / 3.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.4% (2019 est.) / 3.9% (2018 est.) / 3.04% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$33,100 (2017 est.) / $32,000 (2016 est.) / $31,000 (2015 est.)", @@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ "text": "2.7% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.758 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.511 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "8.1% (2017 est.) / 9.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5% (2019 est.) / 5.42% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "12.3% (2015 est.)" @@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ "text": "1.3% (2017 est.) / -0.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.005 billion (2017 est.) / -$1.309 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$3.026 billion (2019 est.) / -$2.635 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$80.8 billion (2017 est.) / $75.53 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "a modern telecommunications system; near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile and fixed broadband market; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable and fiber platforms; FttP growth in cities; mid-2019 launched 1G cable broadband service in 3 cities and 200,000 premises; EU funds development and improvement of e-govt. and online services; regulator prepares groundwork for 5G services (2020)" + "text": "a modern telecommunications system; near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile and fixed broadband market; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable and fiber platforms; FttP growth in cities; mid-2019 launched 1G cable broadband service in 3 cities and 200,000 premises; EU funds development and improvement of e-govt. and online services; regulator prepares groundwork for 5G services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "four companies have a license to operate cellular networks and provide nationwide cellular services; a few other companies provide services but do not have their own networks; fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 136 per 100 teledensity (2019)" @@ -863,7 +863,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Slovakian military consists mostly of Soviet-era platforms; since 2010, it has imported limited quantities of equipment from China, Czechia, Italy, Russia, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "240 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (March 2020)" + "text": "240 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2012)" @@ -875,7 +875,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,523 (2018)" + "text": "1,523 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/ls.json b/europe/ls.json index 8acb544e..cf380713 100644 --- a/europe/ls.json +++ b/europe/ls.json @@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ "text": "German 91.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)" }, "Religions": { - "text": "Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%,  Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { @@ -406,12 +406,7 @@ } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "telephone": { - "text": "EMER: +(41) (031) 357-7011" - }, - "embassy": { - "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein" - } + "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein" }, "Flag description": { "text": "two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti" @@ -549,7 +544,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -590,7 +585,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 127 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay" + "text": "country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/europe/lu.json b/europe/lu.json index dc4b02ee..cf8324e6 100644 --- a/europe/lu.json +++ b/europe/lu.json @@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - a 21-member Council of State appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 14 October 2018 (next to be held by October 2023)" + "text": "last held on 14 October 2018 (next to be held by October 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - CSV 28.3%, LSAP 17.6%, DP 16.9%, Green Party 15.1%, ADR 8.3%, Pirate Party 6.4%, The Left 5.5%, other 1.9%; seats by party - CSV 21, DP 12, LSAP 10, Green Party 9, ADR 4, Pirate Party 2, The Left 2; composition - men 46, women 14, percent of women 23.3%" @@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ "text": "$62.53 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.3% (2017 est.) / 3.1% (2016 est.) / 2.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.31% (2019 est.) / 3.14% (2018 est.) / 1.81% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$105,100 (2017 est.) / $105,400 (2016 est.) / $104,600 (2015 est.)", @@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ "text": "1.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "282,800 (2017 est.)", + "text": "476,000 (2020 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: data exclude foreign workers; in addition to the figure for domestic labor force, about 150,000 workers commute daily from France, Belgium, and Germany" } @@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "5.8% (2017 est.) / 6.3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.36% (2019 est.) / 5.46% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" @@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ "text": "2.1% (2017 est.) / 0% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$3.112 billion (2017 est.) / $2.988 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$3.254 billion (2019 est.) / $3.296 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$15.99 billion (2017 est.) / $16.37 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "highly developed; by 2020 the government is to provide a 1Gb/s service to all citizens, and to make Luxembourg the first fully fibered country in Europe; new law requiring SIM cards be registered has slowed down growth for mobile subscribers; regulator planning a multi-spectrum auction for 5G use by mid-2020 (2020)" + "text": "highly developed; by 2020 the government is to provide a 1Gb/s service to all citizens, and to make Luxembourg the first fully fibered country in Europe; new law requiring SIM cards be registered has slowed down growth for mobile subscribers; regulator planning a multi-spectrum auction for 5G use by mid-2020 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity about 43 per 100 persons; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular phones virtually saturated with 136 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)" @@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "83 (2018)" + "text": "83 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/europe/md.json b/europe/md.json index 33ed53ac..06445199 100644 --- a/europe/md.json +++ b/europe/md.json @@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Dereck J. HOGAN (since 15 October 2018)" + "text": "Ambassador Dereck J. HOGAN (since 15 October 2018)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[373] (22) 40-8300" @@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.1% (2017 est.) / 4.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.99% (2019 est.) / 3.16% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "9.6% (2015 est.)" @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "the mobile market has extended the reach of services to outside the cities and across most of the country; endeavors to join the EU have promoted regulatory issues to be in line with EU principles and standards; LTE services available; market is competitive with 94 ISPs active; by mid-2019 fiber accounted for about 62% of all fixed broadband connections; most telecom revenue is from the mobile market (2020)" + "text": "the mobile market has extended the reach of services to outside the cities and across most of the country; endeavors to join the EU have promoted regulatory issues to be in line with EU principles and standards; LTE services available; market is competitive with 94 ISPs active; by mid-2019 fiber accounted for about 62% of all fixed broadband connections; most telecom revenue is from the mobile market (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "competition among mobile telephone providers has spurred subscriptions; little interest in expanding fixed-line service 27 per 100; mobile-cellular teledensity sits at 89 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ "text": "6,779 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "4,451 (2018)" + "text": "3,500 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/mj.json b/europe/mj.json index aaf76735..8f8cedbb 100644 --- a/europe/mj.json +++ b/europe/mj.json @@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ "text": "use embassy street address" }, "FAX": { - "text": "[382]  20-241-358" + "text": "[382] 20-241-358" } }, "Flag description": { @@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ "text": "-4.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "273,200 (2017 est.)" + "text": "167,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "16.1% (2017 est.) / 17.1% (2016 est.)" + "text": "15.82% (2019 est.) / 18.8% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "8.6% (2013 est.)" @@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-funded national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and several on-line media (2019)" + "text": "state-funded national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and several on-line media (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".me" @@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "145 (2018)" + "text": "142 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 17,051 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2020)" diff --git a/europe/mk.json b/europe/mk.json index 46b657f8..06426237 100644 --- a/europe/mk.json +++ b/europe/mk.json @@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ } }, "Languages": { - "text": "Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Romani 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 1.8% (2002 est.)", + "text": "Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Romani 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 1.8% (2002 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: minority languages are co-official with Macedonian in municipalities where they are spoken by at least 20% of the population; Albanian is co-official in Tetovo, Brvenica, Vrapciste, and other municipalities; Turkish is co-official in Centar Zupa and Plasnica; Romani is co-official in Suto Orizari; Aromanian is co-official in Krusevo; Serbian is co-official in Cucer Sandevo" } @@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Assembly - Sobraine in Macedonian, Kuvend in Albanian (between 120 and 140 seats, currently 120; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; possibility of 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies by simple majority vote provided there is sufficient voter turnout; members serve 4-year terms)" + "text": "unicameral Assembly - Sobraine in Macedonian, Kuvend in Albanian (between 120 and 140 seats, currently 120; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; possibility of 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies by simple majority vote provided there is sufficient voter turnout; members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last election was to be held on 12 April 2020 but was postponed until 15 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (next to be held in 2024)" @@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ "text": "Alliance for Albanians or AfA [Ziadin SELA] ++ Alternative (Alternativa) [Afrim GASHI] ++ Besa Movement [Bilal KASAMI] ++ Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI] ++ Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI] ++ Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Hristijan MICKOSKI] ++ Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI] ++ Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Goran MILEVSKI] ++ Renewal (VMRO-DPMNE coalition) ++ Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV] ++ The Left (Levica) [Dimitar APASIEV] ++ Turkish Democratic Party of DPT [Beycan ILYAS] ++ We Can (coalition includes SDSM/Besa/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP)" }, "International organization participation": { - "text": "BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" + "text": "BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { @@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Its low tax rates and free economic zones have helped to attract foreign investment, which is still low relative to the rest of Europe. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law. ++   ++ Macedonia's economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Unemployment has remained consistently high at about 23% but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics. ++   ++ Macedonia is working to build a country-wide natural gas pipeline and distribution network. Currently, Macedonia receives its small natural gas supplies from Russia via Bulgaria. In 2016, Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding with Greece to build an interconnector that could connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will traverse the region once complete, or to an LNG import terminal in Greece. ++   ++ Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged to the euro, and inflation at a low level. However, in the last two years, the internal political crisis has hampered economic performance, with GDP growth slowing in 2016 and 2017, and both domestic private and public investments declining. Fiscal policies were lax, with unproductive public expenditures, including subsidies and pension increases, and rising guarantees for the debt of state owned enterprises, and fiscal targets were consistently missed. In 2017, public debt stabilized at about 47% of GDP, still relatively low compared to its Western Balkan neighbors and the rest of Europe." + "text": "Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Its low tax rates and free economic zones have helped to attract foreign investment, which is still low relative to the rest of Europe. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law. ++ ++ Macedonia's economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Unemployment has remained consistently high at about 23% but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics. ++ ++ Macedonia is working to build a country-wide natural gas pipeline and distribution network. Currently, Macedonia receives its small natural gas supplies from Russia via Bulgaria. In 2016, Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding with Greece to build an interconnector that could connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will traverse the region once complete, or to an LNG import terminal in Greece. ++ ++ Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged to the euro, and inflation at a low level. However, in the last two years, the internal political crisis has hampered economic performance, with GDP growth slowing in 2016 and 2017, and both domestic private and public investments declining. Fiscal policies were lax, with unproductive public expenditures, including subsidies and pension increases, and rising guarantees for the debt of state owned enterprises, and fiscal targets were consistently missed. In 2017, public debt stabilized at about 47% of GDP, still relatively low compared to its Western Balkan neighbors and the rest of Europe." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$31.03 billion (2017 est.) / $31.02 billion (2016 est.) / $30.15 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ "text": "-7.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "950,800 (2017 est.)" + "text": "793,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "22.4% (2017 est.) / 23.8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "17.29% (2019 est.) / 20.7% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "21.5% (2015 est.)" @@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "571 (2018)" + "text": "567 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 506,774 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2020); North Macedonia is predominantly a transit country and hosts fewer than 50 refugees and asylum seekers as of October 2017; 3,132 migrant arrivals in 2018" diff --git a/europe/mn.json b/europe/mn.json index 80f9eb17..7b507261 100644 --- a/europe/mn.json +++ b/europe/mn.json @@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ }, "Debt - external": { "note": { - "text": " NA" + "text": "NA" } }, "Exchange rates": { @@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } } }, @@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ }, "Railways": { "note": { - "text": "note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service;  the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco" + "text": "note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service; the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/mt.json b/europe/mt.json index 57f0540a..dc5fc680 100644 --- a/europe/mt.json +++ b/europe/mt.json @@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ "text": "$12.58 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6.7% (2017 est.) / 5.2% (2016 est.) / 9.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.94% (2019 est.) / 5.17% (2018 est.) / 8.03% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$41,900 (2017 est.) / $40,100 (2016 est.) / $39,000 (2015 est.)", @@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ "text": "-3.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "206,300 (2017 est.)" + "text": "223,000 (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.6% (2017 est.) / 5.3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "0.78% (2019 est.) / 0.89% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "16.3% (2015 est.)" @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ "text": "1.3% (2017 est.) / 0.9% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$1.712 billion (2017 est.) / $788 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "$1.561 billion (2019 est.) / $1.55 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$3.272 billion (2017 est.) / $2.493 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -743,10 +743,10 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the most advanced telecoms in Europe, high penetration of mobile and broadband, and a way forward to expand e-commerce opportunities; stimulated by regulator measures to reduce consumer prices; extensive FttP network and investment in LTE and fiber thru 2023; launches 5G ready network (2020)" + "text": "one of the most advanced telecoms in Europe, high penetration of mobile and broadband, and a way forward to expand e-commerce opportunities; stimulated by regulator measures to reduce consumer prices; extensive FttP network and investment in LTE and fiber thru 2023; launches 5G ready network (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "fixed-line 58 per 100  persons and mobile-cellular subscribership 144 per 100 persons; automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands (2019)" + "text": "fixed-line 58 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership 144 per 100 persons; automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 356; landing points for the Malta-Gozo Cable, VMSCS, GO-1 Mediterranean Cable System, Malta Italy Interconnector, Melita-1, and the Italy-Malta submarine cable connections to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" diff --git a/europe/nl.json b/europe/nl.json index be6f16cb..188b44eb 100644 --- a/europe/nl.json +++ b/europe/nl.json @@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Andre HASPELS (since 16 September 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Andre HASPELS (since 16 September 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008" @@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ "text": "$832.2 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / 2.2% (2016 est.) / 2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.63% (2019 est.) / 2.32% (2018 est.) / 3.02% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$53,900 (2017 est.) / $52,800 (2016 est.) / $51,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ "text": "3.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "7.969 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "8.907 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.9% (2017 est.) / 6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.41% (2019 est.) / 3.84% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "8.8% (2015 est.)" @@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ "text": "1.3% (2017 est.) / 0.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$87.46 billion (2017 est.) / $62.92 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$90.207 billion (2019 est.) / $98.981 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$555.6 billion (2017 est.) / $495.4 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "highly developed and well maintained; while fixed-line voice market is in decline the VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) and mobile platforms advance; one of the highest fixed broadband penetration rates in the world, due to government investments; plans for 3G network shutdown in 2022; operators are concentrating investment on LTE-A and 5G services; MNOs and banks launch m-payments system (2020)" + "text": "highly developed and well maintained; while fixed-line voice market is in decline the VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) and mobile platforms advance; one of the highest fixed broadband penetration rates in the world, due to government investments; plans for 3G network shutdown in 2022; operators are concentrating investment on LTE-A and 5G services; MNOs and banks launch m-payments system (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "extensive fixed-line, fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with five major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol services; fixed-line 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular 127 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Netherlands Armed Forces consists of a mix of domestically-produced and modern European- and US-sourced equipment; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of weapons systems to the Netherlands, followed by Germany, Italy, and Sweden; the Netherlands has an advanced domestic defense industry that focuses on armored vehicles, naval ships, and air defense systems; it also participates with the US and other European countries on joint development and production of advanced weapons systems (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "160 Afghanistan (NATO); 270 Lithuania (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "160 Afghanistan (NATO); 270 Lithuania (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2016)" @@ -930,10 +930,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "32,092 (Syria), 15,478 (Somalia), 14,931 (Eritrea), 9,259 (Iraq), 6,267 (Afghanistan) (2017)" + "text": "31,694 (Syria), 14,809 (Eritrea), 13,007 (Somalia), 8,423 (Iraq), 5,815 (Afghanistan) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,951 (2018)" + "text": "1,951 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/no.json b/europe/no.json index a7b7bef6..074cb20f 100644 --- a/europe/no.json +++ b/europe/no.json @@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ "text": "Prime Minister Erna SOLBERG (since 16 October 2013)" }, "cabinet": { - "text": "Council  of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament" + "text": "Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament" @@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ "text": "$398.8 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.9% (2017 est.) / 1.1% (2016 est.) / 2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.86% (2019 est.) / 1.36% (2018 est.) / 2.75% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$72,100 (2017 est.) / $71,200 (2016 est.) / $71,100 (2015 est.)", @@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ "text": "1.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.797 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "2.699 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.2% (2017 est.) / 4.7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.72% (2019 est.) / 3.89% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" @@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ "text": "1.9% (2017 est.) / 3.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$22.01 billion (2017 est.) / $14.09 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$16.656 billion (2019 est.) / $31.111 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$102.8 billion (2017 est.) / $88.88 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -752,13 +752,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe; high mobile and broadband penetration rates and highly developed digital media sector; forward leaning in LTE-A developments; migrate all DSL subscribers to fiber by 2023; looking to close 2G and 3G networks by 2025; regulator competes 700 MHz auction and assigns spectrum for 5G, partners with Chinese company Huawei (2020)" + "text": "one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe; high mobile and broadband penetration rates and highly developed digital media sector; forward leaning in LTE-A developments; migrate all DSL subscribers to fiber by 2023; looking to close 2G and 3G networks by 2025; regulator competes 700 MHz auction and assigns spectrum for 5G, partners with Chinese company Huawei (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular systems; fixed-line 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular 107 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 47; landing points for the Svalbard Undersea Cable System, Polar Circle Cable, Bodo-Rost Cable, NOR5KE Viking, Celtic Norse, Tempnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, Denmark-Norwary6, Havfrue/AEC-2, Skagerrak 4, and the Skagenfiber West & East submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries, Europe and the US; satellite earth stations - Eutelsat, Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 47; landing points for the Svalbard Undersea Cable System, Polar Circle Cable, Bodo-Rost Cable, NOR5KE Viking, Celtic Norse, Tempnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, Denmark-Norwary6, Havfrue/AEC-2, Skagerrak 4, and the Skagenfiber West & East submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries, Europe and the US; satellite earth stations - Eutelsat, Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Norwegian Armed Forces:  Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2020)" + "text": "Norwegian Armed Forces: Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2020)" }, "Military expenditures": { "text": "1.8% of GDP (2019 est.) / 1.73% of GDP (2018) / 1.71% of GDP (2017) / 1.73% of GDP (2016) / 1.59% of GDP (2015)" @@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ "text": "the Norwegian Armed Forces inventory includes mostly imported European and US weapons systems, as well as a limited mix of domestically-produced equipment, particularly small naval craft; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of weapons systems to Norway, followed by France, Italy, South Korea, and Spain (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "120 Lithuania (NATO) (Oct. 2019)" + "text": "120 Lithuania (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "19-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 17 years of age for male volunteers (16 in wartime); 18 years of age for women; 19-month service obligation; conscripts first serve 12 months from 19-28, and then up to 4-5 refresher training periods until age 35, 44, 55, or 60 depending on rank and function. (2019)" @@ -901,10 +901,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "15,246 (Eritrea), 13,914 (Syria), 7,183 (Somalia), 6,065 (Afghanistan) (2018)" + "text": "14,359 (Syria), 14,038 (Eritrea), 6,518 (Somalia), 5,108 (Afghanistan) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "2,809 (2018)" + "text": "2,272 (2019)" } } } diff --git a/europe/pl.json b/europe/pl.json index c18e7eb2..4572303c 100644 --- a/europe/pl.json +++ b/europe/pl.json @@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Georgette MOSBACHER (since 6 September 2018) " + "text": "Ambassador Georgette MOSBACHER (since 6 September 2018)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[48] (22) 504-2000" @@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ "text": "$524.8 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.7% (2017 est.) / 3% (2016 est.) / 3.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.55% (2019 est.) / 5.36% (2018 est.) / 4.83% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$29,600 (2017 est.) / $28,300 (2016 est.) / $27,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ "text": "7.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "17.6 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "9.561 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.9% (2017 est.) / 6.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.43% (2019 est.) / 6.08% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "17.6% (2015 est.)" @@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ "text": "2% (2017 est.) / -0.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$1.584 billion (2017 est.) / -$1.369 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$2.92 billion (2019 est.) / -$7.52 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$224.6 billion (2017 est.) / $195.7 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fixed-line service is dominated by the former state-owned company, yet it is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services; regulatory is framed by EU principles of competition; regulator measures have improved wholesale market access; rapid extension of LTE networks and development of mobile data service; mobile penetration is above European average; regulator to auction 700MHz spectrum of 5G services; good market competition (2020)" + "text": "fixed-line service is dominated by the former state-owned company, yet it is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services; regulatory is framed by EU principles of competition; regulator measures have improved wholesale market access; rapid extension of LTE networks and development of mobile data service; mobile penetration is above European average; regulator to auction 700MHz spectrum of 5G services; good market competition (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; coverage is generally good; fixed-line 18 per 100 service lags in rural areas, mobile-cellular 138 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Polish Armed Forces consists of a mix of Soviet-era and more modern Western weapons systems; since 2010, the leading suppliers of armaments to Poland are Finland, Germany, Italy, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "360 Afghanistan (NATO); 230 Kosovo (NATO); up to 200 Latvia (NATO); 220 Lebanon (UNIFIL); contributes about 3,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Warsaw and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units (April 2020)" + "text": "360 Afghanistan (NATO); 230 Kosovo (NATO); up to 200 Latvia (NATO); 220 Lebanon (UNIFIL); contributes about 3,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Warsaw and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; professional soldiers serve on a permanent basis (for an unspecified period of time) or on a contract basis (for a specified period of time); initial contract period is 24 months; women serve in the military on the same terms as men (2019)" @@ -947,10 +947,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "9,893 (Russia) (2018)" + "text": "9,870 (Russia) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "10,825 (2018)" + "text": "1,328 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/po.json b/europe/po.json index 1df60078..4545b1a6 100644 --- a/europe/po.json +++ b/europe/po.json @@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ "text": "last held on 6 October 2019 (next to be held 2023) (e.g. 2019)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - PS 36.4%, PSD 27.8%, B.E. 9.5%, CDU 6.5%, other 20.8%; seats by party - PS 108, PSD 79,  B.E. 19, CDU 12, other 12; composition - men 158, women 72, percent of women 31.3% (e.g. 2019)" + "text": "percent of vote by party - PS 36.4%, PSD 27.8%, B.E. 9.5%, CDU 6.5%, other 20.8%; seats by party - PS 108, PSD 79, B.E. 19, CDU 12, other 12; composition - men 158, women 72, percent of women 31.3% (e.g. 2019)" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PP [Assuncao CRISTAS] ++ Ecologist Party \"The Greens\" or \"Os Verdes\" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV [Heloisa APOLONIA] ++ People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN [Andre SILVA] ++ Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] ++ Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (original name Partido Popular Democratico) or PPD [Rui RIO] ++ Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS [Antonio COSTA] ++ The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco [Catarina MARTINS] ++ Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP and PEV)" + "text": "Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PP [Assuncao CRISTAS] ++ Ecologist Party \"The Greens\" or \"Os Verdes\" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV [Heloisa APOLONIA] ++ People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN [Andre SILVA] ++ Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] ++ Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (original name Partido Popular Democratico) or PPD [Rui RIO] ++ Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS [Antonio COSTA] ++ The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco [Catarina MARTINS] ++ Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP and PEV)" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" @@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ "text": "$218 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.7% (2017 est.) / 1.6% (2016 est.) / 1.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.24% (2019 est.) / 2.85% (2018 est.) / 3.51% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$30,500 (2017 est.) / $29,600 (2016 est.) / $29,100 (2015 est.)", @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ "text": "3.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "5.233 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "4.717 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "8.9% (2017 est.) / 11.1% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.55% (2019 est.) / 7.05% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "19% (2015 est.)" @@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ "text": "1.6% (2017 est.) / 0.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$993 million (2017 est.) / $1.218 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$203 million (2019 est.) / $988 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$61 billion (2017 est.) / $54.76 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -769,13 +769,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telephone system has a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities; FttP in 2020; 3G universal and 4G upgrades; regulator release 700MHz spectrum for 5G use; DSL moves to fiber services; FttP for over 5 million customers in 2020 providing national coverage; fiber subscriber base grows 24% in 2018; development in M-payment solutions (2020)" + "text": "telephone system has a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities; FttP in 2020; 3G universal and 4G upgrades; regulator release 700MHz spectrum for 5G use; DSL moves to fiber services; FttP for over 5 million customers in 2020 providing national coverage; fiber subscriber base grows 24% in 2018; development in M-payment solutions (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations; fixed-line 50 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 116 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 351; landing points for the Ella Link, BUGIO, EIG, SAT-3/WASC, SeaMeWe-3, Equino, MainOne, Tat TGN-Western Europe, WACS, ACE, Atlantis2 and Columbus-III submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2019)" + "text": "country code - 351; landing points for the Ella Link, BUGIO, EIG, SAT-3/WASC, SeaMeWe-3, Equino, MainOne, Tat TGN-Western Europe, WACS, ACE, Atlantis2 and Columbus-III submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ "text": "the Portuguese Armed Forces inventory includes mostly European and US-origin weapons systems along with a smaller mix of domestically-produced equipment; since 2010, Germany and the US are the leading suppliers of armaments to Portugal; Portugal's defense industry is primarily focused on shipbuilding (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "190 Afghanistan (NATO); 200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA/EUTM); up to 120 Baltic States (NATO) (April 2020)" + "text": "190 Afghanistan (NATO); 200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA/EUTM); up to 120 Baltic States (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service; no compulsory military service, but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1992, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; contract service lasts for an initial period from two to six years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service. Voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2017)" @@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "14 (2018)" + "text": "14 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/ri.json b/europe/ri.json index cb44b617..8e240ce4 100644 --- a/europe/ri.json +++ b/europe/ri.json @@ -466,10 +466,10 @@ "text": "last held on 21 June 2020 (originally scheduled for 26 April 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - For Our Children 60.7%, SPS-JS 10.4%, SPAS 3.8%, SVM 2.2%, Straight Ahead 1%, Albanian Democratic Alternative .8%, SDA .8%, other 20.3%; seats by party/coalition For Our Children 188, SPS-JS 32, SPAS 11, SVM 9, Straight Ahead 4, Albanian Democratic Alternative 3, SDA 3; composition (preliminary) -  men 165, women 85, percent of women 30%" + "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - For Our Children 60.7%, SPS-JS 10.4%, SPAS 3.8%, SVM 2.2%, Straight Ahead 1%, Albanian Democratic Alternative .8%, SDA .8%, other 20.3%; seats by party/coalition For Our Children 188, SPS-JS 32, SPAS 11, SVM 9, Straight Ahead 4, Albanian Democratic Alternative 3, SDA 3; composition (preliminary) - men 165, women 85, percent of women 30%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: seats by party as of May 2019  - SNS 91, SRS 22, SPS 20, DS 13, SDPS 10, PUPS 9, Dveri 6, JS 6, LDP 4, SDS 4, SVM 4, other 36, independent 25; composition - men 157, women 93, percent of women 37.2%" + "text": "note: seats by party as of May 2019 - SNS 91, SRS 22, SPS 20, DS 13, SDPS 10, PUPS 9, Dveri 6, JS 6, LDP 4, SDS 4, SVM 4, other 36, independent 25; composition - men 157, women 93, percent of women 37.2%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ "text": "Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of 36 judges, including the court president); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of  8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms" + "text": "Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of 8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "basic courts, higher courts, appellate courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, commercial courts, and misdemeanor courts" @@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ "text": "$41.43 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.9% (2017 est.) / 2.8% (2016 est.) / 0.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.18% (2019 est.) / 4.4% (2018 est.) / 2.05% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$15,100 (2017 est.) / $14,700 (2016 est.) / $14,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ "text": "3.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.92 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "3 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "Serbia's integration with the EU has helped regulator reforms and promotion of telecoms; wireless service is available through multiple providers; national coverage is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 4G/LTE mobile network launched; 5G trials; high mobile penetration the result of multiple SIM cards (2020)" + "text": "Serbia's integration with the EU has helped regulator reforms and promotion of telecoms; wireless service is available through multiple providers; national coverage is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications services are centered in urban centers; 4G/LTE mobile network launched; 5G trials; high mobile penetration the result of multiple SIM cards (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular 96 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Serbian Armed Forces consists of Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, most of its weapons imports have come from Russia, but it has also received equipment from Belarus (second-hand aircraft), Germany, Montenegro (second-hand aircraft), and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "175 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (March 2020)" + "text": "175 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished December 2010 (2019)" @@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "18,232 (Croatia), 8,270 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2018)" + "text": "17,972 (Croatia), 8,198 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2019)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "199,584 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2019)" diff --git a/europe/ro.json b/europe/ro.json index e5f5605b..0fd49dcf 100644 --- a/europe/ro.json +++ b/europe/ro.json @@ -426,15 +426,15 @@ "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament" }, "election results": { - "text": "Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Ludovic ORBAN approved as prime minister with 240 votes" + "text": "Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Ludovic ORBAN approved as prime minister with 240 votes" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (329 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)" + "text": "bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (329 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held on 11 December 2016 (next to be held on 6 December 2020) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 11 December 2016 (next to be held on 6 December 2020)" @@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ "text": "$211.9 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6.9% (2017 est.) / 4.8% (2016 est.) / 3.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.2% (2019 est.) / 4.54% (2018 est.) / 7.11% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$24,600 (2017 est.) / $22,900 (2016 est.) / $21,700 (2015 est.)", @@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ "text": "5.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "8.951 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "4.889 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.9% (2017 est.) / 5.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.06% (2019 est.) / 3.56% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "22.4% (2012 est.)" @@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ "text": "1.3% (2017 est.) / -1.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$7.114 billion (2017 est.) / -$3.93 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$11.389 billion (2019 est.) / -$10.78 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$64.58 billion (2017 est.) / $57.72 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Romanian Armed Forces is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older domestically-produced weapons systems; there is also a smaller mix of Western-origin equipment; Italy, Portugal (second-hand fighter aircraft), and the US are the leading suppliers of armaments to Romania since 2010 (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "740 Afghanistan (NATO); 220 Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM); up to 120 Poland (NATO) (March 2020)" + "text": "740 Afghanistan (NATO); 240 Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM); up to 120 Poland (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "conscription ended 2006; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2015)" @@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "227 (2018)" + "text": "192 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 6,038 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2020)" diff --git a/europe/si.json b/europe/si.json index a93818e7..96cae180 100644 --- a/europe/si.json +++ b/europe/si.json @@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-09 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition. ++   ++ In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in larger European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or reach 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019. ++   ++ Prime Minister CERAR's government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. Efforts to privatize Slovenia's largely state-owned banking sector have largely stalled, however, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits." + "text": "With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-09 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition. ++ ++ In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in larger European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or reach 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019. ++ ++ Prime Minister CERAR's government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. Efforts to privatize Slovenia's largely state-owned banking sector have largely stalled, however, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$71.23 billion (2017 est.) / $67.84 billion (2016 est.) / $65.77 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ "text": "$48.87 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "5% (2017 est.) / 3.1% (2016 est.) / 2.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.4% (2019 est.) / 4.24% (2018 est.) / 5.14% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$34,500 (2017 est.) / $32,900 (2016 est.) / $31,900 (2015 est.)", @@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ "text": "8.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "959,000 (2017 est.)" + "text": "885,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.6% (2017 est.) / 8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "7.64% (2019 est.) / 8.25% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "13.9% (2016 est.)" @@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ "text": "1.4% (2017 est.) / -0.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$3.475 billion (2017 est.) / $2.461 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$3.05 billion (2019 est.) / $3.17 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$32.14 billion (2017 est.) / $27.65 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "well-developed telecommunications infrastructure; four mobile network operators; increase in Internet community demanding e-govt., e-commerce and e-health; govt. funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate and therefore retaining customers with bundled products; regulatory intervention has improved telecommunications; trials for use of 5G; FttP to 90% of population by 2020 (2020)" + "text": "well-developed telecommunications infrastructure; four mobile network operators; increase in Internet community demanding e-govt., e-commerce and e-health; govt. funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate and therefore retaining customers with bundled products; regulatory intervention has improved telecommunications; trials for use of 5G; FttP to 90% of population by 2020 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular 121 per 100 teledensity (2019)" @@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Slovenian Armed Forces is a mix of Soviet-era and limited quantities of more modern Western equipment; since 2010, it has received weapons systems from Finland, Russia, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "230 Kosovo (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "230 Kosovo (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2013)" @@ -890,8 +890,11 @@ "text": "since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU; in June 2017 the arbitration panel issued a ruling on the border that Croatia has not implemented; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { + "stateless persons": { + "text": "5 (2019)" + }, "note": { - "text": "note:  516,394 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-September 2020); migration through the Western Balkans has decreased significantly since March 2016; Slovenia is predominantly a transit country and hosts approximately 300 asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018" + "text": "note: 516,394 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-September 2020); migration through the Western Balkans has decreased significantly since March 2016; Slovenia is predominantly a transit country and hosts approximately 300 asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/sm.json b/europe/sm.json index 107445f3..adbe624f 100644 --- a/europe/sm.json +++ b/europe/sm.json @@ -379,10 +379,10 @@ "text": "co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; election last held in March 2020 (next to be held in September 2020); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term; election last held on 28 December 2019 (next to be held by November 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Alessandro MANCINI (PSD) and Grazia ZAFFERANI (RETE Movement) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA; Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA" + "text": "Alessandro MANCINI (PSD) and Grazia ZAFFERANI (RETE Movement) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA; Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA" }, "note": { - "text": "note: the captains regent preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 7 other members who are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 7 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has some prime ministerial roles" + "text": "note: the captains regent preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 7 other members who are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 7 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has some prime ministerial roles" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ "text": "Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017)" }, "chancery": { - "text": "327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 ++ Embassy address:      1711 North Street, NW (2nd Floor) ++       Washington, DC 22036 ++ ++ ++" + "text": "327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 ++ Embassy address: 1711 North Street, NW (2nd Floor) ++ Washington, DC 22036 ++ ++ ++" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (212) 751-1234 ++ ++ [1] (202) 223-24l8 ++ [1] (202) 751-1436" @@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } } }, diff --git a/europe/sp.json b/europe/sp.json index 3959fcbd..f5af8e15 100644 --- a/europe/sp.json +++ b/europe/sp.json @@ -458,13 +458,13 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of: Senate or Senado (266 seats; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 58 members indirectly elected by the legislatures of the autonomous communities; members serve 4-year terms) ++ Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3% threshold needed to gain a seat, and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved)" + "text": "bicameral General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of: Senate or Senado (266 seats; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 58 members indirectly elected by the legislatures of the autonomous communities; members serve 4-year terms) ++ Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3% threshold needed to gain a seat, and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved)" }, "elections": { "text": "Senate - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than November 2023) ++ Congress of Deputies - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than November 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSOE 113, PP 97, ERC 15, EAJ/PNV 10, C's 9, other 22; composition - men 163, women 103; percent of women 39% ++ Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 28.7%, PP 20.8%,Vox 15.1%, Unidos Podemos 12.8%, C's 6.8%, ERC 3.6%, other 12.8%; seats by party - PSOE 120, PP 88, Vox 52,  Unidos Podemos 35, C's 10, ERC 13, other 23; composition - men 184, women 166; percent of women 47.4%; note - total  General Courts percent of women 43.7%" + "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSOE 113, PP 97, ERC 15, EAJ/PNV 10, C's 9, other 22; composition - men 163, women 103; percent of women 39% ++ Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 28.7%, PP 20.8%,Vox 15.1%, Unidos Podemos 12.8%, C's 6.8%, ERC 3.6%, other 12.8%; seats by party - PSOE 120, PP 88, Vox 52, Unidos Podemos 35, C's 10, ERC 13, other 23; composition - men 184, women 166; percent of women 47.4%; note - total General Courts percent of women 43.7%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Asturias Forum or FAC [Carmen MORIYON] ++ Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) ++ Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] ++ Canarian Coalition or CC [Ana ORAMAS] (coalition of 5 parties) ++ Junts per Catalunia or JxCat  [Carles PUIDGEMONT] ++ Ciudadanos Party or C's [Albert RIVERA] ++ Compromis - Communist Coalition [Joan BALDOVI] ++ New Canary or NCa [Pedro QUEVEDOS] ++ Unidas Podemos [Pablo IGLESIAS Turrion] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) ++ People's Party or PP [Pablo CASADO] ++ Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies] ++ Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Pedro SANCHEZ] ++ JxCat-Junts Together for Catalonia [Jordi SANCHEZ] ++ Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] ++ Navarra Suma (electoral Coaltion formed by Navarrese People's Union (UPN), Ciudadanos (C's), and the Popular Partty (PP) ahead of the 2019 election) ++ Vox or Vox [Santiago ABASCAL]" + "text": "Asturias Forum or FAC [Carmen MORIYON] ++ Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) ++ Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] ++ Canarian Coalition or CC [Ana ORAMAS] (coalition of 5 parties) ++ Junts per Catalunia or JxCat [Carles PUIDGEMONT] ++ Ciudadanos Party or C's [Albert RIVERA] ++ Compromis - Communist Coalition [Joan BALDOVI] ++ New Canary or NCa [Pedro QUEVEDOS] ++ Unidas Podemos [Pablo IGLESIAS Turrion] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) ++ People's Party or PP [Pablo CASADO] ++ Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies] ++ Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Pedro SANCHEZ] ++ JxCat-Junts Together for Catalonia [Jordi SANCHEZ] ++ Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] ++ Navarra Suma (electoral Coaltion formed by Navarrese People's Union (UPN), Ciudadanos (C's), and the Popular Partty (PP) ahead of the 2019 election) ++ Vox or Vox [Santiago ABASCAL]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" @@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ "text": "$1.314 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3% (2017 est.) / 3.2% (2016 est.) / 3.6% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.95% (2019 est.) / 2.43% (2018 est.) / 2.97% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$38,400 (2017 est.) / $37,200 (2016 est.) / $36,100 (2015 est.)", @@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ "text": "4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "22.75 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "19.057 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "17.2% (2017 est.) / 19.6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "14.13% (2019 est.) / 15.25% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "21.1% (2012 est.)" @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "text": "2% (2017 est.) / -0.2% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$24.74 billion (2017 est.) / $23.77 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$29.603 billion (2019 est.) / $27.206 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$313.7 billion (2017 est.) / $280.5 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -787,20 +787,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "well-developed, one of the largest telecom markets in Europe, average mobile penetration for Europe; LTE universal; launch of 5G services; regulator has championed competition; Chinese company Huawei contributes to the telecom sector; fiber broadband accounts for 62% of all fixed-line broadband connections (2020)" + "text": "well-developed, one of the largest telecom markets in Europe, average mobile penetration for Europe; LTE universal; launch of 5G services; regulator has championed competition; Chinese company Huawei contributes to the telecom sector; fiber broadband accounts for 62% of all fixed-line broadband connections (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 42 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 34; landing points for the MAREA, Tata TGN-Western Europe, Pencan-9, SAT-3/WASC, Canalink, Atlantis-2, Columbus -111, Estepona-Tetouan, FEA, Balalink, ORVAL and PENBAL-5 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2019)" + "text": "country code - 34; landing points for the MAREA, Tata TGN-Western Europe, Pencan-9, SAT-3/WASC, Canalink, Atlantis-2, Columbus -111, Estepona-Tetouan, FEA, Balalink, ORVAL and PENBAL-5 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations  (2019)" + "text": "a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".es" @@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ "Military and security forces": { "text": "Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE, includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) (2019)", "note": { - "text": "note: the Civil Guard is a military force with police duties (including coast guard) under both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior; it also responds to the needs of the Ministry of Finance" + "text": "note: the Civil Guard is a military force with police duties (including coast guard) under both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior; it also responds to the needs of the Ministry of Finance" } }, "Military expenditures": { @@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Spanish military is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; France, Germany, and the US are the leading suppliers of military hardware since 2010; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "350 Latvia (NATO); 630 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 550 Iraq (NATO, training mission, counter-ISIS coalition; scheduled for withdrawal in 2020); 290 Mali (EUTM); 150 Turkey (NATO) (March 2020)" + "text": "350 Latvia (NATO); 630 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 180 Mali (EUTM); 150 Turkey (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-26 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; no conscription, but Spanish Government retains right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; mandatory retirement of non-NCO enlisted personnel at age 45 or 58, depending on service length (2013)" @@ -965,10 +965,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "13,765 (Syria), 10,555 (Ukraine) (2018) note - estimate represents asylum applicants since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in 2014 to November 2018; 6,873 (Morocco) (2019); 16,540 (Venezuela) (2020) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" + "text": "14,133 (Syria) (2019); 16,540 (Venezuela) (2020) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "2,455 (2018)" + "text": "4,246 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: 184,338 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2020); 65,325 migrant arrivals in 2018" diff --git a/europe/sw.json b/europe/sw.json index ab61aa7e..3a7be049 100644 --- a/europe/sw.json +++ b/europe/sw.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden's population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 19.1% in 2018. ++  " + "text": "A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden's population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 19.1% in 2018. ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 10 October 2019) " + "text": "Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 10 October 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[46] (08) 783 53 00" @@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Sweden's small, open, and competitive economy has been thriving and Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Sweden remains outside the euro zone largely out of concern that joining the European Economic and Monetary Union would diminish the country's sovereignty over its welfare system. ++   ++ Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of a manufacturing economy that relies heavily on foreign trade. Exports, including engines and other machines, motor vehicles, and telecommunications equipment, account for more than 44% of GDP. Sweden enjoys a current account surplus of about 5% of GDP, which is one of the highest margins in Europe. ++   ++ GDP grew an estimated 3.3% in 2016 and 2017 driven largely by investment in the construction sector. Swedish economists expect economic growth to ease slightly in the coming years as this investment subsides. Global economic growth boosted exports of Swedish manufactures further, helping drive domestic economic growth in 2017. The Central Bank is keeping an eye on deflationary pressures and bank observers expect it to maintain an expansionary monetary policy in 2018. Swedish prices and wages have grown only slightly over the past few years, helping to support the country's competitiveness. ++   ++ In the short and medium term, Sweden's economic challenges include providing affordable housing and successfully integrating migrants into the labor market." + "text": "Sweden's small, open, and competitive economy has been thriving and Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Sweden remains outside the euro zone largely out of concern that joining the European Economic and Monetary Union would diminish the country's sovereignty over its welfare system. ++ ++ Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of a manufacturing economy that relies heavily on foreign trade. Exports, including engines and other machines, motor vehicles, and telecommunications equipment, account for more than 44% of GDP. Sweden enjoys a current account surplus of about 5% of GDP, which is one of the highest margins in Europe. ++ ++ GDP grew an estimated 3.3% in 2016 and 2017 driven largely by investment in the construction sector. Swedish economists expect economic growth to ease slightly in the coming years as this investment subsides. Global economic growth boosted exports of Swedish manufactures further, helping drive domestic economic growth in 2017. The Central Bank is keeping an eye on deflationary pressures and bank observers expect it to maintain an expansionary monetary policy in 2018. Swedish prices and wages have grown only slightly over the past few years, helping to support the country's competitiveness. ++ ++ In the short and medium term, Sweden's economic challenges include providing affordable housing and successfully integrating migrants into the labor market." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$518 billion (2017 est.) / $507.3 billion (2016 est.) / $494 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ "text": "$535.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.1% (2017 est.) / 2.7% (2016 est.) / 4.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.29% (2019 est.) / 2.06% (2018 est.) / 2.82% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$51,200 (2017 est.) / $50,800 (2016 est.) / $50,100 (2015 est.)", @@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ "text": "4.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "5.361 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "5.029 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.7% (2017 est.) / 7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.78% (2019 est.) / 6.33% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "15% (2014 est.)" @@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ "text": "1.9% (2017 est.) / 1.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$17.79 billion (2017 est.) / $21.84 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$22.339 billion (2019 est.) / $13.902 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$165.6 billion (2017 est.) / $151.4 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular 126 per 100; coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 46; landing points for Botina, SFL, SFS-4, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, Eastern Light, Sweden-Latvia, BCS North-Phase1, EE-S1, LV-SE1, BCS East-West Interlink, NordBalt, Baltica, Denmark-Sweden-15,-17,-18, Scandinavian Ring -North,-South, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Donica North, Kattegate-1,-2, Energinet Laeso-Varberg and GC2 submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 46; landing points for Botina, SFL, SFS-4, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, Eastern Light, Sweden-Latvia, BCS North-Phase1, EE-S1, LV-SE1, BCS East-West Interlink, NordBalt, Baltica, Denmark-Sweden-15,-17,-18, Scandinavian Ring -North,-South, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Donica North, Kattegate-1,-2, Energinet Laeso-Varberg and GC2 submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Swedish Armed Forces is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of military hardware to Sweden, followed by France and Germany; Sweden's defense industry is capable of providing most of the military's equipment requirements, including advanced aircraft and submarines (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "200 Mali (MINUSMA and EUTM; plans to send an additional 150 personnel to the Sahel/Mali in early 2021) (Aug 2020)" + "text": "200 Mali (MINUSMA and EUTM; plans to send an additional 150 personnel to the Sahel/Mali in early 2021) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both female and male (age 18), and requires 9-12 months of service (2018)" @@ -906,10 +906,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "109,343 (Syria), 27,653 (Eritrea), 28,204 (Afghanistan), 21,032 (Somalia), 12,693 (Iraq), 6,485 (Iran) (2018)" + "text": "113,418 (Syria), 27,933 (Eritrea), 30,546 (Afghanistan), 17,593 (Somalia), 12,460 (Iraq), 7,408 (Iran) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "31,819 (2018); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia" + "text": "30,305 (2019); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia" } } } diff --git a/europe/sz.json b/europe/sz.json index 7985f5a9..aa5074f4 100644 --- a/europe/sz.json +++ b/europe/sz.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country 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. ++  " + "text": "The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country 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. ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October" }, "note": { - "text": "etymology: origin of the name is uncertain, but may derive from a 2nd century B.C. Celtic place name, possibly \"berna\" meaning \"cleft,\" that was subsequently adopted by a Roman settlement  " + "text": "etymology: origin of the name is uncertain, but may derive from a 2nd century B.C. Celtic place name, possibly \"berna\" meaning \"cleft,\" that was subsequently adopted by a Roman settlement" } }, "Administrative divisions": { @@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ "text": "previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000" }, "amendments": { - "text": "proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the \"federal popular initiative\"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2018 (2020)" + "text": "proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the \"federal popular initiative\"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2018 (2020)" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -403,19 +403,19 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2020; Vice President Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2020); note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president (chief of state and head of government)" + "text": "President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2020; Vice President Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2020); note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president (chief of state and head of government)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2020; Vice President Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2020)" + "text": "President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2020; Vice President Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 11 December 2019 (next to be held in December 2020)" + "text": "president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 11 December 2019 (next to be held in December 2020)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Simonetta SOMMARUGA elected president; Federal Assembly vote - 192 of 205; Guy PARMELIN elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 191 of 204" + "text": "Simonetta SOMMARUGA elected president; Federal Assembly vote - 192 of 205; Guy PARMELIN elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 191 of 204" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ "text": "$679 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.7% (2017 est.) / 1.6% (2016 est.) / 1.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.11% (2019 est.) / 3.04% (2018 est.) / 1.65% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$62,100 (2017 est.) / $61,800 (2016 est.) / $61,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ "text": "3.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "5.159 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "5.067 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.2% (2017 est.) / 3.3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "2.31% (2019 est.) / 2.55% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "6.6% (2014 est.)" @@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ "text": "0.5% (2017 est.) / -0.4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$66.55 billion (2017 est.) / $63.16 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$79.937 billion (2019 est.) / $63.273 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$313.5 billion (2017 est.) / $318.1 billion (2016 est.)", @@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with extensive domestic and international services; one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Europe; although not a member of the EU, Switzerland follows the EU's telecom framework, and regulations; expansive cable broadband network with effective cross-platform competition; despite the countries expansion of 5G services, and switching off 2G infrastructure, the Environmental Agency has raised concern regarding the 2,000 5G mobile antennas and asked the govt. to halt 5G transmissions, the developers of the 5G infrastructure are allowed to continue with future checks to be studied of the health implications of the radio frequency radiation; regulator auction of 5G spectrum (2020)" + "text": "highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with extensive domestic and international services; one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Europe; although not a member of the EU, Switzerland follows the EU's telecom framework, and regulations; expansive cable broadband network with effective cross-platform competition; despite the countries expansion of 5G services, and switching off 2G infrastructure, the Environmental Agency has raised concern regarding the 2,000 5G mobile antennas and asked the govt. to halt 5G transmissions, the developers of the 5G infrastructure are allowed to continue with future checks to be studied of the health implications of the radio frequency radiation; regulator auction of 5G spectrum (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; fixed-line 36 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership 127 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks (2019)" @@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ "text": "the Swiss Armed Forces inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems; the US is the leading supplier of military armaments to Switzerland since 2010; the Swiss defense industry produces a range of military land vehicles (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "165 Kosovo (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "165 Kosovo (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-30 years of age generally for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; every Swiss male has to serve at least 245 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by six 19-day intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2019)" @@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "34,072 (Eritrea), 16,565 (Syria), 12,282 (Afghanistan), 5,744 (Sri Lanka) (2018)" + "text": "36,698 (Eritrea), 18,755 (Syria), 13,455 (Afghanistan), 5,819 (Sri Lanka) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "49 (2018)" diff --git a/europe/uk.json b/europe/uk.json index b53ad708..a4d78afe 100644 --- a/europe/uk.json +++ b/europe/uk.json @@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ } }, "Administrative divisions": { - "text": "England: 26 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*); ++ two-tier counties: Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire ++ London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster ++ metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton ++ unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York ++ Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils; ++ borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim ++ district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down ++ city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh ++ Scotland: 32 council areas; ++ council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian ++ Wales: 22 unitary authorities; ++ unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham" + "text": "England: 26 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*); ++ two-tier counties: Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire ++ London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster ++ metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton ++ unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York ++ Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils; ++ borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim ++ district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down ++ city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh ++ Scotland: 32 council areas; ++ council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian ++ Wales: 22 unitary authorities; ++ unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham" }, "Dependent areas": { "text": "Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands" @@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) [Naomi LONG]  ++ Brexit Party [Nigel FARAGE] ++ Conservative and Unionist Party [Boris JOHNSON] ++ Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [Arlene FOSTER] ++ Green Party of England and Wales or Greens [Sian BERRY and Jonathan BARTLEY] ++ Labor (Labour) Party [Sir Keir STARMER] ++ Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Ed Davey] ++ Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Adam PRICE] ++ Scottish National Party or SNP [Nicola STURGEON] ++ Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Mary Lou MCDONALD] ++ Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Colum EASTWOOD] ++ Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) [Robin SWANN] ++ UK Independence Party or UKIP [Pat MOUNTAIN, interim leader]" + "text": "Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) [Naomi LONG] ++ Brexit Party [Nigel FARAGE] ++ Conservative and Unionist Party [Boris JOHNSON] ++ Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [Arlene FOSTER] ++ Green Party of England and Wales or Greens [Sian BERRY and Jonathan BARTLEY] ++ Labor (Labour) Party [Sir Keir STARMER] ++ Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Ed Davey] ++ Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Adam PRICE] ++ Scottish National Party or SNP [Nicola STURGEON] ++ Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Mary Lou MCDONALD] ++ Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Colum EASTWOOD] ++ Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) [Robin SWANN] ++ UK Independence Party or UKIP [Pat MOUNTAIN, interim leader]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" @@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ "text": "[44] 20-7499-9000" }, "embassy": { - "text": "33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US United Kingdom" + "text": "33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US or SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode)" }, "mailing address": { "text": "PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040" @@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third largest economy in Europe after Germany and France. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining; the UK has been a net importer of energy since 2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP growth. Manufacturing, meanwhile, has declined in importance but still accounts for about 10% of economic output. ++   ++ In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK's economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government. However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% GDP at the end of 2017. ++   ++ The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016. A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports. The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services. The UK is slated to leave the EU at the end of January 2020." + "text": "The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third largest economy in Europe after Germany and France. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining; the UK has been a net importer of energy since 2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP growth. Manufacturing, meanwhile, has declined in importance but still accounts for about 10% of economic output. ++ ++ In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK's economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government. However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% GDP at the end of 2017. ++ ++ The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016. A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports. The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services. The UK is slated to leave the EU at the end of January 2020." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$2.925 trillion (2017 est.) / $2.877 trillion (2016 est.) / $2.827 trillion (2015 est.)", @@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ "text": "$2.628 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.7% (2017 est.) / 1.8% (2016 est.) / 2.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.26% (2019 est.) / 1.25% (2018 est.) / 1.74% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$44,300 (2017 est.) / $43,800 (2016 est.) / $43,400 (2015 est.)", @@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ "text": "3.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "33.5 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "16.033 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.4% (2017 est.) / 4.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.17% (2019 est.) / 2.51% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "15% (2013 est.)" @@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ "text": "2.7% (2017 est.) / 0.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$99.21 billion (2017 est.) / -$139.3 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$121.921 billion (2019 est.) / -$104.927 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$441.2 billion (2017 est.) / $407.3 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -758,13 +758,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "technologically advanced domestic and international system; one of the largest mobile and telecom markets in Europe for revenue and subscribers; will complete the switch to fiber by 2033; mobile penetration above the EU average; govt. to invest in fiber infrastructure and 5G technologies; operators expanded the reach of 5G services; FttP provided to over a million customers; super-fast broadband available to about 95% of customers (2020)" + "text": "technologically advanced domestic and international system; one of the largest mobile and telecom markets in Europe for revenue and subscribers; will complete the switch to fiber by 2033; mobile penetration above the EU average; govt. to invest in fiber infrastructure and 5G technologies; operators expanded the reach of 5G services; FttP provided to over a million customers; super-fast broadband available to about 95% of customers (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems; fixed-line 48 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 44; Landing points for the GTT Atlantic, Scotland-Northern Ireland -1, & -2, Lanis 1,-2, &-3, Sirius North, BT-MT-1, SHEFA-2, BT Highlands and Islands Submarine Cable System, Northern Lights, FARICE-1, Celtic Norse, Tampnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, CC-2, E-LLan, Sirius South, ESAT -1 & -2, Rockabill, Geo-Eirgrid, UK-Netherlands-14, Circle North & South, Ulysses2, Conceto, Farland North, Pan European Crossing, Solas, Swansea-Bream, GTT Express, Tata TGN-Atlantic & -Western Europe, Apollo, EIG, Glo-1, TAT-14, Yellow, Celtic, FLAG Atlantic-1, FEA, Isle of Scilly Cable, UK-Channel Islands-8 and SeaMeWe-3 submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers (2018)" + "text": "country code - 44; Landing points for the GTT Atlantic, Scotland-Northern Ireland -1, & -2, Lanis 1,-2, &-3, Sirius North, BT-MT-1, SHEFA-2, BT Highlands and Islands Submarine Cable System, Northern Lights, FARICE-1, Celtic Norse, Tampnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, CC-2, E-LLan, Sirius South, ESAT -1 & -2, Rockabill, Geo-Eirgrid, UK-Netherlands-14, Circle North & South, Ulysses2, Conceto, Farland North, Pan European Crossing, Solas, Swansea-Bream, GTT Express, Tata TGN-Atlantic & -Western Europe, Apollo, EIG, Glo-1, TAT-14, Yellow, Celtic, FLAG Atlantic-1, FEA, Isle of Scilly Cable, UK-Channel Islands-8 and SeaMeWe-3 submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers (2018)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ } }, "Transportation - note": { - "text": "begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe" + "text": "begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe" } }, "Military and Security": { @@ -941,10 +941,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "17,231 (Iran), 13,041 (Eritrea), 9,839 (Afghanistan), 9,720 (Syria), 8,959 (Sudan), 7,742 (Pakistan), 6,772 (Zimbabwe), 5,711 (Sri Lanka) (2018)" + "text": "19,744 (Iran), 13,755 (Eritrea), 10,575 (Sudan), 10,389 (Syria), 9,513 (Afghanistan), 8,164 (Pakistan), 5,522 (Sri Lanka) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "125 (2018)" + "text": "161 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/europe/up.json b/europe/up.json index 03f55ff9..19561a93 100644 --- a/europe/up.json +++ b/europe/up.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and endured a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. ++ A peaceful mass protest referred to as the \"Orange Revolution\" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary (Rada) elections, become prime minister in August 2006, and be elected president in February 2010. In October 2012, Ukraine held Rada elections, widely criticized by Western observers as flawed due to use of government resources to favor ruling party candidates, interference with media access, and harassment of opposition candidates. President YANUKOVYCH's backtracking on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU in November 2013 - in favor of closer economic ties with Russia - and subsequent use of force against students, civil society activists, and other civilians in favor of the agreement led to a three-month protest occupation of Kyiv's central square. The government's use of violence to break up the protest camp in February 2014 led to all out pitched battles, scores of deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president's abrupt departure for Russia. New elections in the spring allowed pro-West president Petro POROSHENKO to assume office in June 2014; he was succeeded by Volodymyr ZELENSKY in May 2019. ++ Shortly after YANUKOVYCH's departure in late February 2014, Russian President PUTIN ordered the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula falsely claiming the action was to protect ethnic Russians living there. Two weeks later, a \"referendum\" was held regarding the integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation. The \"referendum\" was condemned as illegitimate by the Ukrainian Government, the EU, the US, and the UN General Assembly (UNGA). In response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, 100 members of the UN passed UNGA resolution 68/262, rejecting the \"referendum\" as baseless and invalid and confirming the sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In mid-2014, Russia began supplying proxies in two of Ukraine's eastern provinces with manpower, funding, and materiel driving an armed conflict with the Ukrainian Government that continues to this day. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the unrecognized Russian proxy republics signed the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum in September 2014 to end the conflict. However, this agreement failed to stop the fighting or find a political solution. In a renewed attempt to alleviate ongoing clashes, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany negotiated a follow-on Package of Measures in February 2015 to implement the Minsk agreements. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the unrecognized Russian proxy republics, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also meet regularly to facilitate implementation of the peace deal. More than 13,000 civilians have been killed or wounded as a result of the Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine. ++   ++  " + "text": "Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and endured a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. ++ A peaceful mass protest referred to as the \"Orange Revolution\" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary (Rada) elections, become prime minister in August 2006, and be elected president in February 2010. In October 2012, Ukraine held Rada elections, widely criticized by Western observers as flawed due to use of government resources to favor ruling party candidates, interference with media access, and harassment of opposition candidates. President YANUKOVYCH's backtracking on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU in November 2013 - in favor of closer economic ties with Russia - and subsequent use of force against students, civil society activists, and other civilians in favor of the agreement led to a three-month protest occupation of Kyiv's central square. The government's use of violence to break up the protest camp in February 2014 led to all out pitched battles, scores of deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president's abrupt departure for Russia. New elections in the spring allowed pro-West president Petro POROSHENKO to assume office in June 2014; he was succeeded by Volodymyr ZELENSKY in May 2019. ++ Shortly after YANUKOVYCH's departure in late February 2014, Russian President PUTIN ordered the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula falsely claiming the action was to protect ethnic Russians living there. Two weeks later, a \"referendum\" was held regarding the integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation. The \"referendum\" was condemned as illegitimate by the Ukrainian Government, the EU, the US, and the UN General Assembly (UNGA). In response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, 100 members of the UN passed UNGA resolution 68/262, rejecting the \"referendum\" as baseless and invalid and confirming the sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In mid-2014, Russia began supplying proxies in two of Ukraine's eastern provinces with manpower, funding, and materiel driving an armed conflict with the Ukrainian Government that continues to this day. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the unrecognized Russian proxy republics signed the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum in September 2014 to end the conflict. However, this agreement failed to stop the fighting or find a political solution. In a renewed attempt to alleviate ongoing clashes, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany negotiated a follow-on Package of Measures in February 2015 to implement the Minsk agreements. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the unrecognized Russian proxy republics, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also meet regularly to facilitate implementation of the peace deal. More than 13,000 civilians have been killed or wounded as a result of the Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine. ++ ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ } }, "Religions": { - "text": "Orthodox (includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish (2013 est.)", + "text": "Orthodox (includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish (2013 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note: Ukraine's population is overwhelmingly Christian; the vast majority - up to two thirds - identify themselves as Orthodox, but many do not specify a particular branch; the OCU and the UOC-MP each represent less than a quarter of the country's population, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church accounts for 8-10%, and the UAOC accounts for 1-2%; Muslim and Jewish adherents each compose less than 1% of the total population" + "text": "note: Ukraine's population is overwhelmingly Christian; the vast majority - up to two thirds - identify themselves as Orthodox, but many do not specify a particular branch; the OCU and the UOC-MP each represent less than a quarter of the country's population, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church accounts for 8-10%, and the UAOC accounts for 1-2%; Muslim and Jewish adherents each compose less than 1% of the total population" } }, "Age structure": { @@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ "text": "Supreme Court of Ukraine or SCU (consists of 100 judges, organized into civil, criminal, commercial and administrative chambers, and a grand chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of 18 justices); High Anti-Corruption Court (consists of 39 judges, including 12 in the Appeals Chamber)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Supreme Court judges recommended by the High Qualification Commission of Judges (a 16-member state body responsible for judicial candidate testing and assessment and judicial administration), submitted to the High Council of Justice, a 21-member independent body of judicial officials responsible for judicial self-governance and administration, and appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; High Anti-Corruption Court judges are selected by the same process as Supreme Court justices, with one addition – a majority of a combined High Qualification Commission of Judges and a 6-member Public Council of International Experts must vote in favor of potential judges in order to recommend their nomination to the High Council of Justice; this majority must include at least 3 members of the Public Council of International Experts; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 6 each by the president, by the Congress of Judges, and by the Verkhovna Rada; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms  " + "text": "Supreme Court judges recommended by the High Qualification Commission of Judges (a 16-member state body responsible for judicial candidate testing and assessment and judicial administration), submitted to the High Council of Justice, a 21-member independent body of judicial officials responsible for judicial self-governance and administration, and appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; High Anti-Corruption Court judges are selected by the same process as Supreme Court justices, with one addition – a majority of a combined High Qualification Commission of Judges and a 6-member Public Council of International Experts must vote in favor of potential judges in order to recommend their nomination to the High Council of Justice; this majority must include at least 3 members of the Public Council of International Experts; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 6 each by the president, by the Congress of Judges, and by the Verkhovna Rada; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Courts of Appeal; district courts" @@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "After Russia, the Ukrainian Republic was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil accounted for more than one fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied unique equipment such as large diameter pipes and vertical drilling apparatus, and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. ++   ++ Shortly after independence in August 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms to foster economic growth. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy. From 2000 until mid-2008, Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president. The economy contracted nearly 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances in the world. In April 2010, Ukraine negotiated a price discount on Russian gas imports in exchange for extending Russia's lease on its naval base in Crimea. ++   ++ Ukraine's oligarch-dominated economy grew slowly from 2010 to 2013 but remained behind peers in the region and among Europe's poorest. After former President YANUKOVYCH fled the country during the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine's economy fell into crisis because of Russia's annexation of Crimea, military conflict in the eastern part of the country, and a trade war with Russia, resulting in a 17% decline in GDP, inflation at nearly 60%, and dwindling foreign currency reserves. The international community began efforts to stabilize the Ukrainian economy, including a March 2014 IMF assistance package of $17.5 billion, of which Ukraine has received four disbursements, most recently in April 2017, bringing the total disbursed as of that date to approximately $8.4 billion. Ukraine has made progress on reforms designed to make the country prosperous, democratic, and transparent, including creation of a national anti-corruption agency, overhaul of the banking sector, establishment of a transparent VAT refund system, and increased transparency in government procurement. But more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, improving the business environment to attract foreign investment, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and land reform. The fifth tranche of the IMF program, valued at $1.9 billion, was delayed in mid-2017 due to lack of progress on outstanding reforms, including adjustment of gas tariffs to import parity levels and adoption of legislation establishing an independent anti-corruption court. ++   ++ Russia's occupation of Crimea in March 2014 and ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine have hurt economic growth. With the loss of a major portion of Ukraine's heavy industry in Donbas and ongoing violence, the economy contracted by 6.6% in 2014 and by 9.8% in 2015, but it returned to low growth in in 2016 and 2017, reaching 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively, as key reforms took hold. Ukraine also redirected trade activity towards the EU following the implementation of a bilateral Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, displacing Russia as its largest trading partner. A prohibition on commercial trade with separatist-controlled territories in early 2017 has not impacted Ukraine's key industrial sectors as much as expected, largely because of favorable external conditions. Ukraine returned to international debt markets in September 2017, issuing a $3 billion sovereign bond." + "text": "After Russia, the Ukrainian Republic was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil accounted for more than one fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied unique equipment such as large diameter pipes and vertical drilling apparatus, and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. ++ ++ Shortly after independence in August 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms to foster economic growth. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy. From 2000 until mid-2008, Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president. The economy contracted nearly 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances in the world. In April 2010, Ukraine negotiated a price discount on Russian gas imports in exchange for extending Russia's lease on its naval base in Crimea. ++ ++ Ukraine's oligarch-dominated economy grew slowly from 2010 to 2013 but remained behind peers in the region and among Europe's poorest. After former President YANUKOVYCH fled the country during the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine's economy fell into crisis because of Russia's annexation of Crimea, military conflict in the eastern part of the country, and a trade war with Russia, resulting in a 17% decline in GDP, inflation at nearly 60%, and dwindling foreign currency reserves. The international community began efforts to stabilize the Ukrainian economy, including a March 2014 IMF assistance package of $17.5 billion, of which Ukraine has received four disbursements, most recently in April 2017, bringing the total disbursed as of that date to approximately $8.4 billion. Ukraine has made progress on reforms designed to make the country prosperous, democratic, and transparent, including creation of a national anti-corruption agency, overhaul of the banking sector, establishment of a transparent VAT refund system, and increased transparency in government procurement. But more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, improving the business environment to attract foreign investment, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and land reform. The fifth tranche of the IMF program, valued at $1.9 billion, was delayed in mid-2017 due to lack of progress on outstanding reforms, including adjustment of gas tariffs to import parity levels and adoption of legislation establishing an independent anti-corruption court. ++ ++ Russia's occupation of Crimea in March 2014 and ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine have hurt economic growth. With the loss of a major portion of Ukraine's heavy industry in Donbas and ongoing violence, the economy contracted by 6.6% in 2014 and by 9.8% in 2015, but it returned to low growth in in 2016 and 2017, reaching 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively, as key reforms took hold. Ukraine also redirected trade activity towards the EU following the implementation of a bilateral Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, displacing Russia as its largest trading partner. A prohibition on commercial trade with separatist-controlled territories in early 2017 has not impacted Ukraine's key industrial sectors as much as expected, largely because of favorable external conditions. Ukraine returned to international debt markets in September 2017, issuing a $3 billion sovereign bond." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$369.6 billion (2017 est.) / $360.5 billion (2016 est.) / $351.9 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ "text": "$112.1 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.5% (2017 est.) / 2.4% (2016 est.) / -9.8% (2015 est.)" + "text": "3.24% (2019 est.) / 3.41% (2018 est.) / 2.48% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$8,800 (2017 est.) / $8,500 (2016 est.) / $8,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "9.2% (2017 est.) / 9.3% (2016 est.)", + "text": "8.89% (2019 est.) / 9.42% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: officially registered workers; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers" } @@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ } }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.088 billion (2017 est.) / -$1.394 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$4.124 billion (2019 est.) / -$6.432 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$39.69 billion (2017 est.) / $33.56 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecommunication development plan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile-cellular system; Turkey and Russia have made investments to Ukraine's telecom market; competition available between 3 alternative operators moving from 3G services, but some areas still use 2G; LTE services available in some areas; FttP networks taking over DSL platforms; political tensions have not added to growth and telecom regulators must not count Crimea numbers (Annexed by Russia in 2014); mobile broadband services present a growth opportunity (2020)" + "text": "telecommunication development plan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile-cellular system; Turkey and Russia have made investments to Ukraine's telecom market; competition available between 3 alternative operators moving from 3G services, but some areas still use 2G; LTE services available in some areas; FttP networks taking over DSL platforms; political tensions have not added to growth and telecom regulators must not count Crimea numbers (Annexed by Russia in 2014); mobile broadband services present a growth opportunity (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 10 per 100; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansion has slowed, largely due to saturation of the market that is now 131 mobile phones per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "Ukraine's media landscape is dominated by oligarch-owned news outlets, which are often politically motivated and at odds with one another and/or the government; while polls suggest most Ukrainians still receive news from traditional media sources, social media is a crucial component of information dissemination in Ukraine; almost all Ukrainian politicians and opinion leaders communicate with the public via social media and maintain at least one social media page, if not more; this allows them direct communication with audiences, and news often breaks on Facebook or Twitter before being picked up by traditional news outlets ++ Ukraine television serves as the principal source of news; the largest national networks are controlled by oligarchs: TRK Ukraina is owned by Rinat Akhmetov; Studio 1+1 is owned by Ihor Kolomoyskyy; Inter is owned by Dmytro Firtash and Serhiy Lyovochkin; and StarlightMedia channels (ICTV, STB, and Novyi Kanal) are owned by Victor Pinchuk;  a set of 24-hour news channels also have clear political affiliations: 112-Ukraine and NewsOne tacitly support pro-Russian opposition and are believed to be controlled by political and business tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk; pro-Ukrainian government Channel 5 and Pryamyi are linked to President Petro Poroshenko; 24 and ZIK are owned by opposition, but not pro-Russian, politicians; UA: Suspilne is a public television station under the umbrella of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine; while it is often praised by media experts for balanced coverage, it lags in popularity; Ukrainian Radio, institutionally linked to UA: Suspilne, is one of only two national talk radio networks, with the other being the privately owned Radio NV (2019)" + "text": "Ukraine's media landscape is dominated by oligarch-owned news outlets, which are often politically motivated and at odds with one another and/or the government; while polls suggest most Ukrainians still receive news from traditional media sources, social media is a crucial component of information dissemination in Ukraine; almost all Ukrainian politicians and opinion leaders communicate with the public via social media and maintain at least one social media page, if not more; this allows them direct communication with audiences, and news often breaks on Facebook or Twitter before being picked up by traditional news outlets ++ Ukraine television serves as the principal source of news; the largest national networks are controlled by oligarchs: TRK Ukraina is owned by Rinat Akhmetov; Studio 1+1 is owned by Ihor Kolomoyskyy; Inter is owned by Dmytro Firtash and Serhiy Lyovochkin; and StarlightMedia channels (ICTV, STB, and Novyi Kanal) are owned by Victor Pinchuk; a set of 24-hour news channels also have clear political affiliations: 112-Ukraine and NewsOne tacitly support pro-Russian opposition and are believed to be controlled by political and business tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk; pro-Ukrainian government Channel 5 and Pryamyi are linked to President Petro Poroshenko; 24 and ZIK are owned by opposition, but not pro-Russian, politicians; UA: Suspilne is a public television station under the umbrella of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine; while it is often praised by media experts for balanced coverage, it lags in popularity; Ukrainian Radio, institutionally linked to UA: Suspilne, is one of only two national talk radio networks, with the other being the privately owned Radio NV (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ua" @@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ } }, "Communications - note": { - "text": "a sorting code to expeditiously handle large volumes of mail was first set up in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union) in the 1930s; the sophisticated, three-part (number-letter-number) postal code system, referred to as an \"index,\" was the world's first postal zip code; the system functioned well and was in use from 1932 to 1939 when it was abruptly discontinued" + "text": "a sorting code to expeditiously handle large volumes of mail was first set up in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union) in the 1930s; the sophisticated, three-part (number-letter-number) postal code system, referred to as an \"index,\" was the world's first postal zip code; the system functioned well and was in use from 1932 to 1939 when it was abruptly discontinued" } }, "Transportation": { @@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Armed Forces of Ukraine (Zbroyni Syly Ukrayiny, ZSU): Ground Forces (Sukhoputni Viys'ka), Naval Forces (Viys'kovo-Mors'ki Syly, VMS), Air Forces (Povitryani Syly, PS), Air Assault Forces (Desantno-shturmovi Viyska, DShV);  Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (includes Maritime Border Guard) (2020)" + "text": "Armed Forces of Ukraine (Zbroyni Syly Ukrayiny, ZSU): Ground Forces (Sukhoputni Viys'ka), Naval Forces (Viys'kovo-Mors'ki Syly, VMS), Air Forces (Povitryani Syly, PS), Air Assault Forces (Desantno-shturmovi Viyska, DShV); Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (includes Maritime Border Guard) (2020)" }, "Military expenditures": { "text": "3.9% of GDP (2019) / 3.7% of GDP (2018) / 2.9% of GDP (2017) / 3.2% of GDP (2016) / 3.3% of GDP (2015)" @@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ "text": "734,000 (Russian-sponsored separatist violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "35,650 (2018); note - citizens of the former USSR who were permanently resident in Ukraine were granted citizenship upon Ukraine's independence in 1991, but some missed this window of opportunity; people arriving after 1991, Crimean Tatars, ethnic Koreans, people with expired Soviet passports, and people with no documents have difficulty acquiring Ukrainian citizenship; following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, thousands of Crimean Tatars and their descendants deported from Ukraine under the STALIN regime returned to their homeland, some being stateless and others holding the citizenship of Uzbekistan or other former Soviet republics; a 1998 bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Uzbekistan simplified the process of renouncing Uzbek citizenship and obtaining Ukrainian citizenship" + "text": "35,642 (2019); note - citizens of the former USSR who were permanently resident in Ukraine were granted citizenship upon Ukraine's independence in 1991, but some missed this window of opportunity; people arriving after 1991, Crimean Tatars, ethnic Koreans, people with expired Soviet passports, and people with no documents have difficulty acquiring Ukrainian citizenship; following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, thousands of Crimean Tatars and their descendants deported from Ukraine under the STALIN regime returned to their homeland, some being stateless and others holding the citizenship of Uzbekistan or other former Soviet republics; a 1998 bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Uzbekistan simplified the process of renouncing Uzbek citizenship and obtaining Ukrainian citizenship" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/europe/vt.json b/europe/vt.json index b75eb33a..de745eef 100644 --- a/europe/vt.json +++ b/europe/vt.json @@ -365,6 +365,13 @@ "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar - / 0.885 (2017 est.) / 0.903 (2016 est.) / 0.9214 (2015 est.) / 0.885 (2014 est.) / 0.7634 (2013 est.)" } }, + "Energy": { + "Electricity access": { + "electrification - total population": { + "text": "100% (2020)" + } + } + }, "Communications": { "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { diff --git a/middle-east/ae.json b/middle-east/ae.json index c893d89b..7b04b9a5 100644 --- a/middle-east/ae.json +++ b/middle-east/ae.json @@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ "Religions": { "text": "Muslim (official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15% (2005 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data" + "text": "note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data" } }, "Age structure": { @@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 2 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)" + "text": "President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 2 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009)" @@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ "text": "[971] (2) 414-2200" }, "embassy": { - "text": "Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi" + "text": "Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi" }, "mailing address": { "text": "P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi" @@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2017)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,13 +766,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai; 5G capabilities launched in 2019; two operators are competitive, but majority owned by the government; HSPA (high speed packet access) + LTE networks cover most of the population; low cost smart phones readily available; mobile penetration levels among the world's highest; well-established fiber-broadband network provides future growth (2020)" + "text": "modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai; 5G capabilities launched in 2019; two operators are competitive, but majority owned by the government; HSPA (high speed packet access) + LTE networks cover most of the population; low cost smart phones readily available; mobile penetration levels among the world's highest; well-established fiber-broadband network provides future growth (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable; fixed-line 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular 201 per 100 (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020)" + "text": "country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ "text": "the UAE Armed Forces inventory is comprised of mostly modern imported equipment; since 2010, the UAE has acquired military equipment from more than 20 countries with the US as the leading supplier, followed by France and Russia (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "est. 1,000 Eritrea; est. 3-4,000 Yemen (2019 est.)" + "text": "est. 1,000 Eritrea; est. 3-4,000 Yemen; maintains a military base in the Eritrean port of Assab (2019)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 24-month general service obligation, 16 months for secondary school graduates; women can volunteer to serve for 9 months regardless of education (2018)" diff --git a/middle-east/aj.json b/middle-east/aj.json index dc28f676..827e4612 100644 --- a/middle-east/aj.json +++ b/middle-east/aj.json @@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 96.9% (predominantly Shia), Christian 3%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2010 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower" + "text": "note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower" } }, "Age structure": { @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ "text": "-3.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "5.118 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "4.939 million (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "after the oil sector, the telecommunications sector contributes the most to the GDP; more competition will allow for falling prices and the strengthening of the 4G TD-LTE standard and the migration to 5G; Azerbaijan has moderate mobile, mobile broadband and fixed broadband penetration compared to other Asian nations (2020)" + "text": "after the oil sector, the telecommunications sector contributes the most to the GDP; more competition will allow for falling prices and the strengthening of the 4G TD-LTE standard and the migration to 5G; Azerbaijan has moderate mobile, mobile broadband and fixed broadband penetration compared to other Asian nations (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "teledensity of some 17 fixed-lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to 107 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhchivan) (2019)" @@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Azerbaijan military includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of arms to Azerbaijan, followed by Israel and Turkey (2020)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "120 Afghanistan (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "120 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; service obligation 18 months or 12 months for university graduates; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 17 year olds are considered to be on active service at cadet military schools (2012)" @@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ "text": "351,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs' descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "3,585 (2018)" + "text": "3,585 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/middle-east/am.json b/middle-east/am.json index 016137ea..6c81611b 100644 --- a/middle-east/am.json +++ b/middle-east/am.json @@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -751,13 +751,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing continued modernization and expansion; strong growth in mobile broadband sector and mobile services dominate over fixed-line; rollout of 4G networks and falling prices due to growing competition (2020)" + "text": "telecommunications investments have made major inroads in modernizing and upgrading the outdated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; now 100% privately owned and undergoing continued modernization and expansion; strong growth in mobile broadband sector and mobile services dominate over fixed-line; rollout of 4G networks and falling prices due to growing competition (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "15 per 100 fixed-line, 122 per 100 mobile-cellular; reliable fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan and in major cities and towns; mobile-cellular coverage available in most rural areas (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic cable through Georgia and Iran to Europe; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic cable through Georgia and Iran to Europe; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ "text": "14,730 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "848 (2018)" + "text": "961 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/middle-east/ba.json b/middle-east/ba.json index 8c35aca0..7f1466e9 100644 --- a/middle-east/ba.json +++ b/middle-east/ba.json @@ -420,10 +420,10 @@ "text": "bicameral National Assembly consists of: Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (40 seats; members appointed by the king) ++ Council of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwab (40 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year renewable terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Consultative Council - last appointments on 12 December 2018 (next NA) ++ Council of Representatives - first round for 9 members held on 24 November 2018; second round for remaining 31 members held on 1 December 2018 (next to be held in 2022)" + "text": "Consultative Council - last appointments on 12 December 2018 (next NA) ++ Council of Representatives - first round for 9 members held on 24 November 2018; second round for remaining 31 members held on 1 December 2018 (next to be held in 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Consultative Council - composition - men 31, women 9, percent of women 22.5% ++ Council of Representatives (for 2018 election)  - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Islamic Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar al-Taqadumi (Communist) 2, National Unity Gathering (Sunni progovernment) 1, National Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 33; composition - men 34, women 6, percent of women 15%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 19%" + "text": "Consultative Council - composition - men 31, women 9, percent of women 22.5% ++ Council of Representatives (for 2018 election) - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Islamic Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar al-Taqadumi (Communist) 2, National Unity Gathering (Sunni progovernment) 1, National Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 33; composition - men 34, women 6, percent of women 15%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 19%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ "text": "Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure" + "text": "Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts" @@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ "text": "$35.33 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.8% (2017 est.) / 3.5% (2016 est.) / 2.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.49% (2019 est.) / 13.89% (2018 est.) / 3.85% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$49,000 (2017 est.) / $48,200 (2016 est.) / $48,400 (2015 est.)", @@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ "text": "17 per 100 fixed-line, 116 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 973; landing points for the FALCON, Tata TGN-Gulf, GBICS/MENA, and FOG submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 973; landing points for the FALCON, Tata TGN-Gulf, GBICS/MENA, and FOG submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/middle-east/gg.json b/middle-east/gg.json index 8b4970de..474cef0f 100644 --- a/middle-east/gg.json +++ b/middle-east/gg.json @@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ "text": "Cabinet of Ministers" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president ++ note - 2017 constitutional amendments made the 2018 election the last where the president was directly elected; future presidents will be elected by a 300-member College of Electors; in light of these changes, ZOURABICHVILI was allowed a six-year term" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president ++ note - 2017 constitutional amendments made the 2018 election the last where the president was directly elected; future presidents will be elected by a 300-member College of Electors; in light of these changes, ZOURABICHVILI was allowed a six-year term" }, "election results": { "text": "Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Giorgi GAKHARIA approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 98-0" @@ -448,10 +448,10 @@ "text": "unicameral Parliament or Sakartvelos Parlamenti (150 seats; 120 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote and 30 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by at least 50% majority vote, with a runoff if needed; no party earning less than 40% of total votes may claim a majority; members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 8 October and 30 October 2016 (next to be held on 31 October 2020)" + "text": "last held on 31 October and 21 November 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 48.7%, UNM 27.1%, Alliance of Patriots 5%, other 19.2%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 115, UNM 27, Alliance of Patriots 6, IWSG 1, independent 1; composition - men 126, women 24, percent of women 16%; note - European Georgia split from UNM in January 2017 taking 20 of 27 parliamentary seats; composition as of 1 July 2019: Georgian Dream 106, European Georgia 20, UNM 7, Alliance of Patriots 7, independent 10" + "text": "percent of vote by party - Georgian Dream 48.2%, UNM 27.2%, European Georgia 3.8%, Lelo 3.2%, Strategy 3.2%, Alliance of Patriots 3.1%, Girchi 2.9%, Citizens 1.3%, Labor 1%; seats by party - Georgian Dream 90, UNM 36, European Georgia 5, Lelo 4, Strategy 4, Alliance of Patriots 4, Girchi 4, Citizens 2, Labor 1" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -459,14 +459,14 @@ "text": "Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges organized into several specialized judicial chambers; number of judges determined by the president of Georgia); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges); note - the Abkhazian and Ajarian Autonomous republics each have a supreme court and a hierarchy of lower courts" }, "judge selection and term of office": { - "text": "Supreme Court judges nominated by the High Council of Justice (a 14-member body consisting of the Supreme Court chairperson, common court judges, and appointees of the president of Georgia) and appointed by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed 3 each by the president, by Parliament, and by the Supreme Court judges; judges appointed for 10-year terms" + "text": "Supreme Court judges nominated by the High Council of Justice (a 14-member body consisting of the Supreme Court chairperson, common court judges, and appointees of the president of Georgia) and appointed by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed 3 each by the president, by Parliament, and by the Supreme Court judges; judges appointed for 10-year terms" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Alliance of Patriots [Irma INASHVILI] ++ Democratic Movement-United Georgia [Nino BURJANADZE] ++ Development Movement [Davit USPASHVILI] ++ European Georgia [Davit BAKRADZE] (split from UNM) ++ For Justice Party [Eka BESELIA] ++ Free Democrats or FD [Shalva SHAVGULIDZE] ++ Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Bidzina IVANISHVILI] ++ Girchi (Pinecone) [Zurab JAPARIDZE] ++ Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Giorgi TOPADZE] ++ Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI] ++ New Georgia [Giorgi VASHADZE] ++ Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE] ++ United National Movement or UNM [Grigol VASHADZE]" + "text": "Alliance of Patriots [Irma INASHVILI] ++ Democratic Movement-United Georgia [Nino BURJANADZE] ++ Citizens Party ++ Development Movement [Davit USPASHVILI] ++ European Georgia-Movement for Liberty [Davit BAKRADZE] ++ For Justice Party [Eka BESELIA] ++ Free Democrats or FD [Shalva SHAVGULIDZE] ++ Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia [Bidzina IVANISHVILI] ++ Girchi (Pinecone) [Zurab JAPARIDZE] ++ Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Giorgi TOPADZE] ++ Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI] ++ Lelo for Georgia [Mamuka KHAZARADZE] ++ New Georgia [Giorgi VASHADZE] ++ Republican Party [Khatuna SAMNIDZE] ++ Strategy Aghmashenebeli [Giorgi VASHADZE] ++ United National Movement or UNM [Grigol VASHADZE]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CPLP (associate), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ "text": "[995] (32) 227-70-00" }, "embassy": { - "text": "11 George Balanchine Street, Tbilisi, 0131" + "text": "11 George Balanchine Street, Tbilisi, 0131" }, "mailing address": { "text": "7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060" @@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ "text": "6.7% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "1.998 million (2016 est.)" + "text": "686,000 (2019 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "The Tbilisi-based Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) includes Channel 1, Channel 2 as well as the Batumi-based Adjara TV, and the State Budget funds all three; there are also a number of independent commercial television broadcasters, such as Imedi, Rustavi 2, Pirveli TV, Maestro, Kavkasia, Georgian Dream Studios (GDS), Obiektivi, Mtavari Arkhi, and a small Russian language operator TOK TV; Tabula and Post TV are web-based television outlets; all of these broadcasters and web-based television outlets, except GDS, carry the news; the Georgian Orthodox Church also operates a satellite-based television station called Unanimity; there are 26 regional television broadcasters across Georgia that are members of the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and/or the Alliance of Georgian Broadcasters; the broadcaster organizations seek to strengthen the regional media's capacities and distribution of regional products: a nationwide digital switchover occurred in 2015; there are several dozen private radio stations; GPB operates 2 radio stations (2019)" + "text": "The Tbilisi-based Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) includes Channel 1, Channel 2 as well as the Batumi-based Adjara TV, and the State Budget funds all three; there are also a number of independent commercial television broadcasters, such as Imedi, Rustavi 2, Pirveli TV, Maestro, Kavkasia, Georgian Dream Studios (GDS), Obiektivi, Mtavari Arkhi, and a small Russian language operator TOK TV; Tabula and Post TV are web-based television outlets; all of these broadcasters and web-based television outlets, except GDS, carry the news; the Georgian Orthodox Church also operates a satellite-based television station called Unanimity; there are 26 regional television broadcasters across Georgia that are members of the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and/or the Alliance of Georgian Broadcasters; the broadcaster organizations seek to strengthen the regional media's capacities and distribution of regional products: a nationwide digital switchover occurred in 2015; there are several dozen private radio stations; GPB operates 2 radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ge" @@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ "text": "the Georgian Defense Forces are equipped mostly with older Russian and Soviet-era weapons; since 2010, it has received limited quantities of equipment from Bulgaria, France, and the US (2019 )" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "860 Afghanistan (NATO) (June 2020)" + "text": "860 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "conscription reinstated in 2017; 18 to 27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months (2019)" @@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ "text": "301,000 (displaced in the 1990s as a result of armed conflict in the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; displaced in 2008 by fighting between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "566 (2018)" + "text": "559 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/middle-east/gz.json b/middle-east/gz.json index 8b1cbb35..f5c6ba57 100644 --- a/middle-east/gz.json +++ b/middle-east/gz.json @@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "57.2% (2014)", "note": { - "text": "note:  includes Gaza Strip and West Bank" + "text": "note: includes Gaza Strip and West Bank" } }, "Drinking water source": { diff --git a/middle-east/ir.json b/middle-east/ir.json index 1d10f9ca..e419f984 100644 --- a/middle-east/ir.json +++ b/middle-east/ir.json @@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ "text": "Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes" }, "Languages": { - "text": "Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic" + "text": "Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic" }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -755,13 +755,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "opportunities for telecoms growth, but disadvantaged by the lack of significant investment; one of the largest populations in the Middle East with a huge demand for services; mobile penetration is high with over 90% accessing 4G LTE coverage; Iranian-net, is currently expanding a fiber network to reach 8 million customers; govt. is proactively preparing regulations for 5G development (2020)" + "text": "opportunities for telecoms growth, but disadvantaged by the lack of significant investment; one of the largest populations in the Middle East with a huge demand for services; mobile penetration is high with over 90% accessing 4G LTE coverage; Iranian-net, is currently expanding a fiber network to reach 8 million customers; govt. is proactively preparing regulations for 5G development (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "35 per 100 for fixed-line and 142 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions; investment by Iran's state-owned telecom company has greatly improved and expanded both the fixed-line and mobile cellular networks; a huge percentage of the cell phones in the market have been smuggled into the country (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 98; landing points for Kuwait-Iran, GBICS & MENA, FALCON, OMRAN/3PEG Cable System, POI and UAE-Iran submarine fiber-optic cable to the Middle East, Africa and India; (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 98; landing points for Kuwait-Iran, GBICS & MENA, FALCON, OMRAN/3PEG Cable System, POI and UAE-Iran submarine fiber-optic cable to the Middle East, Africa and India; (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -916,7 +916,10 @@ "text": "the Iranian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older foreign equipment largely of Chinese, Russian, Soviet, and US origin (US equipment acquired prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979); weapons imports from Western countries are restricted by international sanctions; since 2010, Iran has received equipment from Belarus, China, and Russia; Iran has a defense industry with the capacity to develop, produce, support, and sustain air, land, missile, and naval weapons programs (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "est. 2,000-3000 Syria (2019 est.)" + "text": "est. 1,000 Syria (2020)", + "note": { + "text": "note: Iran has recruited, trained, and funded thousands of Syrian and foreign fighters to support the ASAD regime during the Syrian civil war" + } }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18-24 months; women exempt from military service (2019)" diff --git a/middle-east/is.json b/middle-east/is.json index 344ad8ea..163f5dfd 100644 --- a/middle-east/is.json +++ b/middle-east/is.json @@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ }, "Geography - note": { "note": { - "text": "note 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti) ++ note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock) ++ note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019)" + "text": "note 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti) ++ note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock) ++ note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019)" } } }, @@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ "text": "President Reuben RIVLIN (since 27 July 2014)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)" + "text": "Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset" @@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ "text": "$350.7 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.3% (2017 est.) / 4% (2016 est.) / 2.6% (2015 est.)" + "text": "3.28% (2019 est.) / 3.69% (2018 est.) / 3.63% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$36,400 (2017 est.) / $35,900 (2016 est.) / $35,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ "text": "3.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "4.021 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "3.893 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.2% (2017 est.) / 4.8% (2016 est.)" + "text": "3.81% (2019 est.) / 4% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "22% (2014 est.) (2014 est.)", @@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ "text": "0.2% (2017 est.) / -0.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "$10.12 billion (2017 est.) / $11.94 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$13.411 billion (2019 est.) / $7.888 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$58.67 billion (2017 est.) / $56.17 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (est 2015) broadcasts on 3 channels, two in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2019)" + "text": "the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (est 2015) broadcasts on 3 channels, two in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".il" @@ -919,10 +919,10 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "12,181 (Eritrea), 7,857 (Ukraine) (2019)" + "text": "12,181 (Eritrea), 5,061 (Ukraine) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "42 (2018)" + "text": "42 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/middle-east/iz.json b/middle-east/iz.json index 713ebad7..020e5ffd 100644 --- a/middle-east/iz.json +++ b/middle-east/iz.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a \"republic\" in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. After Iraq's expulsion, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions led to the Second Gulf War in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led forces. ++ In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates in January 2009 and April 2013 and postponed the next provincial elections, originally planned for April 2017, until 2019. Iraq has held three national legislative elections since 2005, most recently in May 2018 when 329 legislators were elected to the COR. Adil ABD AL-MAHDI assumed the premiership in October 2018 as a consensus and independent candidate - the first prime minister who is not an active member of a major political bloc. However, widespread protests that began in October 2019 demanding more employment opportunities and an end to corruption prompted ABD AL-MAHDI to announce his resignation on 20 November 2019. ++ Between 2014 and 2017, Iraq was engaged in a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country. Iraqi and allied forces recaptured Mosul, the country's second-largest city, in 2017 and drove ISIS out of its other urban strongholds. In December 2017, then-Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI publicly declared victory against ISIS while continuing operations against the group's residual presence in rural areas. Also in late 2017, ABADI responded to an independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Regional Government by ordering Iraqi forces to take control of disputed territories across central and northern Iraq that were previously occupied and governed by Kurdish forces." + "text": "Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a \"republic\" in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. After Iraq's expulsion, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions led to the Second Gulf War in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led forces. ++ In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates in January 2009 and April 2013 and postponed the next provincial elections, originally planned for April 2017, until 2019. Iraq has held three national legislative elections since 2005, most recently in May 2018 when 329 legislators were elected to the COR. Adil ABD AL-MAHDI assumed the premiership in October 2018 as a consensus and independent candidate - the first prime minister who is not an active member of a major political bloc. However, widespread protests that began in October 2019 demanding more employment opportunities and an end to corruption prompted ABD AL-MAHDI to announce his resignation on 20 November 2019. ++ Between 2014 and 2017, Iraq was engaged in a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country. Iraqi and allied forces recaptured Mosul, the country's second-largest city, in 2017 and drove ISIS out of its other urban strongholds. In December 2017, then-Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI publicly declared victory against ISIS while continuing operations against the group's residual presence in rural areas. Also in late 2017, ABADI responded to an independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Regional Government by ordering Iraqi forces to take control of disputed territories across central and northern Iraq that were previously occupied and governed by Kurdish forces." } }, "Geography": { @@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "7.144 million BAGHDAD (capital), 1.630 million Mosul, 1.352 million Basra, 1.013 million Kirkuk, 874,000 Najaf, 846,000 Erbil (2020)" + "text": "7.144 million BAGHDAD (capital), 1.630 million Mosul, 1.352 million Basra, 1.013 million Kirkuk, 874,000 Najaf, 846,000 Erbil (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -423,21 +423,21 @@ "text": "Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives (COR) to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); COR election last held on 12 May 2018 (next NA)" + "text": "president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives (COR) to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); COR election last held on 12 May 2018 (next NA)" }, "election results": { - "text": "COR vote in first round - Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; Barham SALIH elected president in second round - Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; note - the COR vote on 1 October 2018 failed due to a lack of quorum, and a new session was held on 2 October" + "text": "COR vote in first round - Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; Barham SALIH elected president in second round - Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; note - the COR vote on 1 October 2018 failed due to a lack of quorum, and a new session was held on 2 October" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy (329 seats; 320 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote and 9 seats at the national level reserved for minorities - 5 for Christians, 1 each for Sabaean-Mandaeans, Yazidis, Shabaks, Fayli Kurds; 25% of seats allocated to women; members serve 4-year terms); note - Iraq's Constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council, but it has not been instituted" + "text": "unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy (329 seats; 320 members directly elected in 83 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 9 seats at the national level reserved for minorities - 5 for Christians, 1 each for Sabaean-Mandaeans, Yazidis, Shabaks, Fayli Kurds; 25% of seats allocated to women; members serve 4-year terms); note - in early November 2020, the president ratified a new electoral law - approved by the Council of Representatives in late October - that eliminates the proportional representation electoral system" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 12 May 2018 (next originally scheduled for May 2022, but rescheduled earlier to 6 June 2021)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Sa'irun Alliance 54, Al Fatah Alliance 48, Al Nasr Alliance 42, KDP 25, State of Law Coalition 25, Wataniyah 21, National Wisdom Trend 19, PUK 18, Iraqi Decision Alliance 14, Anbar Our Identity 6, Goran Movement 5, New Generation 4, other 48; composition - men 245, women 84, percent of women 25.5%" + "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Sa'irun Alliance 54, Al Fatah Alliance 48, Al Nasr Alliance 42, KDP 25, State of Law Coalition 25, Wataniyah 21, National Wisdom Trend 19, PUK 18, Iraqi Decision Alliance 14, Anbar Our Identity 6, Goran Movement 5, New Generation 4, other 48; composition - men 245, women 84, percent of women 25.5%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Matthew TUELLER (since 9 June 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador Matthew TUELLER (since 9 June 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "0760-030-3000" @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ "text": "1,389,540 (displacement in central and northern Iraq since January 2014) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "47,515 (2018); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2,006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless" + "text": "47,253 (2019); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2,006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless" }, "note": { "text": "note: estimate revised to reflect the reduction of statelessness in line with Law 26 of 2006, which allows stateless persons to apply for nationality in certain circumstances; more accurate studies of statelessness in Iraq are pending (2015)" diff --git a/middle-east/jo.json b/middle-east/jo.json index 6c490264..511dc1c4 100644 --- a/middle-east/jo.json +++ b/middle-east/jo.json @@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ "text": "previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952" }, "amendments": { - "text": "constitutional amendments require at least a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; no amendment of the constitution affecting the rights of the king and the succession to the throne is permitted during the regency period; amended several times, last in 2016" + "text": "constitutional amendments require at least a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; no amendment of the constitution affecting the rights of the king and the succession to the throne is permitted during the regency period; amended several times, last in 2016" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -434,10 +434,10 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of: Senate or the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (65 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms) ++ Chamber of Deputies or House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (130 seats; 115 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote and 15 seats for women; 12 of the 115 seats reserved for Christian, Chechen, and Circassian candidates; members serve 4-year terms)" + "text": "bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of: Senate or the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (65 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms) ++ Chamber of Deputies or House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (130 seats; 115 members directly elected in 23 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote and 15 seats for women; 12 of the 115 seats reserved for Christian, Chechen, and Circassian candidates; members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 September 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020)" + "text": "Chamber of Deputies - last held on 10 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)" }, "election results": { "text": "Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA" @@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { - "text": "Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 15 members, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)" + "text": "Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 15 members, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Judicial Council, an 11-member judicial policymaking body consisting of high-level judicial officials and judges, and approved by the king; judge tenure generally not limited; Constitutional Court members appointed by the king for 6-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years" @@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ "text": "$40.13 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2% (2017 est.) / 2% (2016 est.) / 2.4% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2% (2019 est.) / 1.94% (2018 est.) / 2.12% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$9,200 (2017 est.) / $9,200 (2016 est.) / $9,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ "text": "1.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "2.295 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "731,000 (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "18.3% (2017 est.) / 15.3% (2016 est.)", + "text": "19.1% (2019 est.) / 18.61% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%" } @@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ "text": "3.3% (2017 est.) / -0.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$4.257 billion (2017 est.) / -$3.693 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$1.222 billion (2019 est.) / -$2.964 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$7.511 billion (2017 est.) / $7.509 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -757,13 +757,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas is reducing use of fixed-line services; recent influx of refugees putting burden on country's economy, infrastructure and society; mobile broadband is area of growth with 4G services; govt. recently launched Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship; preparing for next wave of development with 5G and IoT/MsM services (2020)" + "text": "microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas is reducing use of fixed-line services; recent influx of refugees putting burden on country's economy, infrastructure and society; mobile broadband is area of growth with 4G services; govt. recently launched Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship; preparing for next wave of development with 5G and IoT/MsM services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "1995 a telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line services to private competition; in 2005, the monopoly over fixed-line services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was opened to competition; currently fixed-line 4 per 100 persons and multiple mobile-cellular providers with subscribership up to 77 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 962; landing point for the FEA and Taba-Aqaba submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Asia; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (2019)" + "text": "country code - 962; landing point for the FEA and Taba-Aqaba submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Asia; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/middle-east/ku.json b/middle-east/ku.json index c26b0c8d..53637222 100644 --- a/middle-east/ku.json +++ b/middle-east/ku.json @@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ "text": "Amir NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 30 September 2020); Crown Prince Sheikh MESHAAL Al Ahmad Al Sabah, born in 1940, is the brother of Amir NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister NASIR Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Ministers SABAH KHALID al-Hamid al-Sabah (since 13 December 2011), KHALID al-Jarrah al-Sabah (since 4 August 2013), Anas Khalid al-SALEH (since 4 August 2013); note - on 14 November 2019, the government of Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah resigned" + "text": "Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister NASIR Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Ministers SABAH KHALID al-Hamid al-Sabah (since 13 December 2011), KHALID al-Jarrah al-Sabah (since 4 August 2013), Anas Khalid al-SALEH (since 4 August 2013); note - on 14 November 2019, the government of Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah resigned" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir" @@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected from 5 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members (cabinet ministers) appointed by the amir; members serve 4-year terms)" + "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected from 5 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members (cabinet ministers) appointed by the amir; members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 26 November 2016 (next to be held on 5 December 2020)" @@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ "text": "seats won - oppositionists and independents, including populists, Islamists, and liberals 26, pro-government loyalists 24; composition for elected members only - men 49, women 1, percent of women 1.5%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: seats as of May 2019 -  oppositionists and independents, including populists, Islamists, and liberals 25, pro-government loyalists 25; composition as of May 2019 for elected members only - men 49, women 1, percent of women 2% " + "text": "note: seats as of May 2019 - oppositionists and independents, including populists, Islamists, and liberals 25, pro-government loyalists 25; composition as of May 2019 for elected members only - men 49, women 1, percent of women 2%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -754,14 +754,14 @@ "text": "fixed-line subscriptions are 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular stands at 174 per 100 subscriptions (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 965; landing points for the FOG, GBICS, MENA, Kuwait-Iran, and FALCON submarine cables linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 965; landing points for the FOG, GBICS, MENA, Kuwait-Iran, and FALCON submarine cables linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged; satellite TV available and pan-Arab TV stations are especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station emerged in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)" + "text": "state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged; satellite TV available and pan-Arab TV stations are especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station emerged in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".kw" @@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "92,000 (2018); note - Kuwait's 1959 Nationality Law defined citizens as persons who settled in the country before 1920 and who had maintained normal residence since then; one-third of the population, descendants of Bedouin tribes, missed the window of opportunity to register for nationality rights after Kuwait became independent in 1961 and were classified as bidun (meaning \"without\"); since the 1980s Kuwait's bidun have progressively lost their rights, including opportunities for employment and education, amid official claims that they are nationals of other countries who have destroyed their identification documents in hopes of gaining Kuwaiti citizenship; Kuwaiti authorities have delayed processing citizenship applications and labeled biduns as \"illegal residents,\" denying them access to civil documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates" + "text": "92,020 (2019); note - Kuwait's 1959 Nationality Law defined citizens as persons who settled in the country before 1920 and who had maintained normal residence since then; one-third of the population, descendants of Bedouin tribes, missed the window of opportunity to register for nationality rights after Kuwait became independent in 1961 and were classified as bidun (meaning \"without\"); since the 1980s Kuwait's bidun have progressively lost their rights, including opportunities for employment and education, amid official claims that they are nationals of other countries who have destroyed their identification documents in hopes of gaining Kuwaiti citizenship; Kuwaiti authorities have delayed processing citizenship applications and labeled biduns as \"illegal residents,\" denying them access to civil documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/middle-east/le.json b/middle-east/le.json index a398c3dc..a537a5dd 100644 --- a/middle-east/le.json +++ b/middle-east/le.json @@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ "text": "drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926" }, "amendments": { - "text": "proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1989" + "text": "proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1989" } }, "Legal system": { @@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ "text": "President Michel AWN (since 31 October 2016)" }, "head of government": { - "text": " Prime Minister Saad HARIRI (since 22 October 2020)" + "text": "Prime Minister Saad HARIRI (since 22 October 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and National Assembly" @@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ "text": "last held on 6 May 2018 (next to be held in 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by coalition - NA; seats by coalition – Strong Lebanon Bloc (Free Patriotic Movement-led) 25; Future Bloc (Future Movement-led) 20; Development and Liberation Bloc (Amal Movement-led) 16; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc (Hizballah-led) 15; Strong Republic Bloc (Lebanese Forces-led) 15; Democratic Gathering (Progressive Socialist Party-led) 9; Independent Centre Bloc 4; National Bloc (Marada Movement-led) 3; Syrian Social Nationalist Party 3; Tashnaq 3; Kata'ib 3; other 8; independent 4;  composition - men 122, women 6, percent of women 4.6%" + "text": "percent of vote by coalition - NA; seats by coalition – Strong Lebanon Bloc (Free Patriotic Movement-led) 25; Future Bloc (Future Movement-led) 20; Development and Liberation Bloc (Amal Movement-led) 16; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc (Hizballah-led) 15; Strong Republic Bloc (Lebanese Forces-led) 15; Democratic Gathering (Progressive Socialist Party-led) 9; Independent Centre Bloc 4; National Bloc (Marada Movement-led) 3; Syrian Social Nationalist Party 3; Tashnaq 3; Kata'ib 3; other 8; independent 4; composition - men 122, women 6, percent of women 4.6%" }, "note": { "text": "note: Lebanon's constitution states the National Assembly cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant" @@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "two mobile-cellular networks provide good service, with 4G LTE services; future improvements to fiber-optic infrastructure for total nation coverage proposed by 2020; in 2018 first successful 5G trial conducted and in 2019 first live mobile 5G site launched, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted telecoms industry and pricing has been raised (2020)" + "text": "two mobile-cellular networks provide good service, with 4G LTE services; future improvements to fiber-optic infrastructure for total nation coverage proposed by 2020; in 2018 first successful 5G trial conducted and in 2019 first live mobile 5G site launched, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted telecoms industry and pricing has been raised (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 13 per 100 and 62 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)" diff --git a/middle-east/mu.json b/middle-east/mu.json index 48268137..5b07e39f 100644 --- a/middle-east/mu.json +++ b/middle-east/mu.json @@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular 138 per 100, subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 968; landing points for GSA, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-5, Tata TGN-Gulf, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, MENA/Guld Bridge International, TW1, BBG, EIG, OMRAN/EPEG, and POI submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 968; landing points for GSA, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-5, Tata TGN-Gulf, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, MENA/Guld Bridge International, TW1, BBG, EIG, OMRAN/EPEG, and POI submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/middle-east/qa.json b/middle-east/qa.json index 888f07ed..945694f5 100644 --- a/middle-east/qa.json +++ b/middle-east/qa.json @@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ "text": "Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh KHALID ibn Khalifa ibn Abdul Aziz Al Thani (since 28 January 2020);  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs KHALID bin Mohamed AL Attiyah (since 14 November 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MOHAMED bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (since 14 November 2017)" + "text": "Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh KHALID ibn Khalifa ibn Abdul Aziz Al Thani (since 28 January 2020); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs KHALID bin Mohamed AL Attiyah (since 14 November 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MOHAMED bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (since 14 November 2017)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the amir" @@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 30 members directly elected by popular vote for 4-year re-electable terms; 15 members appointed by the monarch to serve until resignation or until relieved; note - legislative drafting authority rests with the Council of Ministers and is reviewed by the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura" + "text": "unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 30 members directly elected by popular vote for 4-year re-electable terms; 15 members appointed by the monarch to serve until resignation or until relieved; note - legislative drafting authority rests with the Council of Ministers and is reviewed by the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura" }, "elections": { "text": "last on 17 June 2016 (next in 2019); note - in late 2019, the amir announced the formation of a committee to oversee preparations for the first elected council, although Doha has not selected a date for elections" @@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 138 telephones per 100 persons (209)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 974; landing points for the Qatar-UAE Submarine Cable System, AAE-1, FOG, GBICS/East North Africa MENA and the FALCON submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; retains full ownership of two commercial satellites, Es'hailSat 1 and 2 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 974; landing points for the Qatar-UAE Submarine Cable System, AAE-1, FOG, GBICS/East North Africa MENA and the FALCON submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; retains full ownership of two commercial satellites, Es'hailSat 1 and 2 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { - "text": "1,200 (2018)" + "text": "1,200 (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/middle-east/sa.json b/middle-east/sa.json index c4a83d31..205cd6f1 100644 --- a/middle-east/sa.json +++ b/middle-east/sa.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. ++ From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. ++ The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country's dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as \"Etidal\") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. ++ The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 16% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2015. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia's governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices." + "text": "Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. ++ From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. ++ The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country's dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as \"Etidal\") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. ++ The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 16% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2015. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia's governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices." } }, "Geography": { @@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ } }, "Geography - note": { - "text": "Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal" + "text": "Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal" } }, "People and Society": { @@ -667,13 +667,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "99% (2017)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2017)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "98% (2017)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -765,7 +759,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "one of the most progressive telecom markets in the Middle East; mobile penetration high, with a saturated market; mobile operators competitive and meeting the demand for workers, students and citizens working from home; 5G launched, partners include Chinese company Huawei; broadband is available with DSL, fiber, and wireless; mobile penetration is steep in Saudi Arabia (2020)" + "text": "one of the most progressive telecom markets in the Middle East; mobile penetration high, with a saturated market; mobile operators competitive and meeting the demand for workers, students and citizens working from home; 5G launched, partners include Chinese company Huawei; broadband is available with DSL, fiber, and wireless; mobile penetration is steep in Saudi Arabia (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly to 121 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -899,7 +893,7 @@ "text": "Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, King Abdulla, Yanbu'" }, "container port(s) (TEUs)": { - "text": "Ad Dammam (1,582,388), Jeddah (4,150,000), King Abdulla (1,695,322) (2017)" + "text": "Ad Dammam (1,582,388), Jeddah (4,150,000), King Abdulla (1,695,322) (2017)" } } }, @@ -942,11 +936,8 @@ "text": "Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { - "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "30,000 (Yemen) (2017)" - }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "70,000 (2018); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness" + "text": "70,000 (2019); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/middle-east/sy.json b/middle-east/sy.json index d368f84e..ef11b7da 100644 --- a/middle-east/sy.json +++ b/middle-east/sy.json @@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%, Jewish (few remaining in Damascus and Aleppo)", "note": { - "text": "note:  the Christian population may be considerably smaller as a result of Christians fleeing the country during the ongoing civil war" + "text": "note: the Christian population may be considerably smaller as a result of Christians fleeing the country during the ongoing civil war" } }, "Age structure": { @@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "legal parties/alliances: Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Bashar al-ASAD, regional secretary] ++ Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD] ++ Arab Socialist Union of Syria or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI] ++ National Progressive Front or NPF [Bashar al-ASAD, Suleiman QADDAH] (alliance includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party) ++ Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr al-DIN] ++ Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL] ++ Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP [Ali HAIDAR] ++ Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL] ++ ++ Major Kurdish parties  ++ Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD [Shahoz HASAN and Aysha HISSO] ++ Kurdish National Council [Sa'ud MALA] ++   ++ other: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]" + "text": "legal parties/alliances: Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Bashar al-ASAD, regional secretary] ++ Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD] ++ Arab Socialist Union of Syria or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI] ++ National Progressive Front or NPF [Bashar al-ASAD, Suleiman QADDAH] (alliance includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party) ++ Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr al-DIN] ++ Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL] ++ Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP [Ali HAIDAR] ++ Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL] ++ ++ Major Kurdish parties ++ Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD [Shahoz HASAN and Aysha HISSO] ++ Kurdish National Council [Sa'ud MALA] ++ other: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WBG, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" @@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "the armed insurgency that began in 2011 has led to major disruptions to the network and has caused telephone and Internet outages throughout the country; 2018 saw some stabilizing; telecoms have become decentralized; fairly high mobile penetration of 98%; potential for growth given that subscription numbers are low; remote areas rely on expensive satellite communications; mobile broadband infrastructure is predominantly 3G for about 85% of the population; LTE launched in 2017; Syria has two mobile telephone operators (2020)" + "text": "the armed insurgency that began in 2011 has led to major disruptions to the network and has caused telephone and Internet outages throughout the country; 2018 saw some stabilizing; telecoms have become decentralized; fairly high mobile penetration of 98%; potential for growth given that subscription numbers are low; remote areas rely on expensive satellite communications; mobile broadband infrastructure is predominantly 3G for about 85% of the population; LTE launched in 2017; Syria has two mobile telephone operators (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "the number of fixed-line connections increased markedly prior to the civil war in 2011 and now stands at 17 per 100; mobile-cellular service stands at about 114 per 100 persons (2019)" @@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and 5 satellite channels; roughly two-thirds of Syrian homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2018)" + "text": "state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and 5 satellite channels; roughly two-thirds of Syrian homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2018)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".sy" @@ -941,13 +941,13 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "15,699 (Iraq) (2018); 562,312 (Palestinian Refugees) (2020)" + "text": "13,311 (Iraq) (2019); 562,312 (Palestinian Refugees) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "6.1 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "160,000 (2018); note - Syria's stateless population consists of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian Government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war" + "text": "160,000 (2019); note - Syria's stateless population consists of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian Government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war" }, "note": { "text": "note: the ongoing civil war has resulted in more than 5.5 million registered Syrian refugees - dispersed in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of November 2020" diff --git a/middle-east/tu.json b/middle-east/tu.json index 72cfac8a..823ebdb9 100644 --- a/middle-east/tu.json +++ b/middle-east/tu.json @@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "Democrat Party or DP [Gultekin UYSAL] ++ Democratic Regions Party or DBP [Sebahat TUNCEL, Mehmet ARSLAN] ++ Felicity Party or SP [Temel KARAMOLLAOGLU] ++ Free Cause Party or HUDAPAR [Ishak SAGLAM] ++ Good Party or TYIi [Meral AKSENER] ++ Grand Unity Party or BBP [Mustafa DESTICI] ++ Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN] ++ Nation Alliance (CHP, IYI, SP) (electoral alliance) ++ Nationalist Movement Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI] ++ People's Alliance (AKP, MHP) (electoral alliance) ++ Patriotic Party or VP [Dogu PERINCEK] ++ People's Democratic Party or HDP [Pervin BULDAN, Sezai TEMELLI] ++ Republican People's Party or CHP [Kemal KILICDAROGLU]", "note": { - "text": "note:  as of December 2018, 83 political parties were legally registered" + "text": "note: as of December 2018, 83 political parties were legally registered" } }, "International organization participation": { @@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador David M. SATTERFIELD (since 28 August 2019)" + "text": "Ambassador David M. SATTERFIELD (since 28 August 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[90] (312) 455-5555" @@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ "text": "$851.5 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "7.4% (2017 est.) / 3.2% (2016 est.) / 6.1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.98% (2019 est.) / 3.04% (2018 est.) / 7.54% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$27,000 (2017 est.) / $25,500 (2016 est.) / $25,000 (2015 est.)", @@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ "text": "9.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "31.3 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "25.677 million (2020 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: this number is for the domestic labor force only; number does not include about 1.2 million Turks working abroad, nor refugees" } @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "10.9% (2017 est.) / 10.9% (2016 est.)" + "text": "13.68% (2019 est.) / 11% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "21.9% (2015 est.)" @@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ "text": "11.1% (2017 est.) / 7.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$47.44 billion (2017 est.) / -$33.14 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "$8.561 billion (2019 est.) / -$20.745 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$166.2 billion (2017 est.) / $150.2 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,13 +766,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "comprehensive telecommunications network undergoing rapid modernization and expansion, especially in mobile-cellular services; rise in subscribers and increase in bundled packages; while mobile broadband becoming increasingly popular DSL has largest share of fixed broadband technologies, but fiber-optic is growing with significant investment; 4G LTE networks well incorporated in Turkey, 93% coverage of the population; strides made with 5G trials with help from Chinese company Huawei (2020)" + "text": "comprehensive telecommunications network undergoing rapid modernization and expansion, especially in mobile-cellular services; rise in subscribers and increase in bundled packages; while mobile broadband becoming increasingly popular DSL has largest share of fixed broadband technologies, but fiber-optic is growing with significant investment; 4G LTE networks well incorporated in Turkey, 93% coverage of the population; strides made with 5G trials with help from Chinese company Huawei (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 97 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 90; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3 & -5, MedNautilus Submarine System, Turcyos-1 & -2 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2020)" + "text": "country code - 90; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3 & -5, MedNautilus Submarine System, Turcyos-1 & -2 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ "text": "the Turkish Armed Forces inventory is mostly comprised of a mix of domestically-produced and Western weapons systems, although in recent years, Turkey has also acquired some Chinese, Russian, and South Korean equipment; since 2010, the US is the leading provider of armaments to Turkey, followed by Italy, South Korea, and Spain (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "600 Afghanistan (NATO); 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); est. 25-30,000 Cyprus; 300 Kosovo (NATO); 170 Lebanon (UNIFIL); est. 200 Qatar; est. 200 Somalia; est. 5-10,000 Syria (2020 est.)", + "text": "600 Afghanistan (NATO); 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); est. 25-35,000 Cyprus; 300 Kosovo (NATO); 170 Lebanon (UNIFIL); est. 200 Qatar; est. 200 Somalia; est. 5-10,000 Syria (2020)", "note": { "text": "note: Turkey has deployed troops into northern Iraq on numerous occasions to combat the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), including operations involving thousands of troops in 2007, 2011, and 2018; its most recent incursion was in June 2020; in 2020, Turkey deployed Turkish troops and an estimated 3,500 Syrian civil war veterans to Libya to support the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA)" } diff --git a/middle-east/we.json b/middle-east/we.json index e33ea074..581391af 100644 --- a/middle-east/we.json +++ b/middle-east/we.json @@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ "Population": { "text": "2,900,034 (July 2020 est.)", "note": { - "text": "note: approximately 418,600 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2018); approximately 215,900 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2014)" + "text": "note: approximately 418,600 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2018); approximately 215,900 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2014)" } }, "Nationality": { @@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: data for West Bank and Gaza Strip combined" diff --git a/middle-east/ym.json b/middle-east/ym.json index dfc87f90..f3570e6a 100644 --- a/middle-east/ym.json +++ b/middle-east/ym.json @@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ }, "Constitution": { "history": { - "text": "adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National  Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the start of the current conflict in early 2015 interrupted the process" + "text": "adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the start of the current conflict in early 2015 interrupted the process" }, "amendments": { "text": "amended several times, last in 2009" @@ -505,13 +505,13 @@ "text": "Ambassador Christopher HENZEL (since 20 May 2019); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh" }, "telephone": { - "text": "US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800" + "text": "US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800 ++ previously - [967] 1 755-2000" }, "embassy": { - "text": "Sa'awan Street, Sanaa" + "text": "previously - Sa'awan Street, Sanaa" }, "mailing address": { - "text": "US Embassy Riyadh" + "text": "US Embassy Riyadh ++ previously - US Embassy in Sana'a ++ Address: Sa'awan Street ++ P.O. Box 22347" }, "FAX": { "text": "US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360" @@ -682,16 +682,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "15 million (2017)" + "text": "16 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "47% (2017)" + "text": "47% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "72% (2017)" + "text": "72% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "32% (2017)" + "text": "31% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/north-america/bd.json b/north-america/bd.json index 6b377822..f8752e40 100644 --- a/north-america/bd.json +++ b/north-america/bd.json @@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/north-america/ca.json b/north-america/ca.json index 2da33b35..2855dd9e 100644 --- a/north-america/ca.json +++ b/north-america/ca.json @@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ "text": "chief justice and judges appointed by the prime minister in council; all judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 75" }, "subordinate courts": { - "text": "federal level: Federal Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Tax Court; federal administrative tribunals; Courts Martial; provincial/territorial level: provincial superior, appeals, first instance, and specialized courts; note -  in 1999, the Nunavut Court - a circuit court with the power of a provincial superior court, as well as a territorial court - was established to serve isolated settlements" + "text": "federal level: Federal Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Tax Court; federal administrative tribunals; Courts Martial; provincial/territorial level: provincial superior, appeals, first instance, and specialized courts; note - in 1999, the Nunavut Court - a circuit court with the power of a provincial superior court, as well as a territorial court - was established to serve isolated settlements" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { @@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ "text": "$1.653 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3% (2017 est.) / 1.4% (2016 est.) / 1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.66% (2019 est.) / 2.02% (2018 est.) / 3.17% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$48,400 (2017 est.) / $47,500 (2016 est.) / $47,400 (2015 est.)", @@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ "text": "4.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "19.52 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "18.136 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.3% (2017 est.) / 7% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.67% (2019 est.) / 5.83% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "9.4% (2008 est.)", @@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ "text": "1.6% (2017 est.) / 1.4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$48.75 billion (2017 est.) / -$49.32 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$35.425 billion (2019 est.) / -$42.862 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$423.5 billion (2017 est.) / $393.5 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "excellent service provided by first-rate technology; offers 99% coverage with LTE; consumer demand for mobile data services have prompted telecom companies to invest and advance LTE infrastructure, and further investment in 5G; govt. policy has aided the extension of broadband to rural and regional areas, with the result that services are almost universally accessible; govt. sets up $400 million public-private partnership to exploit benefits of 5G (2020)" + "text": "excellent service provided by first-rate technology; offers 99% coverage with LTE; consumer demand for mobile data services have prompted telecom companies to invest and advance LTE infrastructure, and further investment in 5G; govt. policy has aided the extension of broadband to rural and regional areas, with the result that services are almost universally accessible; govt. sets up $400 million public-private partnership to exploit benefits of 5G (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "35 per 100 fixed-line; 93 per 100 mobile-cellular; comparatively low mobile penetration provides further room for growth; domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations (2019)" @@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ "text": "the CAF's inventory is a mix of domestically-produced equipment and imported weapons systems from Australia, Europe, Israel, and the US; since 2010, the leading supplier is the US; Canada's defense industry develops, maintains, and produces a range of equipment, including aircraft, combat vehicles, naval vessels, and associated components (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "540 Latvia (NATO); 150 Ukraine (training mission); up to 850 Middle East (multiple missions, including Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and NATO assistance mission Iraq) (2020)" + "text": "540 Latvia (NATO); up to 200 Ukraine; up to 850 Middle East (multiple missions, including support to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and NATO assistance mission Iraq; reduced considerably in 2020 because of COVID 19) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17 years of age for voluntary male and female military service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for Reserve and Military College applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service obligation 3-9 years (2012)" @@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ "text": "7,356 (Colombia), 6,640 (Nigeria), 6,563 (Haiti), 6,060 (China), 5,876 (Turkey), 5,498 (Pakistan) (2018); 6,751 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "3,790 (2018)" + "text": "3,790 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/north-america/gl.json b/north-america/gl.json index f4b5f3bd..c128f15d 100644 --- a/north-america/gl.json +++ b/north-america/gl.json @@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) ++ Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms" }, "elections": { - "text": "Greenland Parliament - last held on 24 April 2018 (next to be held by 2022) ++ Greenland members to Danish Parliament -  last held on 5 June 2019(next to be held by 4 June 2023)" + "text": "Greenland Parliament - last held on 24 April 2018 (next to be held by 2022) ++ Greenland members to Danish Parliament - last held on 5 June 2019(next to be held by 4 June 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "Greenland Parliament percent of vote by party - S 27.2%, IA 25.5%, D 19.5%, PN 13.4%, A 5.9%, SA 4.1%, NQ 3.4% other 1%; seats by party - S 9, IA 8, D 6, PN 4, A 2, SA 1, NQ 1; composition - men 19, women 12, percent of women 38.7% ++ Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women" @@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ "text": "13 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 115 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 299; landing points for Greenland Connect, Greenland Connect North, Nunavut Undersea Fiber System submarine cables to Greenland, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 299; landing points for Greenland Connect, Greenland Connect North, Nunavut Undersea Fiber System submarine cables to Greenland, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/north-america/mx.json b/north-america/mx.json index 3455224b..614f3a78 100644 --- a/north-america/mx.json +++ b/north-america/mx.json @@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ }, "Geography - note": { "note": { - "text": "note 1: strategic location on southern border of the US; Mexico is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire ++ note 2: the \"Three Sisters\" companion plants - winter squash, maize (corn), and climbing beans - served as the main agricultural crops for various North American Indian groups; all three apparently originated in Mexico but then were widely disseminated through much of North America; vanilla, the world's most popular aroma and flavor spice, also emanates from Mexico ++ note 3: the Sac Actun cave system at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide, after Mammoth Cave in the United States (see \"Geography - note\" under United States) ++ note 4: the prominent Yucatan Peninsula that divides the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea is shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; just on the northern coast of Yucatan, near the town of Chicxulub (pronounce cheek-sha-loob), lie the remnants of a massive crater (some 150 km in diameter and extending well out into the Gulf of Mexico); formed by an asteroid or comet when it struck the earth 66 million years ago, the impact is now widely accepted as initiating a worldwide climate disruption that caused a mass extinction of 75% of all the earth's plant and animal species - including the non-avian dinosaurs" + "text": "note 1: strategic location on southern border of the US; Mexico is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire ++ note 2: the \"Three Sisters\" companion plants - winter squash, maize (corn), and climbing beans - served as the main agricultural crops for various North American Indian groups; all three apparently originated in Mexico but then were widely disseminated through much of North America; vanilla, the world's most popular aroma and flavor spice, also emanates from Mexico ++ note 3: the Sac Actun cave system at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide, after Mammoth Cave in the United States (see \"Geography - note\" under United States) ++ note 4: the prominent Yucatan Peninsula that divides the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea is shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; just on the northern coast of Yucatan, near the town of Chicxulub (pronounce cheek-sha-loob), lie the remnants of a massive crater (some 150 km in diameter and extending well out into the Gulf of Mexico); formed by an asteroid or comet when it struck the earth 66 million years ago, the impact is now widely accepted as initiating a worldwide climate disruption that caused a mass extinction of 75% of all the earth's plant and animal species - including the non-avian dinosaurs" } } }, @@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ "text": "dengue fever" }, "note": { - "text": "note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Mexico; sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 5 August 2020, Mexico has reported 443,813 confirmed cases of COVID19 with 48,012 deaths" + "text": "note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Mexico; sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 5 August 2020, Mexico has reported 443,813 confirmed cases of COVID19 with 48,012 deaths" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Martha BARCENA Coqui (since 11 January 2019); note - Ambassador BARCENA Coqui is Mexico'a first-ever female ambassador to the US ++  " + "text": "Ambassador Martha BARCENA Coqui (since 11 January 2019); note - Ambassador BARCENA Coqui is Mexico'a first-ever female ambassador to the US ++" }, "chancery": { "text": "1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006" @@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ "text": "Albuquerque (NM), Anchorage (AK), Boise (ID), Brownsville (TX), Calexico (CA), Del Rio (TX), Detroit, Douglas (AZ), Eagle Pass (TX), Fresno (CA), Indianapolis (IN), Kansas City (MO), Las Vegas, Little Rock (AR), McAllen (TX), Minneapolis (MN), New Orleans, Omaha (NE), Orlando (FL), Oxnard (CA), Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Presidio (TX), Raleigh (NC), Salt Lake City, San Bernardino (CA), Santa Ana (CA), Seattle, Tucson (AZ), Yuma (AZ); note - Washington DC Consular Section is located in a separate building from the Mexican Embassy and has jurisdiction over DC, parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia" }, "note": { - "text": " " + "text": "" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { @@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ "text": "Ambassador Christopher LANDAU (since 26 August 2019)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "(011) 52-55-5080-2000" + "text": "(011) [52]-55-5080-2000" }, "embassy": { "text": "Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal" @@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ "text": "$1.151 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2% (2017 est.) / 2.9% (2016 est.) / 3.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "-0.3% (2019 est.) / 2.19% (2018 est.) / 2.34% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$19,900 (2017 est.) / $19,700 (2016 est.) / $19,400 (2015 est.)", @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ "text": "-0.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "54.51 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "50.914 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "3.4% (2017 est.) / 3.9% (2016 est.)", + "text": "3.49% (2019 est.) / 3.33% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: underemployment may be as high as 25%" } @@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ "text": "6% (2017 est.) / 2.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$19.35 billion (2017 est.) / -$23.32 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$4.351 billion (2019 est.) / -$25.415 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$409.8 billion (2017 est.) / $374.3 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "adequate telephone service for business and government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellular availability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering fixed-line subscribers; relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, potential for growth; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable; two main MNOs despite efforts for competition; 5G development slow given the existing capabilities of LTE; Mexico's first local Internet Exchange Point opens in Mexico City; regulator strives to bring competition and foreign investment to Mexico; regulator brings back SIM card registration program (2020)" + "text": "adequate telephone service for business and government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellular availability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering fixed-line subscribers; relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, potential for growth; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable; two main MNOs despite efforts for competition; 5G development slow given the existing capabilities of LTE; Mexico's first local Internet Exchange Point opens in Mexico City; regulator strives to bring competition and foreign investment to Mexico; regulator brings back SIM card registration program (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "competition has spurred the mobile-cellular market; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 18 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 95 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations (2019)" @@ -982,13 +982,13 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "5,155 (El Salvador) (2018); 73,494 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" + "text": "9,257 (Honduras) (2019); 73,494 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "345,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region; drug cartel violence and government's military response since 2007; violence between and within indigenous groups) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "13 (2018)" + "text": "13 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/north-america/sb.json b/north-america/sb.json index 1d820b85..1c40f083 100644 --- a/north-america/sb.json +++ b/north-america/sb.json @@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - Saint Pierre 15, Miquelon 4; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 6-year terms); ++ Saint Pierre and Miquelon indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college to serve a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term" + "text": "unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - Saint Pierre 15, Miquelon 4; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 6-year terms); ++ Saint Pierre and Miquelon indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college to serve a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term" }, "elections": { "text": "Territorial Council - last held on 19 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2023) ++ French Senate - last held on 24 September 2017 (next to be held no later than September 2020) ++ French National Assembly - last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022)" @@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line teledensity 76 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 508; landing point for the St Pierre and Miquelon Cable connecting Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Canada; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system (2019)" + "text": "country code - 508; landing point for the St Pierre and Miquelon Cable connecting Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Canada; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/oceans/oo.json b/oceans/oo.json index 36bf8497..ad40fed7 100644 --- a/oceans/oo.json +++ b/oceans/oo.json @@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ "text": "Fisheries in 2013-14 landed 302,960 metric tons, of which 96% (291,370 tons-the highest reported catch since 1991) was krill and 4% (11,590 tons) Patagonian toothfish (also known as Chilean sea bass), compared to 15,330 tons in 2012-13 (estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which extends slightly beyond the Southern Ocean area). International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. In the 2014-15 Antarctic summer, 36,702 tourists visited the Southern Ocean, slightly lower than the 37,405 visitors in 2013-14 (estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, and does not include passengers on overflights and those flying directly in and out of Antarctica)." }, "Marine fisheries": { - "text": "the Southern Ocean fishery is relatively small with a total catch of 257,278 mt in 2017; the Food and Agriculture Organization has delineated three regions in the Southern Ocean (Regions 48, 58, 88) that generally encompass the waters south of 40° to 60° South latitude; the most important producers in these regions include Norway (156,884 mt), China (38,112 mt), and South Korea (34,506 mt); Antarctic Krill made up 92% of the total catch in 2017, while other important species include Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish" + "text": "the Southern Ocean fishery is relatively small with a total catch of 257,278 mt in 2017; the Food and Agriculture Organization has delineated three regions in the Southern Ocean (Regions 48, 58, 88) that generally encompass the waters south of 40° to 60° South latitude; the most important producers in these regions include Norway (156,884 mt), China (38,112 mt), and South Korea (34,506 mt); Antarctic Krill made up 92% of the total catch in 2017, while other important species include Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish" } }, "Transportation": { diff --git a/oceans/xo.json b/oceans/xo.json index 8d5f9f96..7a419d75 100644 --- a/oceans/xo.json +++ b/oceans/xo.json @@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Maritime threats": { - "text": "the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of Malacca; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced incidents of piracy; in response, Somali-based pirates, using hijacked fishing trawlers as \"mother ships\" to extend their range, shifted operations as far south as the Mozambique Channel, eastward to the vicinity of the Maldives, and northeastward to the Strait of Hormuz; 2018 saw a slight decrease in attacks over 2017, with one incident in the Gulf of Aden, none in the Red Sea, and two off the coast of Somalia; Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO naval task force established in 2009 to combat Somali piracy, concluded its operations in December 2016 as a result of the drop in reported incidents over the last few years; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2020; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa ++ the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-012-Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 7 August 2019, which states in part that \"heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;\" at present, Iran has seized two foreign-flagged tankers in the Persian Gulf; the US and UK navies have established Operation Sentinel to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman" + "text": "the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of Malacca; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced incidents of piracy; in response, Somali-based pirates, using hijacked fishing trawlers as \"mother ships\" to extend their range, shifted operations as far south as the Mozambique Channel, eastward to the vicinity of the Maldives, and northeastward to the Strait of Hormuz; 2018 saw a slight decrease in attacks over 2017, with one incident in the Gulf of Aden, none in the Red Sea, and two off the coast of Somalia; Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO naval task force established in 2009 to combat Somali piracy, concluded its operations in December 2016 as a result of the drop in reported incidents over the last few years; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2020; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa ++ the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-012-Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 7 August 2019, which states in part that \"heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;\" at present, Iran has seized two foreign-flagged tankers in the Persian Gulf; the US and UK navies have established Operation Sentinel to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/oceans/xq.json b/oceans/xq.json index 4e231227..5c9c40ac 100644 --- a/oceans/xq.json +++ b/oceans/xq.json @@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ "text": "Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals." }, "Marine fisheries": { - "text": "the Arctic fishery region (Region 18) is the smallest in the world with a catch of only 418 mt in 2017, although the Food and Agriculture Organization assesses that some Arctic catches are reported in adjacent regions; Russia and Canada were historically the major producers; in 2017, the five littoral states including Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia, and the US agreed to a 16 year ban on fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean to allow for time to study the ecological system of these waters" + "text": "the Arctic fishery region (Region 18) is the smallest in the world with a catch of only 418 mt in 2017, although the Food and Agriculture Organization assesses that some Arctic catches are reported in adjacent regions; Russia and Canada were historically the major producers; in 2017, the five littoral states including Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia, and the US agreed to a 16 year ban on fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean to allow for time to study the ecological system of these waters" } }, "Transportation": { diff --git a/oceans/zh.json b/oceans/zh.json index 3b07ba08..70d0143f 100644 --- a/oceans/zh.json +++ b/oceans/zh.json @@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ "text": "The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea)." }, "Marine fisheries": { - "text": "the Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 28%, or 22,434,652 mt, of the global catch in 2017; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following: Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the third most important in the world producing more than 11% of the global catch or 9,309,821 mt in 2017; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude with the major producers including Norway (2,208,175 mt), Iceland (1,163,166 mt), Russia (1,105,548 mt), UK (717,545 mt), and Denmark (901,939 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), Blue Whiting, herring, and mackerel; not all fish caught are for human consumption, half of fish catches in the North Sea are processed as fish oil or fish meal, which are used in animal fodder ++ Eastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and seventh largest in the world producing more than 6% of the global catch or 5,085,264 mt in 2017; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa with the major producers including Morocco (1,336,787 mt), Mauritania (779,580 mt), Nigeria (496,206 mt), Senegal (464,199 mt), Ghana (291,904 mt), Cameroon (205,190 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerel ++ Northwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the third most important Atlantic fishery and ninth in the world producing a little more than 2% of the global catch and 1,755,861 mt in 2017; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude including the important fishing grounds over the continental shelf of North America such as the Grand Banks, the Georges Bank, and the Flemish Cap, as well as Baffin Bay with the major producers including the US (889,668 mt), Canada (624,747 mt), and Greenland (169,830 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhaden ++ Mediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.6% or 1,348,299 mt of the world's total capture in 2017; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar with the major producers including Turkey (322,175 mt), Italy (185,067 mt), Tunisia (109,636 mt), Russia (90,883 mt), and Spain (86,342 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, Gobies, and clams" + "text": "the Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 28%, or 22,434,652 mt, of the global catch in 2017; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following: Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the third most important in the world producing more than 11% of the global catch or 9,309,821 mt in 2017; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude with the major producers including Norway (2,208,175 mt), Iceland (1,163,166 mt), Russia (1,105,548 mt), UK (717,545 mt), and Denmark (901,939 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), Blue Whiting, herring, and mackerel; not all fish caught are for human consumption, half of fish catches in the North Sea are processed as fish oil or fish meal, which are used in animal fodder ++ Eastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and seventh largest in the world producing more than 6% of the global catch or 5,085,264 mt in 2017; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa with the major producers including Morocco (1,336,787 mt), Mauritania (779,580 mt), Nigeria (496,206 mt), Senegal (464,199 mt), Ghana (291,904 mt), Cameroon (205,190 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerel ++ Northwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the third most important Atlantic fishery and ninth in the world producing a little more than 2% of the global catch and 1,755,861 mt in 2017; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude including the important fishing grounds over the continental shelf of North America such as the Grand Banks, the Georges Bank, and the Flemish Cap, as well as Baffin Bay with the major producers including the US (889,668 mt), Canada (624,747 mt), and Greenland (169,830 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhaden ++ Mediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.6% or 1,348,299 mt of the world's total capture in 2017; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar with the major producers including Turkey (322,175 mt), Italy (185,067 mt), Tunisia (109,636 mt), Russia (90,883 mt), and Spain (86,342 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, Gobies, and clams" } }, "Transportation": { @@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Maritime threats": { - "text": "West African piracy more than doubled in 2018 totaling 85 attacks, including all of the six ships highjacked during the year; 13 of the 18 vessels fired upon world-wide occurred in West African waters; Nigerian pirates are very aggresive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore and boarded 29 ships in 2018; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-010-Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 19 July 2019, which states in part \"Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom (KFR) continue to serve as significant threats to U.S. flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). ...According to the Office of Naval Intelligence's “Weekly Piracy Reports” 72 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea occurred in the GoG region this year as of July 9, 2019. Attacks, kidnappings for ransom (KFR), and boardings to steal valuables from the ships and crews are the most common types of incidents with approximately 75 percent of all incidents taking place off Nigeria. During the first six months of 2019, there were 15 kidnapping and 3 hijackings in the GoG.\"" + "text": "West African piracy more than doubled in 2018 totaling 85 attacks, including all of the six ships highjacked during the year; 13 of the 18 vessels fired upon world-wide occurred in West African waters; Nigerian pirates are very aggresive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore and boarded 29 ships in 2018; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-010-Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 19 July 2019, which states in part \"Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom (KFR) continue to serve as significant threats to U.S. flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). ...According to the Office of Naval Intelligence's \"Weekly Piracy Reports\" 72 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea occurred in the GoG region this year as of July 9, 2019. Attacks, kidnappings for ransom (KFR), and boardings to steal valuables from the ships and crews are the most common types of incidents with approximately 75 percent of all incidents taking place off Nigeria. During the first six months of 2019, there were 15 kidnapping and 3 hijackings in the GoG.\"" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/south-america/ar.json b/south-america/ar.json index 8d77fa89..213e6f13 100644 --- a/south-america/ar.json +++ b/south-america/ar.json @@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ "text": "$637.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.9% (2017 est.) / -1.8% (2016 est.) / 2.7% (2015 est.)" + "text": "-2.03% (2019 est.) / -2.53% (2018 est.) / 2.83% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$20,900 (2017 est.) / $20,600 (2016 est.) / $21,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "8.4% (2017 est.) / 8.5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "9.84% (2019 est.) / 9.18% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "25.7% (2017 est.)", @@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ } }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$31.32 billion (2017 est.) / -$14.69 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$3.997 billion (2019 est.) / -$27.049 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$58.45 billion (2017 est.) / $57.78 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ "text": "17 per 100 fixed-line, 131 per 100 mobile-cellular; microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 54; landing points for the UNISUR, Bicentenario, Atlantis-2, SAm-1, and SAC, Tannat, Malbec and ARBR submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations - 112 (2019)" + "text": "country code - 54; landing points for the UNISUR, Bicentenario, Atlantis-2, SAm-1, and SAC, Tannat, Malbec and ARBR submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations - 112 (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; since 2010, France and the US are the leading suppliers of equipment; Argentina has an indigenous defense industry that can produce air, land, and sea systems (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "230 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (March 2020)" + "text": "250 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires parental consent); no conscription; if the number of volunteers fails to meet the quota of recruits for a particular year, Congress can authorize the conscription of citizens turning 18 that year for a period not exceeding one year (2012)" diff --git a/south-america/bl.json b/south-america/bl.json index 03a33e45..c6069682 100644 --- a/south-america/bl.json +++ b/south-america/bl.json @@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ "text": "bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A" }, "vectorborne diseases": { - "text": "dengue fever and malaria" + "text": "dengue fever and malaria" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { @@ -419,19 +419,19 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "Interim President Jeanine ANEZ Chavez (since 12 November 2019); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government ++ note: former President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma resigned from office on 10 November 2019 over alleged election rigging; resignations of all his constitutionally designated successors followed, including the Vice President, President of the Senate, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and First Vice President of the Senate, leaving the Second Vice President of the Senate, Jeanine ANEZ Chavez, the highest-ranking official still in office; her appointment to the presidency was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court" + "text": "President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020); Vice President David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes (since 8 November 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government ++ note: former President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma resigned from office on 10 November 2019 over alleged election rigging; resignations of all his constitutionally designated successors followed, including the Vice President, President of the Senate, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and First Vice President of the Senate, leaving the Second Vice President of the Senate, Jeanine ANEZ Chavez, the highest-ranking official still in office; her appointment to the presidency was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court, and she served as interim president until the inauguration of Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora, winner of the 18 October 2020 presidential election" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Interim President Jeanine ANEZ Chavez (since 12 November 2019); Vice President (vacant)" + "text": "President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020); Vice President David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes (since 8 November 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3 ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits (changed from two consecutive term limit by Constitutional Court in late 2017); election last held on 18 October 2020, with a second round on 29 November if needed (next to be held in 2025)" + "text": "president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3 ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits (changed from two consecutive term limit by Constitutional Court in late 2017); election last held on 18 October 2020" }, "election results": { - "text": "Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1%; note - Luis ARCE will take office in November 2020" + "text": "Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -439,10 +439,10 @@ "text": "bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of: Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 70 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 53 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote, and 7 - apportioned to non-contiguous, rural areas in 7 of the 9 states - directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Chamber of Senators - last held on 20 October 2019, but the results were annulled and a new election - originally scheduled for 3 May 2020 and then moved to 6 September - was postponed until 18 October due to the COVID-19 pandemic ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 October 2019, but the results were annulled and a new election - originally scheduled for 3 May 2020 and then moved to 6 September - was postponed until 18 October due to the COVID-19 pandemic" + "text": "Chamber of Senators - last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Chamber of Senators - results annulled ++ Chamber of Deputies - results annulled" + "text": "Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 21, ACC 11, Creemos 4; ++ Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 75, ACC 39, Creemos 16" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ "text": "$37.78 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "4.2% (2017 est.) / 4.3% (2016 est.) / 4.9% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.22% (2019 est.) / 4.23% (2018 est.) / 4.19% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$7,600 (2017 est.) / $7,400 (2016 est.) / $7,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ "text": "1.2 million (2013)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "93% (2016)" + "text": "95.6% (2018)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "99.3% (2016)" @@ -786,10 +786,10 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "lowest GDP in the area; much of the population live in remote valleys and telecommunications is poor; consumers pick from multiple long-distance carriers for each call; reliability, and coverage have steadily improved, but some remote areas are still underserved; operators plan to extend fiber to all 339 municipal capital cities by 2022; move from 3G to LTE available by all 3 mobile companies; 92% of all Internet is through smartphone; broadband services remain expensive by the lack of competition and that fact that Bolivia is landlocked and does not have access through submarine cables; MNP (mobile number portability) launched in October 2018; Bolivian Space Agency planning to launch a second telecom satellite after 2020 (2020)" + "text": "lowest GDP in the area; much of the population live in remote valleys and telecommunications is poor; consumers pick from multiple long-distance carriers for each call; reliability, and coverage have steadily improved, but some remote areas are still underserved; operators plan to extend fiber to all 339 municipal capital cities by 2022; move from 3G to LTE available by all 3 mobile companies; 92% of all Internet is through smartphone; broadband services remain expensive by the lack of competition and that fact that Bolivia is landlocked and does not have access through submarine cables; MNP (mobile number portability) launched in October 2018; Bolivian Space Agency planning to launch a second telecom satellite after 2020 (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "6 per 100 fixed-line, mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and teledensity stands at 101 per 100 persons; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities (2019)" + "text": "6 per 100 fixed-line, mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and teledensity stands at 101 per 100 persons; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 591; Bolivia has no direct access to submarine cable networks and must therefore connect to the rest of the world either via satellite or through terrestrial links across neighboring countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" diff --git a/south-america/br.json b/south-america/br.json index 9e57a559..07ba485d 100644 --- a/south-america/br.json +++ b/south-america/br.json @@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ "text": "Federal Senate - last held on 7 October 2018 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2022 for one-third of the Senate) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 7, PP 5, REDE 5, DEM 4, PSDB 4, PSDC 4, PSL 4, PT 4, PDT 2, PHS 2, PPS 2, PSB 2, PTB 2, Podemos 1, PR 1, PRB 1, PROS 1, PRP 1, PSC 1, SD 1; composition - men 70, women 11, percent of women 13.6%     ++ Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 56, PSL 52, PP 37, PMDB 34, PSDC 34, PR 33, PSB 32, PRB 30, DEM 29, PSDB 29, PDT 28, SD 13, Podemos 11, PSOL 10, PTB 10, PCdoB 9, NOVO 8, PPS 8, PROS 8, PSC 8, Avante 7, PHS 6, Patriota 5, PRP 4, PV 4, PMN 3, PTC 2, DC 1, PPL 1, REDE 1; composition - men 462, women 51, percent of women 9.9%; total National Congress percent of women 10.4%" + "text": "Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 7, PP 5, REDE 5, DEM 4, PSDB 4, PSDC 4, PSL 4, PT 4, PDT 2, PHS 2, PPS 2, PSB 2, PTB 2, Podemos 1, PR 1, PRB 1, PROS 1, PRP 1, PSC 1, SD 1; composition - men 70, women 11, percent of women 13.6% ++ Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 56, PSL 52, PP 37, PMDB 34, PSDC 34, PR 33, PSB 32, PRB 30, DEM 29, PSDB 29, PDT 28, SD 13, Podemos 11, PSOL 10, PTB 10, PCdoB 9, NOVO 8, PPS 8, PROS 8, PSC 8, Avante 7, PHS 6, Patriota 5, PRP 4, PV 4, PMN 3, PTC 2, DC 1, PPL 1, REDE 1; composition - men 462, women 51, percent of women 9.9%; total National Congress percent of women 10.4%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Avante [Luis TIBE] (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB)  ++ Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO] ++ Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER] ++ Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Cristiane BRASIL] ++ Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz] ++ Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA] ++ Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Tasso JEREISSATI] ++ Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Carlos Roberto SIQUEIRA de Barros] ++ Christian Democracy or DC [Jose Maria EYMAEL] (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party or PSDC) ++ Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO] ++ Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO] ++ Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI] ++ The Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL) ++ Free Homeland Party or PPL [Sergio RUBENS] ++ Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA] ++ Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Eduardo MACHADO] ++ National Mobilization Party or PMN [Telma RIBEIRO dos Santos] ++ New Party or NOVO [Moises JARDIM] ++ Party of the Republic or PR [Alfredo NASCIMENTO] ++ Patriota [Adilson BARROSO Oliveira] (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) ++ Podemos [Renata ABREU] (formerly National Labor Party or PTN)  ++ Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE] ++ Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA] ++ Progressive Republican Party or PRP [Ovasco Roma Altimari RESENDE] ++ Republican Social Order Party or PROS [Euripedes JUNIOR] ++ Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS] ++ Social Democratic Party or PSD [Guilherme CAMPOS] ++ Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR] ++ Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Luiz ARAUJO] ++ Solidarity or SD [Paulo PEREIRA DA SILVA] ++ Sustainability Network or REDE [Marina SILVA] ++ United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA] ++ Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA] ++ Workers' Party or PT [Gleisi HOFFMAN]" + "text": "Avante [Luis TIBE] (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB) ++ Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO] ++ Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER] ++ Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Cristiane BRASIL] ++ Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz] ++ Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA] ++ Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Tasso JEREISSATI] ++ Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Carlos Roberto SIQUEIRA de Barros] ++ Christian Democracy or DC [Jose Maria EYMAEL] (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party or PSDC) ++ Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO] ++ Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO] ++ Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI] ++ The Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL) ++ Free Homeland Party or PPL [Sergio RUBENS] ++ Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA] ++ Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Eduardo MACHADO] ++ National Mobilization Party or PMN [Telma RIBEIRO dos Santos] ++ New Party or NOVO [Moises JARDIM] ++ Party of the Republic or PR [Alfredo NASCIMENTO] ++ Patriota [Adilson BARROSO Oliveira] (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) ++ Podemos [Renata ABREU] (formerly National Labor Party or PTN) ++ Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE] ++ Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA] ++ Progressive Republican Party or PRP [Ovasco Roma Altimari RESENDE] ++ Republican Social Order Party or PROS [Euripedes JUNIOR] ++ Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS] ++ Social Democratic Party or PSD [Guilherme CAMPOS] ++ Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR] ++ Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Luiz ARAUJO] ++ Solidarity or SD [Paulo PEREIRA DA SILVA] ++ Sustainability Network or REDE [Marina SILVA] ++ United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA] ++ Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA] ++ Workers' Party or PT [Gleisi HOFFMAN]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ "text": "$2.055 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1% (2017 est.) / -3.5% (2016 est.) / -3.5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.13% (2019 est.) / 1.2% (2018 est.) / 1.62% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$15,600 (2017 est.) / $15,600 (2016 est.) / $16,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ "text": "0% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "104.2 million (2017)" + "text": "86.621 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "12.8% (2017 est.) / 11.3% (2016 est.)" + "text": "11.93% (2019 est.) / 12.26% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "4.2% (2016 est.)", @@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ "text": "3.4% (2017 est.) / 8.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$9.762 billion (2017 est.) / -$23.55 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$50.927 billion (2019 est.) / -$41.54 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$217.2 billion (2017 est.) / $184.5 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 16 per 100 persons; less-expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major impetus broadening telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 99 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 55; landing points for a number of submarine cables, including Malbec, ARBR, Tamnat, SAC, SAm-1, Atlantis -2, Seabras-1, Monet, EllaLink, BRUSA, GlobeNet, AMX-1, Brazilian Festoon, Bicentenario, Unisur, Junior, Americas -II, SAE x1, SAIL, SACS and SABR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station; satellites is a major communication platform, as it is almost impossible to lay fiber optic cable in the thick vegetation (2019)" + "text": "country code - 55; landing points for a number of submarine cables, including Malbec, ARBR, Tamnat, SAC, SAm-1, Atlantis -2, Seabras-1, Monet, EllaLink, BRUSA, GlobeNet, AMX-1, Brazilian Festoon, Bicentenario, Unisur, Junior, Americas -II, SAE x1, SAIL, SACS and SABR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station; satellites is a major communication platform, as it is almost impossible to lay fiber optic cable in the thick vegetation (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ "text": "the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; since 2010, France, Germany, the UK, and the US are the leading suppliers of military equipment to Brazil; Brazil's defense industry is capable of designing and manufacturing equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2019 )" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "200 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (April 2020)" + "text": "220 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are \"long-service\" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s, when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2012)" @@ -969,6 +969,9 @@ "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "251,832 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2020)" + }, + "stateless persons": { + "text": "7 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/south-america/ci.json b/south-america/ci.json index ae8c2dd1..5881991c 100644 --- a/south-america/ci.json +++ b/south-america/ci.json @@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ "text": "$277 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.5% (2017 est.) / 1.3% (2016 est.) / 2.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "1.03% (2019 est.) / 4% (2018 est.) / 1.41% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$24,600 (2017 est.) / $24,500 (2016 est.) / $24,400 (2015 est.)", @@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ "text": "-0.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "8.881 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "7.249 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.7% (2017 est.) / 6.5% (2016 est.)" + "text": "7.22% (2019 est.) / 7.33% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "14.4% (2013)" @@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ "text": "2.2% (2017 est.) / 3.8% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$4.102 billion (2017 est.) / -$3.484 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$10.933 billion (2019 est.) / -$10.601 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$69.23 billion (2017 est.) / $60.6 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ "text": "number of fixed-line connections have stagnated to 15 per 100 in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching 132 telephones per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 56; landing points for the Pan-Am, Prat, SAm-1, American Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable, FOS Quellon-Chacabuco, Fibra Optical Austral, SAC and Curie submarine cables providing links to the US, Caribbean and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 56; landing points for the Pan-Am, Prat, SAm-1, American Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable, FOS Quellon-Chacabuco, Fibra Optical Austral, SAC and Curie submarine cables providing links to the US, Caribbean and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile):  Chilean Army, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh); Carabineros de Chile (National Police Force) (2020)", + "text": "Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile): Chilean Army, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh); Carabineros de Chile (National Police Force) (2020)", "note": { "text": "note: Carabineros de Chile are responsible to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior" } diff --git a/south-america/co.json b/south-america/co.json index 449eefbb..29e30e66 100644 --- a/south-america/co.json +++ b/south-america/co.json @@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "10.978 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.000 million Medellin, 2.782 million Cali, 2.273 million Barranquilla, 1.331 million Bucaramanga, 1.063 million Cartagena (2020)" + "text": "10.978 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.000 million Medellin, 2.782 million Cali, 2.273 million Barranquilla, 1.331 million Bucaramanga, 1.063 million Cartagena (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ "text": "bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of: Senate or Senado (108 seats; 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for indigenous communities, 5 members of the People's Alternative Revolutionary Force (FARC) political party for the 2018 and 2022 elections only as per the 2016 peace accord, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) ++ Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (172 seats; 165 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, 5 members of the FARC for the 2018 and 2022 elections only as per the 2016 peace accord, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up vice presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "  ++ Senate - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022) ++ Chamber of Representatives - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022)" + "text": "++ Senate - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022) ++ Chamber of Representatives - last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2022)" }, "election results": { "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CD 19, CR 16, PC 15, PL 14, U Party 14, Green Alliance 10, PDA 5, other 9; composition - men 77, women 31, percent of women 28.7% ++ Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 35, CD 32, CR 30, U Party 25, PC 21, Green Alliance 9, other 13; composition - men 147, women 25, percent of women 14.5%; total Congress percent of women 20%" @@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ "text": "$314.5 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "1.8% (2017 est.) / 2% (2016 est.) / 3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "3.26% (2019 est.) / 2.51% (2018 est.) / 1.36% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$14,400 (2017 est.) / $14,300 (2016 est.) / $14,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ "text": "-2.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "25.76 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "19.309 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "9.3% (2017 est.) / 9.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "10.5% (2019 est.) / 9.68% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "28% (2017 est.)" @@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ "text": "4.3% (2017 est.) / 7.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$10.36 billion (2017 est.) / -$12.13 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$13.748 billion (2019 est.) / -$13.118 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$39.48 billion (2017 est.) / $31.39 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ "text": "fixed-line connections stand at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is about 132 per 100 persons; competition among cellular service providers is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed-line services; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 57; landing points for the SAC, Maya-1, SAIT, ACROS, AMX-1, CFX-1, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, Globe Net, PAN-AM, SAm-1 submarine cable systems providing links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 57; landing points for the SAC, Maya-1, SAIT, ACROS, AMX-1, CFX-1, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, Globe Net, PAN-AM, SAm-1 submarine cable systems providing links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -982,7 +982,7 @@ "text": "7,967,965 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985; about 300,000 new IDPs each year since 2000) (2020)" }, "stateless persons": { - "text": "11 (2018)" + "text": "11 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/south-america/ec.json b/south-america/ec.json index 49470f96..7567ced2 100644 --- a/south-america/ec.json +++ b/south-america/ec.json @@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ "text": "$104.3 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.4% (2017 est.) / -1.2% (2016 est.) / 0.1% (2015 est.)" + "text": "0.06% (2019 est.) / 1.29% (2018 est.) / 2.37% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$11,500 (2017 est.) / $11,400 (2016 est.) / $11,700 (2015 est.)", @@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.6% (2017 est.) / 5.2% (2016 est.)" + "text": "5.71% (2019 est.) / 5.26% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "21.5% (December 2017 est.)" @@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ "text": "0.4% (2017 est.) / 1.7% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$349 million (2017 est.) / $1.442 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$53 million (2019 est.) / -$1.328 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$19.62 billion (2017 est.) / $16.8 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -799,20 +799,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "much of the country's fixed-line structure is influenced by topographical challenges associated with the Andes Mountains; Ecuador has a small telecom market with a dominant mobile sector; the state-owned incumbent CNT dominates the fixed-line market, and therefore the DSL broadband market as well; mobile broadband market growing and expanding LTE services (2020)" + "text": "much of the country's fixed-line structure is influenced by topographical challenges associated with the Andes Mountains; Ecuador has a small telecom market with a dominant mobile sector; the state-owned incumbent CNT dominates the fixed-line market, and therefore the DSL broadband market as well; mobile broadband market growing and expanding LTE services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line services with digital networks provided by multiple telecommunications operators; fixed-line teledensity stands at about 13 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular use has surged and subscribership has reached 91 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, America Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable and SAm-1 submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, and extending onward to the Caribbean and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 593; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, America Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable and SAm-1 submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, and extending onward to the Caribbean and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "about 60 media outlets are recognized as national; the Ecuadorian Government controls 12 national outlets and multiple radio stations; there are multiple TV networks and many local channels, as well as more than 300 radio stations; many TV and radio stations are privately owned; broadcast media is required by law to give the government free airtime to broadcast programs produced by the state; the Ecuadorian Government is the biggest advertiser and grants advertising contracts to outlets that provide favorable coverage; an antimonopoly law and communication law limit ownership and investment in the media by non-media businesses (2019)" + "text": "about 60 media outlets are recognized as national; the Ecuadorian Government controls 12 national outlets and multiple radio stations; there are multiple TV networks and many local channels, as well as more than 300 radio stations; many TV and radio stations are privately owned; broadcast media is required by law to give the government free airtime to broadcast programs produced by the state; the Ecuadorian Government is the biggest advertiser and grants advertising contracts to outlets that provide favorable coverage; an antimonopoly law and communication law limit ownership and investment in the media by non-media businesses (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ec" diff --git a/south-america/gy.json b/south-america/gy.json index e5bf734d..4ec62a32 100644 --- a/south-america/gy.json +++ b/south-america/gy.json @@ -771,13 +771,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "reliable international long distance service; 100% digital network; national transmission supported by fiber optic cable and rural network by microwaves; more than 150,000 lines; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services; 2019 budget allocates funds for ICT (Information and Communications Technology) development; broadband subscribers remains small and end-users incur expense to use (2020)" + "text": "reliable international long distance service; 100% digital network; national transmission supported by fiber optic cable and rural network by microwaves; more than 150,000 lines; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services; 2019 budget allocates funds for ICT (Information and Communications Technology) development; broadband subscribers remains small and end-users incur expense to use (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is about 18 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 83 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 592; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable to Suriname, and the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 592; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable to Suriname, and the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" diff --git a/south-america/pa.json b/south-america/pa.json index a5103052..dfca2a8e 100644 --- a/south-america/pa.json +++ b/south-america/pa.json @@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Lee MCCLENNY (since 20 February 2018)" + "text": "Ambassador Lee MCCLENNY (since 20 February 2018)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[595] (21) 213-715" @@ -676,13 +676,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "98.4% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "99.9% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "96.1% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { diff --git a/south-america/pe.json b/south-america/pe.json index 5b09e76e..757f7823 100644 --- a/south-america/pe.json +++ b/south-america/pe.json @@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 60.2%, Amerindian 25.8%, white 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.)" + "text": "mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 60.2%, Amerindian 25.8%, white 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "Spanish (official) 82.9%, Quechua (official) 13.6%, Aymara (official) 1.6%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages) 0.8%, other (includes foreign languages and sign language) 0.2%, none .1%, unspecified .7% (2017 est.)" }, "Religions": { - "text": "Roman Catholic 60%, Christian 14.6% (includes evangelical 11.1%, other 3.5%), other .3%, none 4%, unspecified 21.1% (2017 est.)" + "text": "Roman Catholic 60%, Christian 14.6% (includes evangelical 11.1%, other 3.5%), other .3%, none 4%, unspecified 21.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "Peru's urban and coastal communities have benefited much more from recent economic growth than rural, Afro-Peruvian, indigenous, and poor populations of the Amazon and mountain regions. The poverty rate has dropped substantially during the last decade but remains stubbornly high at about 30% (more than 55% in rural areas). After remaining almost static for about a decade, Peru's malnutrition rate began falling in 2005, when the government introduced a coordinated strategy focusing on hygiene, sanitation, and clean water. School enrollment has improved, but achievement scores reflect ongoing problems with educational quality. Many poor children temporarily or permanently drop out of school to help support their families. About a quarter to a third of Peruvian children aged 6 to 14 work, often putting in long hours at hazardous mining or construction sites. ++ Peru was a country of immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has become a country of emigration in the last few decades. Beginning in the 19th century, Peru brought in Asian contract laborers mainly to work on coastal plantations. Populations of Chinese and Japanese descent - among the largest in Latin America - are economically and culturally influential in Peru today. Peruvian emigration began rising in the 1980s due to an economic crisis and a violent internal conflict, but outflows have stabilized in the last few years as economic conditions have improved. Nonetheless, more than 2 million Peruvians have emigrated in the last decade, principally to the US, Spain, and Argentina." @@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ "text": "Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (Fuerza Popular) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (Peruanos Por el Kambio) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (Broad Front) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (Popular Action) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%" }, "note": { - "text": "note: President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo assumed office after President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard resigned from office on 21 March 2018; after VIZCARRA was impeached on 9 November 2020, the constitutional line of succession led to the inauguration of the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel Arturo MERINO, as President of Peru on 10 November 2020; following his resignation only days later on 15 November 2020, Francisco Rafael SAGASTI Hochhausler - who had been elected by the legislature to be the new President of Congress on 16 November 2020 - was then sworn in as President of Peru on 17 November 2020 by line of succession ++ note: Prime Minister Antero FLORES-ARAOZ Esparza (since 11 November 2020) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president ++" + "text": "note: President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo assumed office after President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard resigned from office on 21 March 2018; after VIZCARRA was impeached on 9 November 2020, the constitutional line of succession led to the inauguration of the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel Arturo MERINO, as President of Peru on 10 November 2020; following his resignation only days later on 15 November 2020, Francisco Rafael SAGASTI Hochhausler - who had been elected by the legislature to be the new President of Congress on 16 November 2020 - was then sworn in as President of Peru on 17 November 2020 by line of succession ++ note: Prime Minister Violeta BERMUDEZ (since 18 November 2020) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president ++" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ "text": "$214.2 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "2.5% (2017 est.) / 4% (2016 est.) / 3.3% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.18% (2019 est.) / 3.97% (2018 est.) / 2.48% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$13,500 (2017 est.) / $13,300 (2016 est.) / $13,000 (2015 est.)", @@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ "text": "2.7% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "17.03 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "3.421 million (2020 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: individuals older than 14 years of age" } @@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "6.9% (2017 est.) / 6.7% (2016 est.)", + "text": "6.58% (2019 est.) / 6.73% (2018 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment" } @@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ } }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.414 billion (2017 est.) / -$5.239 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$3.531 billion (2019 est.) / -$3.821 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$44.92 billion (2017 est.) / $37.02 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -794,13 +794,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "good mobile operator competition with LTE services; broadband subscriber penetration low compared to other Latin American countries; 3G network and new LTE services expanded providing mobile broadband to rural communities, regulator auctions of 700 MHz spectrum for LTE services; Peru is seen as a potential market for growth in broadband, with government work to install fiber-optic backbone to remote areas (2020)" + "text": "good mobile operator competition with LTE services; broadband subscriber penetration low compared to other Latin American countries; 3G network and new LTE services expanded providing mobile broadband to rural communities, regulator auctions of 700 MHz spectrum for LTE services; Peru is seen as a potential market for growth in broadband, with government work to install fiber-optic backbone to remote areas (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, now 124 telephones per 100 persons; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 51; landing points for the SAM-1, IGW, American Movil-Telxius, SAC and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 51; landing points for the SAM-1, IGW, American Movil-Telxius, SAC and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -952,13 +952,13 @@ "text": "the Peruvian military's inventory is a mix of mostly older equipment from a wide variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the US; the leading suppliers of military equipment since 2010 are Italy, Russia, and South Korea (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "210 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (April 2020)" + "text": "200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-50 years of age for male and 18-45 years of age for female voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)" }, "Maritime threats": { - "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Peru are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2018, four attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a slight increase from the two reported in 2017; most of these occured in the main port of Callao" + "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Peru are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2018, four attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a slight increase from the two reported in 2017; most of these occured in the main port of Callao" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/south-america/uy.json b/south-america/uy.json index 65ba7f29..0093ea10 100644 --- a/south-america/uy.json +++ b/south-america/uy.json @@ -488,10 +488,10 @@ "text": "Ambassador Kenneth S. GEORGE (since 2 September 2019)" }, "telephone": { - "text": "[598] (2) 1770-2000" + "text": "(+598) 1770-2000" }, "embassy": { - "text": "Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200" + "text": "Laura Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200" }, "mailing address": { "text": "APO AA 34035" @@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Uruguay has a free market economy characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. Uruguay has sought to expand trade within the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and with non-Mercosur members, and President VAZQUEZ has maintained his predecessor's mix of pro-market policies and a strong social safety net.  ++ Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay's economic growth averaged 8% annually during the 2004-08 period. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.6% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country avoided a recession and kept growth rates positive, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment; GDP growth reached 8.9% in 2010 but slowed markedly in the 2012-16 period as a result of a renewed slowdown in the global economy and in Uruguay's main trade partners and Mercosur counterparts, Argentina and Brazil. Reforms in those countries should give Uruguay an economic boost. Growth picked up in 2017." + "text": "Uruguay has a free market economy characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. Uruguay has sought to expand trade within the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and with non-Mercosur members, and President VAZQUEZ has maintained his predecessor's mix of pro-market policies and a strong social safety net. ++ Following financial difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay's economic growth averaged 8% annually during the 2004-08 period. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.6% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country avoided a recession and kept growth rates positive, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment; GDP growth reached 8.9% in 2010 but slowed markedly in the 2012-16 period as a result of a renewed slowdown in the global economy and in Uruguay's main trade partners and Mercosur counterparts, Argentina and Brazil. Reforms in those countries should give Uruguay an economic boost. Growth picked up in 2017." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$78.16 billion (2017 est.) / $76.14 billion (2016 est.) / $74.87 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -766,13 +766,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "fully digitalized; one of the highest broadband penetrations in Latin America; high fixed-line and mobile penetrations as well; FttP coverage by 2022; nationwide 3G coverage and LTE networks; limited 5G commercial reach; strong focus on fiber infrastructure with 70% residential fixed-broadband connections and all business connections (2020)" + "text": "fully digitalized; one of the highest broadband penetrations in Latin America; high fixed-line and mobile penetrations as well; FttP coverage by 2022; nationwide 3G coverage and LTE networks; limited 5G commercial reach; strong focus on fiber infrastructure with 70% residential fixed-broadband connections and all business connections (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 138 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 598; landing points for the Unisor, Tannat, and Bicentenario submarine cable system providing direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; Bicentenario 2012 and Tannat 2017 cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)" + "text": "country code - 598; landing points for the Unisor, Tannat, and Bicentenario submarine cable system providing direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; Bicentenario 2012 and Tannat 2017 cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ "text": "the Armed Forces of Uruguay inventory includes a wide variety of older or second-hand equipment imported from a range of suppliers, including Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and the US (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "930 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MINUSCO); 170 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (March 2020)" + "text": "900 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MINUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-30 years of age (18-22 years of age for Navy) for male or female voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2013)" diff --git a/south-america/ve.json b/south-america/ve.json index f4785ca7..06daaf3d 100644 --- a/south-america/ve.json +++ b/south-america/ve.json @@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ "text": "nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%" }, "Demographic profile": { - "text": "Social investment in Venezuela during the CHAVEZ administration reduced poverty from nearly 50% in 1999 to about 27% in 2011, increased school enrollment, substantially decreased infant and child mortality, and improved access to potable water and sanitation through social investment. \"Missions\" dedicated to education, nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation were funded through petroleum revenues. The sustainability of this progress remains questionable, however, as the continuation of these social programs depends on the prosperity of Venezuela's oil industry. In the long-term, education and health care spending may increase economic growth and reduce income inequality, but rising costs and the staffing of new health care jobs with foreigners are slowing development. ++ While CHAVEZ was in power, more than one million predominantly middle- and upper-class Venezuelans are estimated to have emigrated. The brain drain is attributed to a repressive political system, lack of economic opportunities, steep inflation, a high crime rate, and corruption. Thousands of oil engineers emigrated to Canada, Colombia, and the United States following CHAVEZ's firing of over 20,000 employees of the state-owned petroleum company during a 2002-03 oil strike. Additionally, thousands of Venezuelans of European descent have taken up residence in their ancestral homelands. Nevertheless, Venezuela has attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants from South America and southern Europe because of its lenient migration policy and the availability of education and health care. Venezuela also has been a fairly accommodating host to Colombian refugees, numbering about 170,000 as of year-end 2016. However, since 2014, falling oil prices have driven a major economic crisis that has pushed Venezuelans from all walks of life to migrate or to seek asylum abroad to escape severe shortages of food, water, and medicine; soaring inflation; unemployment; and violence. As of November 2019, an estimated 4.6 million Venezuelans were refugees or migrants worldwide, with almost 80% taking refuge in Latin America and the Caribbean (notably Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as the Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Curacao). Asylum applications increased significantly in the US and Brazil in 2016 and 2017. Several receiving countries are making efforts to increase immigration restrictions and to deport illegal Venezuelan migrants - Ecuador and Peru in August 2018 began requiring valid passports for entry, which are difficult to obtain for Venezuelans. Nevertheless, Venezuelans continue to migrate to avoid economic collapse at home." + "text": "Social investment in Venezuela during the CHAVEZ administration reduced poverty from nearly 50% in 1999 to about 27% in 2011, increased school enrollment, substantially decreased infant and child mortality, and improved access to potable water and sanitation through social investment. \"Missions\" dedicated to education, nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation were funded through petroleum revenues. The sustainability of this progress remains questionable, however, as the continuation of these social programs depends on the prosperity of Venezuela's oil industry. In the long-term, education and health care spending may increase economic growth and reduce income inequality, but rising costs and the staffing of new health care jobs with foreigners are slowing development. ++ While CHAVEZ was in power, more than one million predominantly middle- and upper-class Venezuelans are estimated to have emigrated. The brain drain is attributed to a repressive political system, lack of economic opportunities, steep inflation, a high crime rate, and corruption. Thousands of oil engineers emigrated to Canada, Colombia, and the United States following CHAVEZ's firing of over 20,000 employees of the state-owned petroleum company during a 2002-03 oil strike. Additionally, thousands of Venezuelans of European descent have taken up residence in their ancestral homelands. Nevertheless, Venezuela has attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants from South America and southern Europe because of its lenient migration policy and the availability of education and health care. Venezuela also has been a fairly accommodating host to Colombian refugees, numbering about 170,000 as of year-end 2016. However, since 2014, falling oil prices have driven a major economic crisis that has pushed Venezuelans from all walks of life to migrate or to seek asylum abroad to escape severe shortages of food, water, and medicine; soaring inflation; unemployment; and violence. As of November 2019, an estimated 4.6 million Venezuelans were refugees or migrants worldwide, with almost 80% taking refuge in Latin America and the Caribbean (notably Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as the Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Curacao). Asylum applications increased significantly in the US and Brazil in 2016 and 2017. Several receiving countries are making efforts to increase immigration restrictions and to deport illegal Venezuelan migrants - Ecuador and Peru in August 2018 began requiring valid passports for entry, which are difficult to obtain for Venezuelans. Nevertheless, Venezuelans continue to migrate to avoid economic collapse at home." }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { @@ -495,10 +495,10 @@ "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James \"Jimmy\" STORY (since July 2018); note - on 11 March 2019, the Department of State announced the temporary suspension of operations of the US Embassy in Caracas and the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel; all consular services, routine and emergency, are suspended" }, "telephone": { - "text": "[58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours)" + "text": "[58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours) ++" }, "embassy": { - "text": "now operating from Bogota, Colombia" + "text": "now operating from Bogota, Colombia ++ previously - F St. and Suapure St.; Urb . Colinas de Valle Arriba; Caracas 1080" }, "mailing address": { "text": "P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037" @@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ "text": "$210.1 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "-14% (2017 est.) / -16.5% (2016 est.) / -6.2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "-19.67% (2018 est.) / -14% (2017 est.) / -15.76% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$12,500 (2017 est.) / $14,400 (2016 est.) / $17,300 (2015 est.)", @@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "27.1% (2017 est.) / 20.6% (2016 est.)" + "text": "6.9% (2018 est.) / 27.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "19.7% (2015 est.)" @@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ "text": "all citizens of military service age (18-60 years old) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training, though mandatory recruitment is forbidden; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months (2016)" }, "Maritime threats": { - "text": "The International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; in 2018, 11 attacks were reported which was a slight decrease from the 12 attacks in 2017.  Nevertheless, the waters off Venezuela continue to be the fourth most dangerous area for mariners in the world. (2018)" + "text": "The International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; in 2018, 11 attacks were reported which was a slight decrease from the 12 attacks in 2017. Nevertheless, the waters off Venezuela continue to be the fourth most dangerous area for mariners in the world. (2018)" } }, "Terrorism": { @@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "67,156 (Colombia) (2018)" + "text": "67,622 (Colombia) (2019)" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { diff --git a/south-asia/af.json b/south-asia/af.json index 58d041d2..ee5f8343 100644 --- a/south-asia/af.json +++ b/south-asia/af.json @@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "18.9% (2018)", "note": { - "text": "note:  percent of women aged 12-49" + "text": "note: percent of women aged 12-49" } }, "Drinking water source": { @@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 September 2019 (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Ashraf GHANI declared winner by the Independent Election Commission on 18 February 2020; Ashraf GHANI 50.6%, Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. 39.5%, other 0.9%" + "text": "Ashraf GHANI declared winner by the Independent Election Commission on 18 February 2020; Ashraf GHANI 50.6%, Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. 39.5%, other 0.9%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "note - the Ministry of Justice licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019 " + "text": "note - the Ministry of Justice licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ "text": "18,999,254 (2012)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "84.1% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2018)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "98% (2016)" @@ -798,14 +798,14 @@ "text": "less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)" + "text": "country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), operates a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the provinces; an estimated 174 private radio stations, 83 TV stations, and about a dozen international broadcasters are available (2019)" + "text": "state-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), operates a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the provinces; an estimated 174 private radio stations, 83 TV stations, and about a dozen international broadcasters are available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".af" @@ -913,16 +913,19 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are comprised of military, police, and other security elements: Ministry of Defense: Afghan National Army ((ANA), Afghan Air Force, Afghan Special Security Forces (includes Special Operations Forces), Afghanistan National Army Territorial Forces (ANA-TF)); Afghan Border Force (ABF); Afghan National Civil Order Force (ANCOF) ++ Ministry of Interior: Afghan Uniform (National) Police (AUP); Public Security Police (PSP); Afghan Border Police (ABP); Afghan Anti-Crime Police; Afghan Local Police; Afghan Public Protection Force ++ National Directorate of Security ((NDS), intelligence service) (2020)" + "text": "Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are comprised of military, police, and other security elements: Ministry of Defense: Afghan National Army ((ANA), Afghan Air Force, Afghan Army Special Security Forces (includes ANA Special Operations Command), Afghanistan National Army Territorial Forces (ANA-TF)); Afghan Border Force (ABF); Afghan National Civil Order Force (ANCOF) ++ Ministry of Interior: Afghan Uniform (National) Police (AUP); Public Security Police (PSP); Afghan Border Police (ABP); Afghan Anti-Crime Police; Afghan Local Police; Afghan Public Protection Force; Special Security Forces ++ National Directorate of Security ((NDS), intelligence service) (2020)" }, "Military expenditures": { "text": "1.2% of GDP (2019) / 1% of GDP (2018) / 0.9% of GDP (2017) / 1% of GDP (2016) / 1% of GDP (2015)" }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { - "text": "the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have approximately 180,000 active personnel (173,000 Army; 7,000 Air); est. 150,000 Afghan National Police (2019)" + "text": "Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have approximately 290,000 active personnel; Ministry of Defense: 185,000; Ministry of Interior: 105,000 (2020)", + "note": { + "text": "note: the authorized strength of the ANDSF, the force level that the international community is willing to fund, is 352,000 personnel" + } }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { - "text": "the Afghan Army and Air Force inventory is mostly a mix of Soviet-era and more modern US equipment; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of arms to Afghanistan, followed by Russia (2019 est.)" + "text": "the Afghan Army and Air Force inventory is mostly a mix of Soviet-era and more modern US equipment; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of arms to Afghanistan, followed by Russia (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2017)" diff --git a/south-asia/bg.json b/south-asia/bg.json index 70b9352e..11b7db15 100644 --- a/south-asia/bg.json +++ b/south-asia/bg.json @@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "21.006 million DHAKA (capital), 5.020 million Chittagong, 954,000 Khulna, 908,000 Rajshahi, 852,000 Sylhet (2020)" + "text": "21.006 million DHAKA (capital), 5.020 million Chittagong, 954,000 Khulna, 908,000 Rajshahi, 852,000 Sylhet (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ "text": "unicameral House of the Nation or Jatiya Sangsad (350 seats; 300 members in single-seat territorial constituencies directly elected by simple majority popular vote; 50 members - reserved for women only - indirectly elected by the elected members by proportional representation vote using single transferable vote; all members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 30 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023)" + "text": "last held on 30 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of January 2020 - AL 299, JP 27, BNP 7, other 10, independent 4, vacant 3; composition - men 274, women 73, percent of women 21%" @@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ }, "Economy": { "Economy - overview": { - "text": "Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 2005 despite prolonged periods of political instability, poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. ++   ++ Garments, the backbone of Bangladesh's industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports in FY 2016-17. The industrial sector continues to grow, despite the need for improvements in factory safety conditions. Steady export growth in the garment sector, combined with $13 billion in remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, contributed to Bangladesh's rising foreign exchange reserves in FY 2016-17. Recent improvements to energy infrastructure, including the start of liquefied natural gas imports in 2018, represent a major step forward in resolving a key growth bottleneck." + "text": "Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 2005 despite prolonged periods of political instability, poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. ++ ++ Garments, the backbone of Bangladesh's industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports in FY 2016-17. The industrial sector continues to grow, despite the need for improvements in factory safety conditions. Steady export growth in the garment sector, combined with $13 billion in remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, contributed to Bangladesh's rising foreign exchange reserves in FY 2016-17. Recent improvements to energy infrastructure, including the start of liquefied natural gas imports in 2018, represent a major step forward in resolving a key growth bottleneck." }, "GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "text": "$690.3 billion (2017 est.) / $642.7 billion (2016 est.) / $599.5 billion (2015 est.)", @@ -688,16 +688,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "60.3 million (2013)" + "text": "28 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "75.9% (2016)" + "text": "83% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "94% (2016)" + "text": "93% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "68.9% (2016)" + "text": "77% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -789,10 +789,10 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "slow to moderate growth in mobile subscriber rate; regulator's recent budget allowance and telecoms investment in LTE infrastructure is leading the way to the migration of 5G; fixed broadband penetration in Bangladesh remains very low mainly due to the dominance of the mobile platform (2020)" + "text": "slow to moderate growth in mobile subscriber rate; regulator's recent budget allowance and telecoms investment in LTE infrastructure is leading the way to the migration of 5G; fixed broadband penetration in Bangladesh remains very low mainly due to the dominance of the mobile platform (2020)" }, "domestic": { - "text": "fixed-line teledensity remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 101 telephones per 100 persons; mobile subscriber growth is anticipated over the next five years to 2023; strong local competition (2019)" + "text": "fixed-line teledensity remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 101 telephones per 100 persons; mobile subscriber growth is anticipated over the next five years to 2023; strong local competition (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 880; landing points for the SeaMeWe-4 and SeaMeWe-5 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2019)" @@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ "text": "the Bangladesh Defense Force inventory is comprised of mostly Chinese and Russian equipment; since 2010, China and Russia are the chief suppliers of arms to Bangladesh; Bangladesh is currently undertaking a significant defense modernization program, with a focus on naval acquisitions (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,025 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,650 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 115 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,300 Mali (MINUSMA); 1,580 South Sudan (UNMISS) (March 2020)" + "text": "1,300 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,650 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 115 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,300 Mali (MINUSMA); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "16-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi nationality and 10th grade education required; officers: 17-21 years of age, Bangladeshi nationality, and 12th grade education required (2018)" diff --git a/south-asia/bt.json b/south-asia/bt.json index 07f39cb0..1163c4e4 100644 --- a/south-asia/bt.json +++ b/south-asia/bt.json @@ -416,12 +416,12 @@ "text": "National Council election last held on 20 April 2018 (next to be held in 2023) ++ National Assembly - first round held on 15 September 2018 and second round held on 18 October 2018 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents); composition - men 23, women 2, percent of women 8% ++ National Assembly - first round - percent of vote by party - DNT 31.9%, DPT 30.9%, PDP 27.4%, BKP 9.8%; second round - percent of vote by party -  NA; seats by party - DNT 30, DPT 17; composition - men 40, women 7, percent of women 14.9%; note - total Parliament percent of women 12.5%" + "text": "National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents); composition - men 23, women 2, percent of women 8% ++ National Assembly - first round - percent of vote by party - DNT 31.9%, DPT 30.9%, PDP 27.4%, BKP 9.8%; second round - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DNT 30, DPT 17; composition - men 40, women 7, percent of women 14.9%; note - total Parliament percent of women 12.5%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { - "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters" + "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier" @@ -431,14 +431,14 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party or BKP ++ Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Pema GYAMTSHO] (Druk Chirwang Tshogpa or DCT merged with DPT in March 2018) ++ People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY] ++ United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT [Lotay TSHERING]" + "text": "Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party or BKP ++ Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Pema GYAMTSHO] (Druk Chirwang Tshogpa or DCT merged with DPT in March 2018) ++ People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY] ++ United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT [Lotay TSHERING]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "none; the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is Doma TSHERING (since 13 September 2017); address: 343 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551" + "text": "none; the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is Doma TSHERING (since 13 September 2017); address: 343 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" @@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "4G platforms now gaining traction; 4G/WiMAX networks now cover well over half of the country; fixed broadband penetration remains very low, due to the preeminence of the mobile platform; low to moderate growth is expected from this small base with a maturing mobile subscriber market (2020)" + "text": "4G platforms now gaining traction; 4G/WiMAX networks now cover well over half of the country; fixed broadband penetration remains very low, due to the preeminence of the mobile platform; low to moderate growth is expected from this small base with a maturing mobile subscriber market (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "3 to 100 fixed-line, 96 to 100 mobile cellular; domestic service inadequate, notably in rural areas (2019)" diff --git a/south-asia/ce.json b/south-asia/ce.json index 49eca5f8..0afd5b1f 100644 --- a/south-asia/ce.json +++ b/south-asia/ce.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in July 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a ceasefire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in May 2009. ++ During the post-conflict years under President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced significant allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society.  In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, governance, anti-corruption, reconciliation, justice, and accountability reforms. However, implementation of these reforms has been uneven. In October 2018, President SIRISENA attempted to oust Prime Minister WICKREMESINGHE, swearing in former President RAJAPAKSA as the new prime minister and issuing an order to dissolve the parliament and hold elections. This sparked a seven-week constitutional crisis that ended when the Supreme Court ruled SIRISENA's actions unconstitutional, RAJAPAKSA resigned, and WICKREMESINGHE was reinstated. In November 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother, Mahinda, prime minister." + "text": "The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in July 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a ceasefire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in May 2009. ++ During the post-conflict years under President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced significant allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, governance, anti-corruption, reconciliation, justice, and accountability reforms. However, implementation of these reforms has been uneven. In October 2018, President SIRISENA attempted to oust Prime Minister WICKREMESINGHE, swearing in former President RAJAPAKSA as the new prime minister and issuing an order to dissolve the parliament and hold elections. This sparked a seven-week constitutional crisis that ended when the Supreme Court ruled SIRISENA's actions unconstitutional, RAJAPAKSA resigned, and WICKREMESINGHE was reinstated. In November 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother, Mahinda, prime minister." } }, "Geography": { @@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ "text": "last held on 17 August 2015 (next originally scheduled for 25 April 2020 but postponed to due to the COVID-19 pandemic)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by coalition/party - SLFPA 59.1%, SJB 23.9%, JVP 3.8%, TNA 2.8%, UNP 2.2%, TNPF 0.6%, EPDP 0.5%,  other 7.1%; seats by coalition/party - SLFPA 145, SJB 54, TNA 10, JVP 3, other 13; composition - NA" + "text": "percent of vote by coalition/party - SLFPA 59.1%, SJB 23.9%, JVP 3.8%, TNA 2.8%, UNP 2.2%, TNPF 0.6%, EPDP 0.5%, other 7.1%; seats by coalition/party - SLFPA 145, SJB 54, TNA 10, JVP 3, other 13; composition - NA" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -494,13 +494,13 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018); note - also accredited to Maldives" + "text": "Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018); note - also accredited to Maldives" }, "telephone": { "text": "[94] (11) 249-8500" }, "embassy": { - "text": "210 Galle Road, Colombo 3" + "text": "210 Galle Road, Colombo 03" }, "mailing address": { "text": "P. O. Box 106, Colombo" @@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ "text": "$87.35 billion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "3.3% (2017 est.) / 4.5% (2016 est.) / 5% (2015 est.)" + "text": "2.29% (2019 est.) / 3.32% (2018 est.) / 3.58% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$12,900 (2017 est.) / $12,600 (2016 est.) / $12,200 (2015 est.)", @@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ "text": "4.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "8.937 million (2017 est.)" + "text": "8 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { @@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ } }, "Unemployment rate": { - "text": "4.4% (2017 est.) / 4.4% (2016 est.)" + "text": "4.83% (2019 est.) / 4.44% (2018 est.)" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "6.7% (2012 est.)" @@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ "text": "6.5% (2017 est.) / 4% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$2.31 billion (2017 est.) / -$1.743 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$10 million (2019 est.) / -$17 million (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$11.36 billion (2017 est.) / $10.31 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -680,13 +680,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "95.6% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "100% (2016)" - }, - "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "94.6% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -778,13 +772,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "telephone services have improved significantly; strong growth anticipated as Sri Lanka is lagging behind other Asian telecoms; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. funds telecom sector to expand fiber and LTE networks and growing investment in 5G services (2020)" + "text": "telephone services have improved significantly; strong growth anticipated as Sri Lanka is lagging behind other Asian telecoms; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. funds telecom sector to expand fiber and LTE networks and growing investment in 5G services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 115 per 100; national trunk network consists of digital microwave radio relay and fiber-optic links; fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 94; landing points for the SeaMeWe -3,-5,  Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Network, WARF Submarine Cable, Bharat Lanka Cable System and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 94; landing points for the SeaMeWe -3,-5, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Network, WARF Submarine Cable, Bharat Lanka Cable System and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -921,7 +915,7 @@ "text": "the Sri Lankan military inventory consists mostly of Chinese and Russian-origin equipment, as well as smaller amounts from Israel, the UK, and the US; since 2000, China, India, Israel, and the US have been the leading suppliers of arms to Sri Lanka (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "110 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 150 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 240 Mali (MINUSMA); 170 South Sudan (UNMISS) (March 2020)" + "text": "110 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 140 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 240 Mali (MINUSMA); 170 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)" diff --git a/south-asia/in.json b/south-asia/in.json index f0da4200..c89228b1 100644 --- a/south-asia/in.json +++ b/south-asia/in.json @@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ } }, "Major urban areas - population": { - "text": "30.291 million NEW DELHI (capital), 20.411 million Mumbai, 14.850 million Kolkata, 1.237 million Bangalore, 10.971 million Chennai, 10.004 million Hyderabad (2020)" + "text": "30.291 million NEW DELHI (capital), 20.411 million Mumbai, 14.850 million Kolkata, 1.237 million Bangalore, 10.971 million Chennai, 10.004 million Hyderabad (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { @@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ "text": "bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of: Council of States or Rajya Sabha (245 seats; 233 members indirectly elected by state and territorial assemblies by proportional representation vote and 12 members appointed by the president; members serve 6-year terms) ++ House of the People or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 2 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "Council of States - last held by state and territorial assemblies at various dates in 2019 (next originally scheduled for March, June, and November 2020 but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) ++ House of the People - last held April-May 2019 in 7 phases (next to be held in 2024)" + "text": "Council of States - last held by state and territorial assemblies at various dates in 2019 (next originally scheduled for March, June, and November 2020 but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) ++ House of the People - last held April-May 2019 in 7 phases (next to be held in 2024)" }, "election results": { "text": "Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BJP 83, INC 46, AITC 13, DMK 11, SP, other 77, independent 6; composition - men 220, women 25, percent of women 10.2% ++ House of the People - percent of vote by party - BJP 55.8%, INC 9.6%, AITC 4.4%, YSRC 4.4%, DMK 4.2%, SS 3.3%, JDU 2.9%, BJD 2.2%, BSP 1.8%, TRS 1.7%, LJP 1.1%, NCP 0.9%, SP 0.9%, other 6.4%, independent 0.7%; seats by party - BJP 303, INC 52, DMK 24, AITC 22, YSRC 22, SS 18, JDU 16, BJD 12, BSP 10, TRS 9, LJP 6, NCP 5, SP 5, other 35, independent 4, vacant 2; composition - men 465, women 78, percent of women 14.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 11.3%" @@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ "text": "$2.602 trillion (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - real growth rate": { - "text": "6.7% (2017 est.) / 7.1% (2016 est.) / 8.2% (2015 est.)" + "text": "4.86% (2019 est.) / 6.78% (2018 est.) / 6.55% (2017 est.)" }, "GDP - per capita (PPP)": { "text": "$7,200 (2017 est.) / $6,800 (2016 est.) / $6,500 (2015 est.)", @@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ "text": "3.6% (2017 est.) / 4.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$48.66 billion (2017 est.) / -$14.35 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$29.748 billion (2019 est.) / -$65.939 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$304.1 billion (2017 est.) / $268.6 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -697,16 +697,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "168 million (2017)" + "text": "6 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "84.5% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "98.4% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "77.6% (2016)" + "text": "99% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -798,13 +798,13 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "supported by deregulation and liberalization of telecommunication laws and policies, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; implementation of 4G/LTE services shift to data services across the country; highly competitive mobile market with price wars and value-added-services of mobile data; potential to become one of the largest five data center markets globally; steps taken towards 5G services; fixed broadband penetration is expected to grow at a moderate rate over the next five years to 2023 (2020)" + "text": "supported by deregulation and liberalization of telecommunication laws and policies, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; implementation of 4G/LTE services shift to data services across the country; highly competitive mobile market with price wars and value-added-services of mobile data; potential to become one of the largest five data center markets globally; steps taken towards 5G services; fixed broadband penetration is expected to grow at a moderate rate over the next five years to 2023 (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line subscriptions stands at 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular at 84 per 100; mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles, each with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 (very small aperture terminals) VSAT (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FALCON, FEA, GBICS, MENA, IMEWE, SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia, SAFE, WARF, Bharat Lanka Cable System, IOX, Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar Island Cable, SAEx2, Tata TGN-Tata Indicom and i2icn that provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South East Asia, numerous Indian Ocean islands including Australia ; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region (2019)" + "text": "country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FALCON, FEA, GBICS, MENA, IMEWE, SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia, SAFE, WARF, Bharat Lanka Cable System, IOX, Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar Island Cable, SAEx2, Tata TGN-Tata Indicom and i2icn that provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South East Asia, numerous Indian Ocean islands including Australia ; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ "text": "Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam" }, "container port(s) (TEUs)": { - "text": "Chennai (1,549,457), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,833,397), Mundra (4,240,260) (2017)" + "text": "Chennai (1,549,457), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,833,397), Mundra (4,240,260) (2017)" }, "LNG terminal(s) (import)": { "text": "Dabhol, Dahej, Hazira" @@ -959,7 +959,7 @@ "text": "the inventory of the Indian Armed Forces consists mostly of Russian-origin equipment, along with a smaller mix of Western and domestically-produced arms; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of arms to India, followed by France, Israel, the UK, and the US; India's defense industry is capable of producing a range of air, land, missile, and naval weapons systems (2019)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,850 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 180 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 750 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 2,300 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" + "text": "1,900 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 190 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 780 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 2,350 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and under consideration for Army combat roles (2019)" @@ -983,6 +983,9 @@ }, "IDPs": { "text": "470,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2019)" + }, + "stateless persons": { + "text": "17,730 (2019)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { diff --git a/south-asia/io.json b/south-asia/io.json index 418ad4e3..cec37587 100644 --- a/south-asia/io.json +++ b/south-asia/io.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. ++ Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In March 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area (MPA) that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in April 2010 was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. ++ In February 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain's decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding May 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK officials defend Britain's sovereignty over the islands and argue that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention.  ++ ++" + "text": "Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. ++ Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In March 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area (MPA) that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in April 2010 was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. ++ In February 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain's decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding May 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its \"colonial administration\" of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK officials defend Britain's sovereignty over the islands and argue that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention. ++ ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ "text": "all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet (2018)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides direct connectivity to Africa, Asia and near-by Indian Ocean island countries; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2019)" + "text": "country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides direct connectivity to Africa, Asia and near-by Indian Ocean island countries; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { diff --git a/south-asia/mv.json b/south-asia/mv.json index ea987a3f..55e373ce 100644 --- a/south-asia/mv.json +++ b/south-asia/mv.json @@ -401,10 +401,10 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Ibrahim \"Ibu\" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government" + "text": "President Ibrahim \"Ibu\" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { - "text": "President Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018)" + "text": "President Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by Parliament" @@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis (87 seats - includes 2 seats added by the Elections Commission in late 2018; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 6 April 2019 (next to be held in 2023)" + "text": "last held on 6 April 2019 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote - MDP 44.7%, JP 10.8%, PPM 8.7%, PNC 6.4%, MDA 2.8%, other 5.6%, independent 21%; seats by party - MDP 65, JP 5, PPM 5, PNC 3, MDA 2, independent 7; composition - men 83, women 4, percent of women 4.6%" @@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { - "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Alaina TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018), is accredited to both countries; note: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke of establishing an embassy on his trip to Maldives Oct 2020." + "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Alaina TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018), is accredited to both countries; note: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke of establishing an embassy on his trip to Maldives in October of 2020" }, "Flag description": { "text": "red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam" @@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { - "text": "100% (2016)" + "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -721,20 +721,20 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "upgrades to telecom infrastructure extended to outer islands; two mobile operators extend LTE coverage; tourism has strengthened the telecom market with investment and accounts for the high mobile penetration rate; mobile penetration passes 250%; launches 5G trials (2020)" + "text": "upgrades to telecom infrastructure extended to outer islands; two mobile operators extend LTE coverage; tourism has strengthened the telecom market with investment and accounts for the high mobile penetration rate; mobile penetration passes 250%; launches 5G trials (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line is at 3 per 100 persons and high mobile-cellular subscriptions stands at 156 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 960; landing points for Dhiraagu Cable Network, NaSCOM, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Networks and WARF submarine cables providing connections to 8 points in Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" + "text": "country code - 960; landing points for Dhiraagu Cable Network, NaSCOM, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Networks and WARF submarine cables providing connections to 8 points in Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations and 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)" + "text": "state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations and 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".mv" @@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ "Military and security forces": { "text": "the Republic of Maldives has no distinct army, navy, or air force but a single security unit called the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) comprised of ground forces, an air element, a coastguard, a presidential security division, and a special protection group (2020)", "note": { - "text": "note: the MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone" + "text": "note: the MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { diff --git a/south-asia/np.json b/south-asia/np.json index 0bbda2da..e55a435d 100644 --- a/south-asia/np.json +++ b/south-asia/np.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "During the late 18th-early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. (The Brigade of Gurkhas continues to serve in the British Army to the present day.) In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. ++ An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament and re-assumed absolute power in 2002, after the crown prince massacred the royal family in 2001. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. Following a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats in the CA and in 2014 formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) with NC President Sushil KOIRALA serving as prime minister. Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament. Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI served as the first post-constitution prime minister from 2015 to 2016. OLI resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion against him, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (aka \"Prachanda\") prime minister. The constitution provided for a transitional period during which three sets of elections – local, provincial, and national – needed to take place. The first local elections in 20 years occurred in three phases between May and September 2017, and state and federal elections proceeded in two phases in November and December 2017. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections, and OLI, who led the larger of the two parties, was sworn in as prime minister in February 2018. In May 2018, OLI and DAHAL announced the merger of their parties - the UML and CPN-M - to establish the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), which is now the ruling party in Parliament. ++  " + "text": "During the late 18th-early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. (The Brigade of Gurkhas continues to serve in the British Army to the present day.) In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. ++ An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament and re-assumed absolute power in 2002, after the crown prince massacred the royal family in 2001. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. Following a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats in the CA and in 2014 formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) with NC President Sushil KOIRALA serving as prime minister. Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament. Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI served as the first post-constitution prime minister from 2015 to 2016. OLI resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion against him, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (aka \"Prachanda\") prime minister. The constitution provided for a transitional period during which three sets of elections – local, provincial, and national – needed to take place. The first local elections in 20 years occurred in three phases between May and September 2017, and state and federal elections proceeded in two phases in November and December 2017. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections, and OLI, who led the larger of the two parties, was sworn in as prime minister in February 2018. In May 2018, OLI and DAHAL announced the merger of their parties - the UML and CPN-M - to establish the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), which is now the ruling party in Parliament. ++" } }, "Geography": { @@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ } }, "Languages": { - "text": "Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Bajjika 3%, Magar 3%, Doteli 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, Baitadeli 1%, other 6.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)", + "text": "Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Bajjika 3%, Magar 3%, Doteli 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, Baitadeli 1%, other 6.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2011 national census; many in government and business also speak English" } @@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ } }, "Legal system": { - "text": "English common law and Hindu legal concepts; note - new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018" + "text": "English common law and Hindu legal concepts; note - new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" @@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "the Election Commission of Nepal granted ballot access under the proportional system to 88 political parties for the November-December 2017 House of Representatives election to the Federal Parliament; of these, the following 8 parties won seats: Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal or FSFN [Upendra YADAV] ++ Naya Shakti Party, Nepal [Baburam BHATTARAI] ++ Nepal Communist Party or NCP [Khadga Prasad OLI, Pushpa Kamal DAHAL] ++ Nepali Congress or NC [Sher Bahadur DEUBA] ++ Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE] ++ Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.] ++ Rastriya Janata Party or RJPN [Mahanta THAKUR] ++ Rastriya Prajatantra party or RPP [Kamal THAPA]" + "text": "the Election Commission of Nepal granted ballot access under the proportional system to 88 political parties for the November-December 2017 House of Representatives election to the Federal Parliament; of these, the following 8 parties won seats: Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal or FSFN [Upendra YADAV] ++ Naya Shakti Party, Nepal [Baburam BHATTARAI] ++ Nepal Communist Party or NCP [Khadga Prasad OLI, Pushpa Kamal DAHAL] ++ Nepali Congress or NC [Sher Bahadur DEUBA] ++ Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE] ++ Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.] ++ Rastriya Janata Party or RJPN [Mahanta THAKUR] ++ Rastriya Prajatantra party or RPP [Kamal THAPA]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" @@ -679,16 +679,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "3 million (2017)" + "text": "2 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "90.7% (2016)" + "text": "93% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "94.5% (2016)" + "text": "94% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "85.2% (2016)" + "text": "93% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { - "text": "mountainous topography hinders development of telecom infrastructure; mobile service has been extended to all 75 districts covering 90% of Nepal's land area; fixed broadband is low due to limited number of fixed lines and preeminence of the mobile platform, with overall penetration 2.8%; 3G and 4G subscribers, early stages for mobile broadband market; first launch of a Nepalese satellite (2020)" + "text": "mountainous topography hinders development of telecom infrastructure; mobile service has been extended to all 75 districts covering 90% of Nepal's land area; fixed broadband is low due to limited number of fixed lines and preeminence of the mobile platform, with overall penetration 2.8%; 3G and 4G subscribers, early stages for mobile broadband market; first launch of a Nepalese satellite (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "3G coverage is available in 20 major cities (2019); disparity between high coverage in cities and coverage available in underdeveloped rural regions; fixed-line 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 139 per 100 persons; fair radiotelephone communication service; 20% of the market share is fixed (wired) broadband, 2% is fixed (wireless) broadband, and 78% is mobile broadband (2019)" @@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ } }, "Broadcast media": { - "text": "state operates 3 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; 117 television channels are licensed, among those 71 are cable television channels, three are distributed through Direct-To-Home (DTH) system, and four are digital terrestrial; 736 FM radio stations are licensed and at least 314 of those radio stations are community radio stations (2019)" + "text": "state operates 3 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; 117 television channels are licensed, among those 71 are cable television channels, three are distributed through Direct-To-Home (DTH) system, and four are digital terrestrial; 736 FM radio stations are licensed and at least 314 of those radio stations are community radio stations (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".np" @@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ "text": "the Army's inventory includes a mix of older equipment largely of British, Chinese, Indian, Russian, and South African origin; since 2010, China, Italy, and Russia are the top suppliers of military hardware to Nepal (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "720 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 880 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 350 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 860 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 230 Liberia (UNSMIL); 140 Mali (MINUSMA); 1,700 South Sudan (UNMISS) (April 2020)" + "text": "720 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 880 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 400 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 870 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 230 Liberia (UNSMIL); 150 Mali (MINUSMA); 1,700 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2019)" @@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "13,509 (Tibet/China), 6,626 (Bhutan) (2018)" + "text": "12,540 (Tibet/China), 6,396 (Bhutan) (2019)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "undetermined (2016); note - the UNHCR is working with the Nepali Government to address the large number of individuals lacking citizenship certificates in Nepal; smaller numbers of Bhutanese Hindu refugees of Nepali origin (the Lhotshampa) who were stripped of Bhutanese nationality and forced to flee their country in the late 1980s and early 1990s - and undocumented Tibetan refugees who arrived in Nepal prior to the 1990s - are considered stateless" diff --git a/south-asia/pk.json b/south-asia/pk.json index 5b97708a..d26e3011 100644 --- a/south-asia/pk.json +++ b/south-asia/pk.json @@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ "text": "Senate - last held on 3 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2021) ++ National Assembly - last held on 25 July 2018 (next to be held on 25 July 2023)" }, "election results": { - "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of December 2019  - PPP 19, PML-N 16,  PTI 14, MQM-P 5, JUI-F 4, BAP 2, JI 2, PkMAP 2, ANP 1, BNP 1, PML-F 1, other 7, independent 30 ++ National Assembly - percent of votes by party NA; seats by party as of December 2019 - PTI 156, PML-N 84, PPP 55, MMA 16, MQM-P 7, BAP 5, PML-Q 5, BNP 4, GDA 3, AML 1, ANP 1, JWP 1, independent 4" + "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of December 2019 - PPP 19, PML-N 16, PTI 14, MQM-P 5, JUI-F 4, BAP 2, JI 2, PkMAP 2, ANP 1, BNP 1, PML-F 1, other 7, independent 30 ++ National Assembly - percent of votes by party NA; seats by party as of December 2019 - PTI 156, PML-N 84, PPP 55, MMA 16, MQM-P 7, BAP 5, PML-Q 5, BNP 4, GDA 3, AML 1, ANP 1, JWP 1, independent 4" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ "text": "5.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { - "text": "63.89 million (2017 est.)", + "text": "61.71 million (2017 est.)", "note": { "text": "note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor" } @@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ "text": "4.1% (2017 est.) / 2.9% (2016 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { - "text": "-$12.44 billion (2017 est.) / -$4.867 billion (2016 est.)" + "text": "-$7.143 billion (2019 est.) / -$19.482 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports": { "text": "$32.88 billion (2017 est.) / $21.97 billion (2016 est.)" @@ -709,16 +709,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "52 million (2017)" + "text": "45 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "74% (2017)" + "text": "79% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "90% (2017)" + "text": "91% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "64% (2017)" + "text": "72% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { @@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ "text": "mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed; more than 90% of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone coverage; fiber-optic networks are being constructed throughout the country to increase broadband access, though broadband penetration in Pakistan is still relatively low; fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 76 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { - "text": "country code - 92; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, IMEWE, Orient Express, PEACE Cable, and TW1 submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (2019)" + "text": "country code - 92; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, IMEWE, Orient Express, PEACE Cable, and TW1 submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (2019)" }, "note": { "text": "note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" @@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ "Military and security forces": { "text": "Pakistan Army (includes National Guard), Pakistan Navy (includes marines, Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fizaia); Ministry of Interior paramilitary forces: Frontier Corps, Pakistan Rangers (2019)", "note": { - "text": "note:  the National Guard is a paramilitary force and one of the Army's reserve forces, along with the Pakistan Army Reserve, the Frontier Corps, and the Pakistan Rangers" + "text": "note: the National Guard is a paramilitary force and one of the Army's reserve forces, along with the Pakistan Army Reserve, the Frontier Corps, and the Pakistan Rangers" } }, "Military expenditures": { @@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ "text": "the Pakistan military inventory includes a broad mix of equipment, primarily from China, France, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; since 2010, China and the US are the leading suppliers of arms to Pakistan; Pakistan also has a large domestic defense industry capable of upgrading existing air, land, and sea weapons systems (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { - "text": "1,240 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 2,030 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 130 Mali (MINUSMA); 900 Sudan (UNAMID) (April 2020)" + "text": "1,230 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,950 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 140 Mali (MINUSMA); 900 Sudan (UNAMID) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "16-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; women serve in all three armed forces; reserve obligation to age 45 for enlisted men, age 50 for officers (2019)" diff --git a/world/xx.json b/world/xx.json index 36aad931..57c66b78 100644 --- a/world/xx.json +++ b/world/xx.json @@ -486,16 +486,16 @@ "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { - "text": "1.201 billion (2013)" + "text": "771 million (2019)" }, "electrification - total population": { - "text": "83% (2013)" + "text": "90% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { - "text": "95% (2013)" + "text": "96% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { - "text": "70% (2013)" + "text": "85% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": {