diff --git a/middle-east/ae-united-arab-emirates.json b/middle-east/ae-united-arab-emirates.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ea5e6cc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/ae-united-arab-emirates.json @@ -0,0 +1,603 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its high oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. However, in 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE has essentially avoided the \"Arab Spring\" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East, though in March 2011, political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to stem potential further unrest, the government announced a multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern Emirates." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "24 00 N, 54 00 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "83,600 sq km", + "land": "83,600 sq km", + "water": "0 sq km" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly smaller than Maine" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "867 km", + "border_countries": "Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "1,318 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm", + "contiguous_zone": "24 nm", + "exclusive_economic_zone": "200 nm", + "continental_shelf": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "desert; cooler in eastern mountains" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Persian Gulf 0 m", + "highest_point": "Jabal Yibir 1,527 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, natural gas" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "0.61%", + "permanent_crops": "0.5%", + "other": "98.9% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "920 sq km (2010)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "0.15 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "3.99 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)", + "per_capita": "739.5 cu m/yr (2005)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "frequent sand and dust storms" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "Law of the Sea" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Emirati(s)", + "adjective": "Emirati" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)", + "note": "less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Muslim (Islam - official) 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%" + }, + "population": { + "text": "5,473,972 (July 2013 est.)", + "note": "estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net immigration of non-citizens than previous estimates" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "20.6% (male 577,599/female 551,346)", + "15_24_years": "13.8% (male 449,258/female 306,410)", + "25_54_years": "61.5% (male 2,570,054/female 798,070)", + "55_64_years": "3.1% (male 127,569/female 40,996)", + "65_years_and_over": "1% (male 33,481/female 19,189) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "18.6 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "18.1 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "0.5 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "201.7 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "30.3 years", + "male": "32 years", + "female": "25 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "2.87% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "15.65 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "2.01 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "15.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "84.4% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "2.52% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "ABU DHABI (capital) 666,000 (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.46 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "3.23 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "3.19 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "1.77 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "2.19 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "11.25 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "13.12 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "9.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "76.91 years", + "male": "74.31 years", + "female": "79.63 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "2.37 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "27.5% (1995)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "3.7% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2007)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "1.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 100% of population; total: 100% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 98% of population; rural: 95% of population; total: 98% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 2% of population; rural: 5% of population; total: 2% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "0.2% (2001 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "32.7% (2008)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "1.1% of GDP (2004)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "90%", + "male": "89.5%", + "female": "91.5% (2005 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "13 years", + "male": "13 years", + "female": "14 years (2009)" + }, + "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": { + "total": "12.1%", + "male": "7.9%", + "female": "21.8% (2008)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "United Arab Emirates", + "conventional_short_form": "none", + "local_long_form": "Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah", + "local_short_form": "none", + "former": "Trucial Oman, Trucial States", + "abbreviation": "UAE" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Abu Dhabi", + "geographic_coordinates": "24 28 N, 54 22 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "2 December 1971 (from the UK)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Independence Day, 2 December (1971)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "2 December 1971; made permanent in 1996" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "limited; note - rulers of the seven Emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of the native Emirati population" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 3 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": "Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009) and MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 11 May 2009)", + "cabinet": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president", + "note": "there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power", + "elections": "president and vice president elected by the FSC for five-year terms (no term limits) from among the seven FSC members; election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president", + "election_results": "KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktum unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his brother Sheikh MAKTUM bin Rashid Al-Maktum" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve four-year terms)", + "elections": "last held on 24 September 2011 (next to be held in 2015); note - the electoral college was expanded from 6,689 voters in the December 2006 election to 129,274 in the September 2011 election; elections for candidates rather than party lists; 469 candidates including 85 women ran for 20 contested FNC seats", + "election_results": "elected seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; note - number of appointed seats for each emirate are same as elected seats" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges)", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, which includes the rulers of the 7 emirates; judge term NA", + "subordinate_courts": "Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and local (emirate) levels; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts; each emirate has its own court system" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "text": "none; political parties are not allowed" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA", + "chancery": "3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 243-2400", + "fax": "[1] (202) 243-2432" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Michael H. CORBIN", + "embassy": "Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi", + "telephone": "[971] (2) 414-2200", + "fax": "[971] (2) 414-2603", + "consulates_general": "Dubai" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "golden falcon" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Nashid al-watani al-imarati\" (National Anthem of the UAE)", + "lyrics_music": "AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB", + "note": "music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP based on oil and gas output to 25%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US; however, those talks have not moved forward. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency. The UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-based banks bought the largest shares. In December 2009 Dubai received an additional $10 billion loan from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dependence on oil, a large expatriate workforce, and growing inflation pressures are significant long-term challenges. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification and creating more opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$275.8 billion (2012 est.); $265.4 billion (2011 est.); $252.3 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$358.9 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "3.9% (2012 est.); 5.2% (2011 est.); 1.3% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$49,800 (2012 est.); $49,400 (2011 est.); $48,400 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "37% of GDP (2012 est.); 37.4% of GDP (2011 est.); 32.1% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "50.5%", + "government_consumption": "7.1%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "29%", + "investment_in_inventories": "0.9%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "86.6%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-74.1% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "0.8%", + "industry": "56%", + "services": "43.2% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "4.2% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "4.337 million", + "note": "expatriates account for about 85% of the work force (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "agriculture": "7%", + "industry": "15%", + "services": "78% (2000 est.)" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "2.4% (2001)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "19.5% (2003)" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "NA%", + "highest_10%": "NA%" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$130.3 billion", + "expenditures": "$114.2 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "36.3% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "4.5% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "43.3% of GDP (2012 est.); 46.5% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "calendar year" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "0.7% (2012 est.); 0.9% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$80.53 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $71.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$234.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $224.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$313.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $293.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$93.77 billion (31 December 2011); $104.7 billion (31 December 2010); $109.6 billion (31 December 2009)" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "$26.76 billion (2012 est.); $30.65 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$300.9 billion (2012 est.); $281.6 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "Japan 15.6%, India 13.4%, Iran 10.5%, Thailand 5.6%, Singapore 5.5%, South Korea 5.3% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$220.3 billion (2012 est.); $202.1 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "India 17%, China 13.8%, US 10.5%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 4.2% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$42.97 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $37.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$163.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $159.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$91.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $83.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": { + "text": "$58.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $55.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -; 3.673 (2012 est.); 3.673 (2011 est.); 3.6725 (2010 est.); 3.673 (2009); 3.6725 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "83.31 billion kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "74.12 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "23.25 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "3.087 million bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "2.036 million bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "346,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "572,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "452,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "377,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "51.28 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "60.54 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "7.65 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "16.91 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "6.089 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "199.4 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "1.825 million (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "11.727 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai", + "domestic": "microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable", + "international": "country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia (2011)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "except for the many organizations now operating in Dubai's Media Free Zone, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".ae" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "337,804 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "3.449 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "43 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "25", + "over_3_047_m": "12", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "3", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "5", + "914_to_1_523_m": "3", + "under_914_m": "2 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "18", + "over_3_047_m": "1", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "1", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "4", + "914_to_1_523_m": "6", + "under_914_m": "6 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "5 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "condensate 533 km; gas 3,277 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 3,287 km; oil/gas/water 24 km; refined products 218 km; water 99 km (2013)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "4,080 km", + "paved": "4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "61", + "by_type": "bulk carrier 3, cargo 13, chemical tanker 8, container 7, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 24, roll on/roll off 4", + "foreign_owned": "13 (Greece 3, Kuwait 10)", + "registered_in_other_countries": "253 (Bahamas 23, Barbados 1, Belize 3, Cambodia 2, Comoros 8, Cyprus 3, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 5, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 1, India 4, Iran 2, Jordan 2, Liberia 37, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 12, Mexico 1, Netherlands 4, North Korea 2, Panama 83, Papua New Guinea 6, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 10, Tanzania 3, Togo 1, UK 8, Vanuatu 1, unknown 8) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan), Mubarraz Island, Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CNIA), Land Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense, Border and Coast Guard Directorate (BCGD) (2012)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription; 16-22 years of age for candidates for the UAE Naval College (2012)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "2,676,928 (includes non-nationals)", + "females_age_16_49": "981,649 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "2,229,366", + "females_age_16_49": "842,759 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "27,439", + "female": "24,419 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "6.4% of GDP (2012)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies" + }, + "illicit_drugs": { + "text": "the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/kw-kuwait.json b/middle-east/kw-kuwait.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..31cf7056 --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/kw-kuwait.json @@ -0,0 +1,601 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive. The country witnessed the historic election in May 2009 of four women to its National Assembly. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs, known as bidoon, staged small protests in February and March 2011 demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Youth activist groups - supported by opposition legislators and the prime minister's rivals within the ruling family - rallied repeatedly in 2011 for an end to corruption and the ouster of the prime minister and his cabinet. Opposition legislators forced the prime minister to resign in late 2011. In October-December 2012, Kuwait witnessed unprecedented protests in response to the Amir's changes to the electoral law by decree reducing the number of votes per person from four to one. The opposition, led by a coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribalists, some liberals, and myriad youth groups, boycotted the December 2012 legislative election, resulting in a historic number of Shia candidates winning seats. Since 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on five occasions (the Constitutional Court annulled the Assembly once in June 2012) and reshuffled the cabinet 12 times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "29 30 N, 45 45 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "17,818 sq km", + "land": "17,818 sq km", + "water": "0 sq km" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly smaller than New Jersey" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "462 km", + "border_countries": "Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "499 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "flat to slightly undulating desert plain" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Persian Gulf 0 m", + "highest_point": "unnamed elevation 306 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "0.62%", + "permanent_crops": "0.28%", + "other": "99.1% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "86 sq km (2007)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "0.02 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "0.91 cu km/yr (47%/2%/51%)", + "per_capita": "441.2 cu m/yr (2005)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "Marine Dumping" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "strategic location at head of Persian Gulf" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Kuwaiti(s)", + "adjective": "Kuwaiti" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official), English widely spoken" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Muslim (official) 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%" + }, + "population": { + "text": "2,695,316 (July 2013 est.)", + "note": "includes 1,291,354 non-nationals" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "25.6% (male 358,415/female 330,467)", + "15_24_years": "15.4% (male 228,147/female 187,035)", + "25_54_years": "52.3% (male 896,693/female 514,196)", + "55_64_years": "4.5% (male 70,863/female 51,660)", + "65_years_and_over": "2.1% (male 27,995/female 29,845) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "37.2 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "34 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "3.2 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "31.3 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "28.8 years", + "male": "30 years", + "female": "26.6 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "1.79%", + "note": "this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "20.61 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "2.14 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "98.3% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "2.42% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "KUWAIT (capital) 2.23 million (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.09 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.22 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "1.75 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "1.4 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "0.96 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "1.43 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "14 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "7.68 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "7.41 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "7.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "77.46 years", + "male": "76.24 years", + "female": "78.75 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "2.56 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "52% (1999)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "2.6% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "1.79 physicians/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "2 beds/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 99% of population; rural: 99% of population; total: 99% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 1% of population; rural: 1% of population; total: 1% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 100% of population; total: 100% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "0.1% (2001 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "NA (2007 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "42% (2008)" + }, + "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": { + "text": "1.7% (2009)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "3.8% of GDP (2006)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "93.9%", + "male": "95%", + "female": "91.8% (2008 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "14 years", + "male": "13 years", + "female": "15 years (2004)" + }, + "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": { + "total": "11.3%", + "male": "11.8%", + "female": "10% (2005)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "State of Kuwait", + "conventional_short_form": "Kuwait", + "local_long_form": "Dawlat al Kuwayt", + "local_short_form": "Al Kuwayt" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "constitutional emirate" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Kuwait City", + "geographic_coordinates": "29 22 N, 47 58 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "19 June 1961 (from the UK)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "National Day, 25 February (1950)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "approved and promulgated 11 November 1962" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic religious law" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "21 years of age; universal; note - males in the military or police are by law not allowed to vote; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (born 25 June 1937)", + "head_of_government": "Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister KHALID al-Jarrah al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, SALIM al-Abd al-Aziz al-Saud al-Sabah, Mustafa al-Jassim al-SHAMALI", + "cabinet": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir; new cabinet formed in February 2012", + "elections": "none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats - 50 members elected by popular vote plus 16 cabinet ministers, one of whom is also an elected MP, appointed by the prime minister as ex officio voting members; elected members serve four-year terms)", + "elections": "last held 27 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2017)", + "election_results": "percent of vote - NA; seats won - tribal and liberal groups 27, Shiite 8, Sunni 7, other 8" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Constitutional Court (five judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with five judges)", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "all Kuwaiti judges appointed by the Amir upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, a consultative body comprised of Kuwaiti judges and Ministry of Justice officials", + "subordinate_courts": "High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "text": "none; while the formation of political parties is not permitted, they are not forbidden by law" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "other": "Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-77, GCC, 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), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah", + "chancery": "2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 966-0702", + "fax": "[1] (202) 364-2868", + "consulates_general": "Los Angeles" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Matthew H. TUELLER", + "embassy": "Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000", + "telephone": "[965] 2259-1001", + "fax": "[965] 2538-0282" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "golden falcon" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Al-Nasheed Al-Watani\" (National Anthem)", + "lyrics_music": "Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA", + "note": "adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - about 7% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. The rise in global oil prices throughout 2011 and 2012 is reviving government consumption and economic growth. Kuwait has experienced a 20% increase in government budget revenue, which has led to higher budget expenditures, particularly wage hikes for many public sector employees. Kuwait has done little to diversify its economy, in part, because of this positive fiscal situation, and, in part, due to the poor business climate and the historically acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch, which has stymied most movement on economic reforms. In 2010, Kuwait passed an economic development plan that pledges to spend up to $130 billion over five years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$153.4 billion (2012 est.); $146 billion (2011 est.); $137.4 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$173.4 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "5.1% (2012 est.); 6.3% (2011 est.); -2.4% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$40,500 (2012 est.); $39,700 (2011 est.); $38,300 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "59.2% of GDP (2012 est.); 57.3% of GDP (2011 est.); 51.1% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "21.8%", + "government_consumption": "14.5%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "14%", + "investment_in_inventories": "0%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "73.7%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-24% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "0.3%", + "industry": "50.2%", + "services": "49.5% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "fish" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "10.2% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "2.304 million", + "note": "non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "agriculture": "NA%", + "industry": "NA%", + "services": "NA%" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "2.2% (2004 est.)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "NA%", + "highest_10%": "NA%" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$115.8 billion", + "expenditures": "$58.08 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "66.8% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "33.3% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "6% of GDP (2012 est.); 7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "1 April - 31 March" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "2.9% (2012 est.); 4.7% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "1.25% (31 December 2010 est.); 3% (31 December 2009 est.)" + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "5% (31 December 2012 est.); 5.2% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$27.55 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $22.85 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$109.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $99.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$88.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $90.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$100.9 billion (31 December 2011); $119.6 billion (31 December 2010); $95.94 billion (31 December 2009)" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "$73.26 billion (2012 est.); $70.78 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$121 billion (2012 est.); $102.9 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "oil and refined products, fertilizers" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "South Korea 16%, India 15.7%, Japan 13.4%, US 11.7%, China 9.2%, Singapore 4.2% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$22.79 billion (2012 est.); $22.08 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "US 11.8%, China 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 8.3%, Japan 8.2%, South Korea 7%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4.7%, India 4.6%, UAE 4.2% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$29 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $25.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$30.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $32.01 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$4.645 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $2.768 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": { + "text": "$56.07 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $48.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -; 0.2799 (2012 est.); 0.276 (2011 est.); 0.2866 (2010 est.); 0.2877 (2009); 0.2679 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "51.32 billion kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "43.41 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "10.94 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "2.682 million bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "1.365 million bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "101.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "902,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "339,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "717,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "11.73 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "12.62 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "890 million cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "81.33 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "514,700 (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "4.935 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "the quality of service is excellent", + "domestic": "new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a mobile-cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones", + "international": "country code - 965; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and 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) (2011)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged since 2003; satellite TV available with pan-Arab TV stations 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 (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".kw" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "2,771 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "1.1 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "7 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "4", + "over_3_047_m": "1", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "2", + "914_to_1_523_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "3", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "1", + "under_914_m": "2 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "4 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "gas 261 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2013)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "5,749 km", + "paved": "4,887 km", + "unpaved": "862 km (2004)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "34", + "by_type": "bulk carrier 2, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 19", + "registered_in_other_countries": "45 (Bahamas 1, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 12, Qatar 6, Saudi Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2013)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2012)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "1,002,480", + "females_age_16_49": "616,958 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "840,912", + "females_age_16_49": "523,206 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "17,653", + "female": "16,232 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "3.7% of GDP (2012)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf" + }, + "refugees_and_internally_displaced_persons": { + "stateless_persons": "93,000 (2012); 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; 2011 bidun demonstrations for the recognition of their Kuwaiti nationality led to several arrests" + }, + "trafficking_in_persons": { + "current_situation": "Kuwait is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser degree, forced prostitution; men and women migrate from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Iraq to work in Kuwait, most of them in the domestic service, construction, and sanitation sectors; although most of these migrants enter Kuwait voluntarily, upon arrival some are subjected to conditions of forced labor by their sponsors and labor agents, including nonpayment of wages, long working hours without rest, deprivation of food, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and restrictions on movement, such as the withholding of passports or confinement to the workplace", + "tier_rating": "Tier 3 - Kuwait does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making sufficient efforts to do so; the government enacted comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in 2013 but did not report any arrests, prosecutions, convictions, or sentences of traffickers for either forced labor or sex trafficking in the last year; Kuwait's victim protection measures remain weak, particularly due to its lack of proactive victim identification procedures and continued reliance on the sponsorship system, which causes victims of trafficking to be punished for immigration violations rather than protected (2013)" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/lb-lebanon.json b/middle-east/lb-lebanon.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c40c35ef --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/lb-lebanon.json @@ -0,0 +1,623 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "33 50 N, 35 50 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "10,400 sq km", + "land": "10,230 sq km", + "water": "170 sq km" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "454 km", + "border_countries": "Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "225 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Mediterranean Sea 0 m", + "highest_point": "Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "10.72%", + "permanent_crops": "12.06%", + "other": "77.22% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "1,040 sq km (2003)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "4.5 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "1.31 cu km/yr (29%/11%/60%)", + "per_capita": "316.8 cu m/yr (2005)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "dust storms, sandstorms" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Lebanese (singular and plural)", + "adjective": "Lebanese" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%", + "note": "many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Coptic, Protestant), other 1.3%", + "note": "17 religious sects recognized" + }, + "population": { + "text": "4,131,583 (July 2013 est.)" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "22.1% (male 467,416/female 445,352)", + "15_24_years": "17.5% (male 368,097/female 353,518)", + "25_54_years": "42.4% (male 844,217/female 906,795)", + "55_64_years": "8.7% (male 165,271/female 193,312)", + "65_years_and_over": "9.4% (male 178,080/female 209,525) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "41.8 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "29.5 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "12.3 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "8.1 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "30.9 years", + "male": "29.7 years", + "female": "32.1 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "-0.04% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "14.79 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "-8.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "87.2% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "0.86% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "BEIRUT (capital) 1.909 million (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.04 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "0.93 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "0.86 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "0.86 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "25 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "14.81 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "14.98 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "14.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "75.46 years", + "male": "73.86 years", + "female": "77.13 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "1.75 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "58% (2004)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "7% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "3.54 physicians/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "3.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 100% of population; total: 100% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 87% of population; total: 98% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 0% of population; rural: 13% of population; total: 2% of population (2000 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "0.1% (2009 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "3,600 (2009 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "fewer than 500 (2009 est.)" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "27.4% (2008)" + }, + "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": { + "text": "4.2% (2004)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "1.7% of GDP (2011)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "89.6%", + "male": "93.4%", + "female": "86% (2007 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "14 years", + "male": "14 years", + "female": "15 years (2011)" + }, + "child_labor_children_ages_5_14": { + "total_number": "54,387", + "percentage": "7 % (2000 est.)" + }, + "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": { + "total": "22.1%", + "male": "22.3%", + "female": "21.5% (2007)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "Lebanese Republic", + "conventional_short_form": "Lebanon", + "local_long_form": "Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah", + "local_short_form": "Lubnan", + "former": "Greater Lebanon" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "republic" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Beirut", + "geographic_coordinates": "33 52 N, 35 30 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)", + "daylight_saving_time": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye", + "note": "two new governorates - Aakkar and Baalbek-Hermel - have been legislated but not yet implemented" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Independence Day, 22 November (1943)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently in 1990 to include changes necessitated by the Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system of civil law based on the French civil code, Ottoman legal tradition, and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "note": "following the resignation of Prime Minister Najib MIQATI and his Cabinet on 22 March 2013, the government is in caretaker status until a new prime minister is named and a new cabinet is formed", + "chief_of_state": "President Michel SULAYMAN (since 25 May 2008)", + "head_of_government": "Prime Minister Najib MIQATI (since 7 July 2011), Deputy Prime Minister Samir MOQBIL (since 7 July 2011)", + "cabinet": "Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly", + "elections": "president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 25 May 2008 (next to be held in 2014); the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly", + "election_results": "Michel SULAYMAN elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 for, 6 abstentions, 3 invalidated; 1 seat unfilled due to death of incumbent" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms)", + "elections": "last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)", + "election_results": "percent of vote by group - March 8 Coalition 54.7%, March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by group - March 14 Coalition 71; March 8 Coalition 57; seats by party following 16 July 2012 byelection held to fill one seat - March 14 Coalition 72, March 8 Coalition 56" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 4 divisions, each with a presiding judge and 2 associate judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 10 members)", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "Court of Cassation judges appointed by Supreme Judicial Council, headed by the chief justice, and includes other judicial officials; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the Council of Ministers and 5 by parliament; members serve 5-year terms", + "subordinate_courts": "Courts of Appeal (6); Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "14_march_coalition": "Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc; ", + "8_march_coalition": "Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI, leader of Amal Movement]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Usama SAAD]; Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Syrian Ba'th Party [Sayez SHUKR]; Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]; Tashnaq [Hovig MEKHITIRIAN]; ", + "independent": "Democratic Gathering Bloc [Walid JUNBLATT, leader of Progressive Socialist Party]; Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "Maronite Church [Patriarch Bishara al-Ra'i]; ", + "other": "note - most sects retain militias and a number of militant groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Antoine CHEDID", + "chancery": "2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 939-6300", + "fax": "[1] (202) 939-6324", + "consulates_general": "Detroit, New York, Los Angeles" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Maura CONNELLY", + "embassy": "Awkar, Lebanon (Awkar facing the Municipality)", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070", + "telephone": "[961] (4) 542600, 543600", + "fax": "[961] (4) 544136" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "cedar tree" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Kulluna lil-watan\" (All Of Us, For Our Country!)", + "lyrics_music": "Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA", + "note": "adopted 1927; the anthem was chosen following a nationwide competition" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, complex customs procedures, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and weak intellectual property rights. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and derailed Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Following the civil war, Lebanon rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks - saddling the government with a huge debt burden. Pledges of economic and financial reforms made at separate international donor conferences during the 2000s have mostly gone unfulfilled, including those made during the Paris III Donor Conference in 2007 following the July 2006 war. The collapse of the government in early 2011 over its backing of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and unrest in neighboring Syria slowed economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-12, after four years of 8% average growth. In September 2011 the Cabinet endorsed a bill that would provide $1.2 billion in funding to improve Lebanon''s downtrodden electricity sector, but fiscal limitations will test the government''s ability to invest in other areas, such as water." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$64.22 billion (2012 est.); $63.27 billion (2011 est.); $62.34 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$41.35 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "1.5% (2012 est.); 1.5% (2011 est.); 7% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$16,000 (2012 est.); $16,000 (2011 est.); $16,000 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "17.7% of GDP (2012 est.); 22.2% of GDP (2011 est.); 13.5% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "81.5%", + "government_consumption": "15.2%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "32.9%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "19.2%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-48.8% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "4.6%", + "industry": "19.7%", + "services": "75.8% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "2.1% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "1.481 million", + "note": "in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers (2007 est.)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "agriculture": "NA%", + "industry": "NA%", + "services": "NA%" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "28% (1999 est.)" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "NA%", + "highest_10%": "NA%" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$9.396 billion", + "expenditures": "$13.32 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "22.7% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "-9.5% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "127.5% of GDP (2012 est.); 133.2% of GDP (2011 est.)", + "note": "data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "calendar year" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "6.4% (2012 est.); 5.1% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "3.5% (31 December 2010 est.); 10% (31 December 2009 est.)" + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "7.25% (31 December 2012 est.); 7.53% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$4.712 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $4.072 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$97.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.); $92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$75.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $69.65 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$10.16 billion (31 December 2011); $12.59 billion (31 December 2010); $12.89 billion (31 December 2009)" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "-$7.85 billion (2012 est.); -$4.163 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$5.662 billion (2012 est.); $5.386 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "jewelry, base metals, chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "South Africa 16.9%, Switzerland 10.7%, UAE 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 8.5%, Syria 6.4%, Iraq 4.4% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$20.38 billion (2012 est.); $19.3 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "US 11.2%, China 8.3%, Italy 7.8%, France 7.4%, Germany 5.4%, Turkey 4.7%, Egypt 4.1%, Greece 4.1% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$52.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $48.14 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$29.02 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $24.88 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -; 1,507.5 (2012 est.); 1,507.5 (2011 est.); 1,507.5 (2010 est.); 1,507.5 (2009); 1,507.5 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "12.98 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "12.34 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "1.155 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "2.314 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "87.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "12.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "106,700 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "102,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "15.24 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "900,000 (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "3.35 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "repair of the telecommunications system, severely damaged during the civil war, now complete", + "domestic": "two mobile-cellular networks provide good service; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 100 per 100 persons", + "international": "country code - 961; submarine cable links to Cyprus, Egypt, and Syria; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2011)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "7 TV stations, 1 of which is state-owned; more than 30 radio stations, 1 of which is state-owned; satellite and cable TV services available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".lb" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "64,926 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "1 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "8 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "5", + "over_3_047_m": "1", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "2", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "1", + "under_914_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "3", + "914_to_1_523_m": "2", + "under_914_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "1 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "gas 88 km (2013)" + }, + "railways": { + "total": "401 km", + "standard_gauge": "319 km 1.435-m gauge", + "narrow_gauge": "82 km 1.050-m gauge", + "note": "rail system unusable because of the damage done during fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "29", + "by_type": "bulk carrier 4, cargo 7, carrier 17, vehicle carrier 1", + "foreign_owned": "2 (Syria 2)", + "registered_in_other_countries": "34 (Barbados 2, Cambodia 5, Comoros 2, Egypt 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 2, Liberia 1, Malta 6, Moldova 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Sierra Leone 2, Togo 6, unknown 1) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Beirut, Tripoli" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Lebanese Army ((Al Jaysh al Lubnani) includes Lebanese Navy (Al Quwwat al Bahiriyya al Lubnaniya), Lebanese Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Lubnaniya)) (2013)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-24 years of age for officer candidates; no conscription (2013)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "1,081,016", + "females_age_16_49": "1,115,349 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "920,825", + "females_age_16_49": "941,806 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "36,856", + "female": "35,121 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "2.5% of GDP (2012)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978" + }, + "refugees_and_internally_displaced_persons": { + "refugees_country_of_origin": "436,154 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2011); 6,516 (Iraq) (2012); 739,823 (Syria) (2013)", + "idps": "at least 47,000 (1975-90 civil war, 2007 Lebanese security forces' destruction of Palestinian refugee camp) (2011)" + }, + "trafficking_in_persons": { + "current_situation": "Lebanon is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Eastern European women and children are transported through Lebanon for sexual exploitation in other Middle Eastern countries; women from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Madagascar, Congo, Togo, Cameroon, and Nigeria are recruited by agencies to work in domestic service but are often subject to conditions indicative of forced labor, including the withholding of passports, nonpayment of wages, restricted movement, threats, and abuse; Lebanon's artiste visa program enabling women to work as dancers for three months in the adult entertainment industry sustains a significant sex trade; anecdotal information indicates some Lebanese children are victims of forced labor, such as street begging and commercial sexual exploitation; Syrian refugee women and children in Lebanon are at increased risk of sex trafficking", + "tier_rating": "Tier 2 Watch List - Lebanon does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government conducts investigations of human trafficking and possibly some prosecutions but for another year did not report convicting any trafficking offenders or officials complicit in human trafficking; the government continues to lack a formal system for identifying victims and does not have a policy to protect victims from being punished for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked; NGOs, rather than the government, provide victim assistance and protection (2013)" + }, + "illicit_drugs": { + "text": "cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug trafficking" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/om-oman.json b/middle-east/om-oman.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..51c538e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/om-oman.json @@ -0,0 +1,593 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and he has since ruled as sultan. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, Omanis began staging marches and demonstrations to demand economic benefits, an end to corruption, and greater political rights. In response to protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and introducing unemployment benefits. In August 2012, the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the Sultan in 2011, the municipal councils will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "21 00 N, 57 00 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "309,500 sq km", + "land": "309,500 sq km", + "water": "0 sq km" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly smaller than Kansas" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "1,374 km", + "border_countries": "Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "2,092 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm", + "contiguous_zone": "24 nm", + "exclusive_economic_zone": "200 nm" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Arabian Sea 0 m", + "highest_point": "Jabal Shams 2,980 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "0.1%", + "permanent_crops": "0.12%", + "other": "99.77% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "588.5 sq km (2004)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "1.4 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "1.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/88%)", + "per_capita": "515.8 cu m/yr (2003)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "none of the selected agreements" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Omani(s)", + "adjective": "Omani" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Ibadhi Muslim (official) 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%" + }, + "population": { + "text": "3,154,134 (July 2013 est.)", + "note": "includes 577,293 non-nationals" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "30.6% (male 494,444/female 469,752)", + "15_24_years": "20.2% (male 333,583/female 302,618)", + "25_54_years": "42.1% (male 781,396/female 547,872)", + "55_64_years": "3.9% (male 65,722/female 56,673)", + "65_years_and_over": "3.2% (male 51,515/female 50,559) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "35.7 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "31.9 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "3.8 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "26.2 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "24.7 years", + "male": "25.9 years", + "female": "23.1 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "2.06% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "24.43 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "3.4 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "73.4% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "2.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "MUSCAT (capital) 634,000 (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.1 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "1.45 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "1.17 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "1.03 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "1.22 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "32 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "14.46 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "14.76 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "14.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "74.72 years", + "male": "72.84 years", + "female": "76.7 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "2.86 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "31.7% (2000)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "2.8% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2008)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "1.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 93% of population; rural: 78% of population; total: 89% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 7% of population; rural: 22% of population; total: 11% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 95% of population; total: 99% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 0% of population; rural: 5% of population; total: 1% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "0.1% (2009 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "1,100 (2009 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "fewer than 100 (2009 est.)" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "20.9% (2008)" + }, + "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": { + "text": "8.6% (2009)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "4.3% of GDP (2009)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "86.9%", + "male": "90.2%", + "female": "81.8% (2010 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "14 years", + "male": "14 years", + "female": "14 years (2011)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "Sultanate of Oman", + "conventional_short_form": "Oman", + "local_long_form": "Saltanat Uman", + "local_short_form": "Uman", + "former": "Muscat and Oman" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "monarchy" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Muscat", + "geographic_coordinates": "23 37 N, 58 35 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law are not allowed to vote" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government", + "head_of_government": "Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)", + "cabinet": "Cabinet appointed by the monarch", + "elections": "the Ruling Family Council determines a successor from the Sultan's extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within three days of the Sultan's death or incapacitation, the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the Sultan" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "bicameral - consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the sultan; has only advisory powers) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has authority to draft legislation but is subordinate to the Sultan)", + "elections": "(Majlis al-Shura) last held on 15 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2015)", + "election_results": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - three prominent figures from the Arab Spring 2011 protests won seats; one woman also won a seat" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA", + "subordinate_courts": "Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "text": "political parties are illegal" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "none" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI", + "chancery": "2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 387-1980", + "fax": "[1] (202) 745-4933" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Greta C. HOLTZ", + "embassy": "Jamait Ad Duwal Al Arabiyya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat", + "telephone": "[968] 24-643-400", + "fax": "[968] 24-64-37-40" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "Khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani\" (The Sultan's Anthem)", + "lyrics_music": "Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS", + "note": "adopted 1932; new words were written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; the anthem was first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his visiting the ship" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves and a rapidly growing labor force, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020 and creating more jobs to employ the rising numbers of Omanis entering the workforce. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, will challenge the government's ability to effectively balance its budget if oil revenues decline. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more time to diversify, and the increase in global oil prices through 2011 provided the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors. In 2012, continued surpluses resulting from sustained high oil prices and increased enhanced oil recovery allowed the government to maintain growth in social subsidies and public sector job creation. However, the Sultan made widely reported statements indicating this would not be sustainable, and called for expanded efforts to support SME development and entrepreneurship. Government agencies and large oligarchic group companies heeded his call, announcing new initiatives to spin off non-essential functions to entrepreneurs, incubate new businesses, train and mentor up and coming business people, and provide financing for start-ups. In response to fast growth in household indebtedness, the Central Bank reduced the ceiling on personal interest loans from 8 to 7%, lowered mortgage rates, capped the percentage of consumer loans at 50% of borrower's salaries for personal loans and 60% for housing loans, and limited maximum repayment terms to 10 and 25 years respectively. In 2012 the Central Bank also issued final regulations governing Islamic banking and two full-fledged Islamic banks held oversubscribed IPOs while four traditional banks opened sharia-compliant Islamic windows." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$91.54 billion (2012 est.); $87.16 billion (2011 est.); $83.41 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$76.46 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "5% (2012 est.); 4.5% (2011 est.); 5.6% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$29,600 (2012 est.); $29,100 (2011 est.); $33,100 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "38% of GDP (2012 est.); 41% of GDP (2011 est.); 37.9% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "30%", + "government_consumption": "17.2%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "26.2%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "61.6%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-35% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "1%", + "industry": "66%", + "services": "33% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "0.2% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "968,800", + "note": "about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "agriculture": "NA%", + "industry": "NA%", + "services": "NA%" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "15% (2004 est.)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "NA%", + "highest_10%": "NA%" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$36.36 billion", + "expenditures": "$27.98 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "47.6% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "11% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "4.1% of GDP (2012 est.); 4.6% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "calendar year" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "2.9% (2012 est.); 4.1% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "2% (31 December 2010 est.); 0.05% (31 December 2009 est.)" + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "5.65% (31 December 2012 est.); 6.19% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$9.083 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $7.971 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$71.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.); $63.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$27.62 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $23.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$19.72 billion (31 December 2011); $20.27 billion (31 December 2010); $17.3 billion (31 December 2009)" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "$10.22 billion (2012 est.); $10.67 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$52.04 billion (2012 est.); $47.09 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "China 31.9%, Japan 12.9%, UAE 10.1%, South Korea 10%, Thailand 4.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$26.49 billion (2012 est.); $21.5 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "UAE 23.6%, Japan 12.6%, India 8.5%, China 6.4%, US 6.1% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$14.75 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $14.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$10.18 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $9.297 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -; 0.3845 (2012 est.); 0.3845 (2011 est.); 0.3845 (2010 est.); 0.3845 (2009); 0.3845 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "18.59 billion kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "15.34 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "4.202 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "915,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "253,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "4.902 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "106,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "98,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "19,680 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "33,150 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "35.94 billion cu m (2012 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "17.53 billion cu m (2011 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "11.49 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "1.9 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "55.2 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "305,000 (2012)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "5.278 million (2012)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations", + "domestic": "fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems", + "international": "country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2008)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".om" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "14,531 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "1.465 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "132 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "13", + "over_3_047_m": "7", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "5", + "914_to_1_523_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "119", + "over_3_047_m": "2", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "7", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "51", + "914_to_1_523_m": "33", + "under_914_m": "26 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "3 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "condensate 106 km; gas 4,224 km; oil 3,558 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 264 km (2013)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "45,985 km", + "paved": "29,685 km (includes 1,384 km of expressways)", + "unpaved": "16,300 km (2011)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "5", + "by_type": "chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3", + "registered_in_other_countries": "15 (Malta 5, Panama 10) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman) (2013)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "985,957", + "females_age_16_49": "737,812 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "837,886", + "females_age_16_49": "642,427 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "31,959", + "female": "30,264 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/qa-qatar.json b/middle-east/qa-qatar.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..22832faa --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/qa-qatar.json @@ -0,0 +1,583 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew the father in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar has not experienced the level of unrest or violence seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2010-11, due in part to its immense wealth. Qatar's international image is bolstered in part by the Doha-based Al Jazeera news network, which has provided comprehensive coverage of the Near East and North African Arab revolutions. Additionally, Qatar played a significant role in the Libyan revolution by pressing the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to assist the Libyan rebel movement." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "25 30 N, 51 15 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "11,586 sq km", + "land": "11,586 sq km", + "water": "0 sq km" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly smaller than Connecticut" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "60 km", + "border_countries": "Saudi Arabia 60 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "563 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm", + "contiguous_zone": "24 nm", + "exclusive_economic_zone": "as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Persian Gulf 0 m", + "highest_point": "Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, natural gas, fish" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "1.21%", + "permanent_crops": "0.17%", + "other": "98.62% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "129.4 sq km (2003)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "0.06 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "0.44 cu km/yr (39%/2%/59%)", + "per_capita": "376.9 cu m/yr (2005)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "haze, dust storms, sandstorms common" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "none of the selected agreements" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Qatari(s)", + "adjective": "Qatari" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)" + }, + "population": { + "text": "2,042,444 (July 2013 est.)" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "12.5% (male 129,465/female 125,623)", + "15_24_years": "13.9% (male 208,625/female 74,881)", + "25_54_years": "69.5% (male 1,170,547/female 248,369)", + "55_64_years": "3.3% (male 52,799/female 15,411)", + "65_years_and_over": "0.8% (male 10,214/female 6,510) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "17.2 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "16 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "1.2 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "83.9 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "32.4 years", + "male": "33.4 years", + "female": "28 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "4.19% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "10.08 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "1.54 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "33.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "98.8% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "3.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "DOHA (capital) 427,000 (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.02 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.03 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "2.83 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "4.61 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "3.41 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "1.5 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "3.29 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "6.6 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "6.86 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "6.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "78.24 years", + "male": "76.27 years", + "female": "80.25 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "1.92 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "43.2% (1998)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "1.8% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "2.76 physicians/1,000 population (2006)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "1.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 100% of population; total: 100% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population; rural: 100% of population; total: 100% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "less than 0.1% (2009 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "fewer than 200 (2009 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "fewer than 100 (2009 est.)" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "33.2% (2008)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "2.5% of GDP (2008)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "96.3%", + "male": "96.5%", + "female": "95.4% (2010 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "13 years", + "male": "12 years", + "female": "14 years (2011)" + }, + "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": { + "total": "1.3%", + "male": "0.4%", + "female": "8.9% (2011)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "State of Qatar", + "conventional_short_form": "Qatar", + "local_long_form": "Dawlat Qatar", + "local_short_form": "Qatar", + "note": "closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "emirate" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Doha", + "geographic_coordinates": "25 17 N, 51 32 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "7 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "3 September 1971 (from the UK)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December (1878) (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "ratified by public referendum 29 April 2003; endorsed by the Amir 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic law (in family and personal matters)" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "18 years of age; universal" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)", + "head_of_government": "Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Nasir bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 26 June 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad bin Abdallah al-MAHMUD (since 20 September 2011)", + "cabinet": "Council of Ministers appointed by the amir", + "elections": "the position of amir is hereditary" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 15 members appointed; 30 members to be elected by popular vote beginning mid- or late 2013, per the 2003 constitutional referendum)", + "note": "the Advisory Council has limited legislative authority to draft and approve laws, but the Amir has final say on all matters; Qatar's first legislative elections are expected to be held in 2013 in which the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15; the Advisory Council would have authority to approve the national budget, hold ministers accountable through no-confidence votes, and propose legislation; Qatar in May 2011 held nationwide elections for the 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC) - first elected in 1999 - which has limited consultative authority aimed at improving municipal services" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members) note - the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Judicial Supreme Council were established in 1999", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "Cassation Court judges nominated by the Judicial Supreme Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Judicial Supreme Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA", + "subordinate_courts": "Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Sharia Courts; Courts of Justice" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "text": "none" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "none" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Muhammad bin Abdallah bin Mitib al-RUMAYHI", + "chancery": "2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603", + "fax": "[1] (202) 237-0061", + "consulates_general": "Houston" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Susan L. ZIADEH", + "embassy": "Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 2399, Doha", + "telephone": "[974] 4496-6000", + "fax": "[974] 4488 4298" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the \"reconciled emirates\" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916", + "note": "the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Al-Salam Al-Amiri\" (The Peace for the Anthem)", + "lyrics_music": "Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN", + "note": "adopted 1996; the anthem was first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Qatar has prospered in the last several years with continued high real GDP growth. Throughout the financial crisis Qatari authorities sought to protect the local banking sector with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP grew sharply in 2010 largely due to the increase in oil prices, and 2011's growth was supported by Qatar's investment in expanding its gas sector. GDP slowed to 6.6% in 2012 as Qatar''s gas sector expansion moved toward completion. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar''s nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the world''s highest per-capita income country and the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves in excess of 25 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 57 years. Qatar''s proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 13% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar''s successful 2022 World Cup bid will likely accelerate large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar''s metro system, light rail system, and the Qatar-Bahrain causeway. The Hamad International Airport is projected to open by the end of 2013 with an annual passenger capacity of 24 million." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$191 billion (2012 est.); $179.2 billion (2011 est.); $158.6 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$183.4 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "6.6% (2012 est.); 13% (2011 est.); 16.7% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$103,900 (2012 est.); $101,400 (2011 est.); $93,300 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "63% of GDP (2012 est.); 59.9% of GDP (2011 est.); 52.8% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "13.1%", + "government_consumption": "12.1%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "30.6%", + "investment_in_inventories": "-8.9%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "78.6%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-25.5% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "0.1%", + "industry": "73.6%", + "services": "26.3% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "4.6% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "1.43 million (2012 est.)" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "0.5% (2012 est.); 0.4% (2011 est.)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "1.3%", + "highest_10%": "35.9% (2007)" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$69.76 billion", + "expenditures": "$49.32 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "38% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "11.1% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "32.8% of GDP (2012 est.); 34.4% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "1 April - 31 March" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "1.9% (2012 est.); 1.9% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "4.5% (31 December 2012 est.); 4.5% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "5.38% (31 December 2012 est.); 5.49% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$24.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $22.49 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$97.97 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $85.16 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$149.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $121.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$125.4 billion (31 December 2011); $123.6 billion (31 December 2010); $87.86 billion (31 December 2009)" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "$58.57 billion (2012 est.); $53.57 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$133.7 billion (2012 est.); $114.3 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "Japan 26.6%, South Korea 19%, India 12%, Singapore 5.7%, China 5.4% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$30.79 billion (2012 est.); $26.93 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "US 14.2%, UAE 11%, Saudi Arabia 8.3%, UK 6.4%, Japan 6%, China 4.8%, Germany 4.7%, Italy 4.4%, France 4.4% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$33.19 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $16.82 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$134.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $128 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$32.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $31.84 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": { + "text": "$26.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $25.02 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -; 3.64 (2012 est.); 3.64 (2011 est.); 3.64 (2010 est.); 3.64 (2009); 3.64 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "28.14 billion kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "26.38 billion kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "200,000 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "3.893 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "1.631 million bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "704,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "25.57 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "153,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "169,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "53,230 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "11,940 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "116.7 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "21.8 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "113.4 billion cu m (2011 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "25.2 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "64.68 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "306,700 (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "2.302 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "modern system centered in Doha", + "domestic": "combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons", + "international": "country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; 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 (2011)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "TV and radio broadcast licensing and access to local media markets are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari government, but has evolved to independent corporate status; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; local radio transmissions include state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies in Doha (2012)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".qa" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "897 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "563,800 (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "6 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "4", + "over_3_047_m": "3", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "2", + "914_to_1_523_m": "1", + "under_914_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "1 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "condensate 288 km; condensate/gas 221 km; gas 2,383 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 745 km; refined products 103 km (2013)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "7,790 km (2006)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "28", + "by_type": "bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 13, liquefied gas 6, petroleum tanker 4", + "foreign_owned": "6 (Kuwait 6)", + "registered_in_other_countries": "35 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 29, Panama 1) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra's Laffan" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Qatari Emiri Land Force (QELF), Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN), Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) (2013)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "389,487", + "females_age_16_49": "165,572 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "321,974", + "females_age_16_49": "140,176 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "6,429", + "female": "5,162 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "10% of GDP (2005 est.)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "none" + }, + "refugees_and_internally_displaced_persons": { + "stateless_persons": "1,200 (2012)" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/sa-saudi-arabia.json b/middle-east/sa-saudi-arabia.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..629ef9fa --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/sa-saudi-arabia.json @@ -0,0 +1,618 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "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. King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz ascended to the throne in 2005. 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 on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. The king instituted an interfaith dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The 2010-12 uprisings across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsula Shield Force. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. In response to the unrest, King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment entitlements. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide in September 2011 for half the members of 285 municipal councils. Also in September, the king announced that women will be allowed to run for and vote in future municipal elections - first held in 2005 - and serve as full members of the advisory Consultative Council. During 2012, Shia protests increased in violence, while peaceful Sunni protests expanded. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are ongoing governmental concerns." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "25 00 N, 45 00 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "2,149,690 sq km", + "land": "2,149,690 sq km", + "water": "0 sq km" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "4,431 km", + "border_countries": "Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "2,640 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm", + "contiguous_zone": "18 nm", + "continental_shelf": "not specified" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "mostly uninhabited, sandy desert" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Persian Gulf 0 m", + "highest_point": "Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "1.45%", + "permanent_crops": "0.11%", + "other": "98.44% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "16,200 sq km (2004)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "2.4 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "23.67 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)", + "per_capita": "928.1 cu m/yr (2006)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "frequent sand and dust storms", + "volcanism": "despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "none of the selected agreements" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Saudi(s)", + "adjective": "Saudi or Saudi Arabian" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official)" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Muslim (official) 100%" + }, + "population": { + "text": "26,939,583 (July 2013 est.)", + "note": "includes 5,576,076 non-nationals" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "28.2% (male 3,890,771/female 3,703,725)", + "15_24_years": "19.6% (male 2,823,458/female 2,450,629)", + "25_54_years": "44.8% (male 6,927,445/female 5,148,565)", + "55_64_years": "4.3% (male 639,051/female 524,058)", + "65_years_and_over": "3.1% (male 429,951/female 401,930) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "46.9 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "42.6 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "4.2 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "23.6 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "26 years", + "male": "27 years", + "female": "24.8 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "1.51% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "19.01 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "3.32 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "-0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "82.3% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "2.38% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "RIYADH (capital) 4.725 million; Jeddah 3.234 million; Mecca 1.484 million; Medina 1.104 million; Ad Dammam 902,000 (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.15 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "1.36 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "1.22 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "1.08 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "1.21 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "24 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "15.08 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "17.31 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "12.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "74.58 years", + "male": "72.58 years", + "female": "76.68 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "2.21 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "23.8% (2007)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "4.3% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "0.94 physicians/1,000 population (2008)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "2.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 97% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 3% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 100% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "0.01% (2001 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "33% (2008)" + }, + "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": { + "text": "5.3% (2005)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "5.6% of GDP (2008)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "87.2%", + "male": "90.8%", + "female": "82.2% (2011 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "15 years", + "male": "15 years", + "female": "15 years (2011)" + }, + "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": { + "total": "28.2%", + "male": "23.6%", + "female": "45.8% (2008)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", + "conventional_short_form": "Saudi Arabia", + "local_long_form": "Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Saudiyah", + "local_short_form": "Al Arabiyah as Saudiyah" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "monarchy" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Riyadh", + "geographic_coordinates": "24 39 N, 46 42 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "21 years of age; male" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, born 31 December 1935) ; note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government", + "head_of_government": "King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 19 June 2012); Second Deputy Prime Minister MUQRIN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since February 2013)", + "cabinet": "Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members", + "elections": "none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - an Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the system will not take effect until after King ABDALLAH's successor inherits the throne" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "High Court (consists of the court chief and organized into circuits with 3-judge panels except the criminal circuit which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments) note - in 2005, King Abdullah issued decrees approving an overhaul of the judicial system and which were incorporated in the Judiciary Law of 2007; one change was the replacement of the Supreme Council of Justice with the High Court", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "the High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree following the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2- year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment", + "subordinate_courts": "Court of Appeals; first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts, and the Labor Court; hierarchy of administrative courts" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "text": "none" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights); ", + "other": "gas companies; religious groups" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR", + "chancery": "601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 342-3800", + "fax": "[1] (202) 944-3113", + "consulates_general": "Houston, Los Angeles, New York" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador James B. SMITH", + "embassy": "Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh", + "mailing_address": "American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693", + "telephone": "[966] (1) 488-3800", + "fax": "[966] (1) 488-7360", + "consulates_general": "Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as \"There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God\") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides", + "note": "one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "palm tree surmounting two crossed swords" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Aash Al Maleek\" (Long Live Our Beloved King)", + "lyrics_music": "Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB", + "note": "music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 17% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Over 5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in 2005. The government has begun establishing six \"economic cities\" in different regions of the country to promote foreign investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi Arabia''s economic development." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$921.7 billion (2012 est.); $863 billion (2011 est.); $795.5 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$727.3 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "6.8% (2012 est.); 8.5% (2011 est.); 7.4% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$31,800 (2012 est.); $30,400 (2011 est.); $28,900 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "53.5% of GDP (2012 est.); 54.8% of GDP (2011 est.); 49.7% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "26.4%", + "government_consumption": "19.7%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "26.6%", + "investment_in_inventories": "4.3%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "55.9%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-28.6% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "1.9%", + "industry": "64.8%", + "services": "33.3% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "7.1% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "8.012 million", + "note": "about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "agriculture": "6.7%", + "industry": "21.4%", + "services": "71.9% (2005 est.)" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "10.6% (2012 est.); 10.9% (2011 est.)", + "note": "data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "NA%", + "highest_10%": "NA%" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$326.5 billion", + "expenditures": "$234.8 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "44.9% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "12.6% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "11.5% of GDP (2012 est.); 11.2% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "calendar year" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "4% (2012 est.); 4.9% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "2.5% (31 December 2008); " + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "6.8% (31 December 2012 est.); 7.2% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$236.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $202.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$360.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $326.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$74.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $27.54 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$338.9 billion (31 December 2011); $353.4 billion (31 December 2010); $318.8 billion (31 December 2009)" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "$150 billion (2012 est.); $158.5 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$395 billion (2012 est.); $364.7 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "petroleum and petroleum products 90%" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "US 14.3%, China 13.7%, Japan 13.7%, South Korea 9.9%, India 8.2%, Singapore 4.3% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$136.8 billion (2012 est.); $120 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "China 13.5%, US 13.2%, South Korea 6.7%, Germany 6.5%, India 6.3%, Japan 6% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$656.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $541.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$134 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $113.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$221.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $204.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": { + "text": "$20.81 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $17.72 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -; 3.75 (2012 est.); 3.75 (2011 est.); 3.75 (2010 est.); 3.75 (2009); 3.75 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "212.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "186.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "44.49 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "10 million bbl/day (2012 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "6.88 million bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "264.6 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "1.914 million bbl/day (2010 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "2.817 million bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "951,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "160,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "99.23 billion cu m (2011 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "99.23 billion cu m (2011 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2011 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2011 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "8.028 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "478.4 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "4.633 million (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "53.706 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "modern system including a combination of extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables", + "domestic": "mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly", + "international": "country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2011)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".sa" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "145,941 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "9.774 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "214 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "82", + "over_3_047_m": "33", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "16", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "27", + "914_to_1_523_m": "2", + "under_914_m": "4 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "132", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "7", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "72", + "914_to_1_523_m": "37", + "under_914_m": "16 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "10 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "condensate 209 km; gas 2,940 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 5,117 km; refined products 1,151 km (2013)" + }, + "railways": { + "total": "1,378 km", + "standard_gauge": "1,378 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2008)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "221,372 km", + "paved": "47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)", + "unpaved": "173,843 km (2006)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "72", + "by_type": "cargo 1, chemical tanker 25, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 7", + "foreign_owned": "15 (Egypt 1, Greece 4, Kuwait 4, UAE 6)", + "registered_in_other_countries": "55 (Bahamas 16, Dominica 2, Liberia 20, Malta 2, Norway 3, Panama 11, Tanzania 1) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Ministry of Defense and Aviation Forces: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes Marine Forces and Special Forces), Royal Saudi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya as-Sa'udiya), Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "8,644,522", + "females_age_16_49": "6,601,985 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "7,365,624", + "females_age_16_49": "5,677,819 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "261,105", + "female": "244,763 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "9.1% of GDP (2012)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "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": "291,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2009)", + "stateless_persons": "70,000 (2012); 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": { + "current_situation": "Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and many other countries voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or other low-skilled laborers, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude (many are forced to work months or years beyond their contract term because employers withhold passports and required exit visas); women, primarily from Asian and African countries, are believed to be forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia; others were reportedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution after running away from abusive employers; Yemeni, Nigerian, Pakistani, Afghan, Chadian, and Sudanese children were subjected to forced labor as beggars and street vendors in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by criminal gangs", + "tier_rating": "Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; fewer victims were identified and referred to protection services than in the previous reporting period; the sponsorship system, including the exit visa requirement, continues to restrict the freedom of movement of migrant workers and hamper the ability of victims to pursue legal cases against their employers; however, the government has implemented regulations mandating the formation of unified recruitment companies to replace the sponsorship model; no specialized shelter was available to victims of sex trafficking or male victims of trafficking (2013)" + }, + "illicit_drugs": { + "text": "death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/sy-syria.json b/middle-east/sy-syria.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1abf9d62 --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/sy-syria.json @@ -0,0 +1,622 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah. In May 2007 Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was approved by popular referendum. Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 with protesters calling for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. Since then demonstrations and unrest have spread to nearly every city in Syria, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law and approving new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections - and force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD to step down, and the government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime. Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, in October 2012 began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in brokering a cease-fire. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unrest persists in 2013, and the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians has topped 100,000." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "35 00 N, 38 00 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "185,180 sq km", + "land": "183,630 sq km", + "water": "1,550 sq km", + "note": "includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly larger than North Dakota" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "2,253 km", + "border_countries": "Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "193 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm", + "contiguous_zone": "24 nm" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m", + "highest_point": "Mount Hermon 2,814 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "24.9%", + "permanent_crops": "5.69%", + "other": "69.41% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "13,410 sq km (2010)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "16.8 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "16.76 cu km/yr (9%/4%/88%)", + "per_capita": "867.4 cu m/yr (2005)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "dust storms, sandstorms", + "volcanism": "Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "Environmental Modification" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "the capital of Damascus - located at an oasis fed by the Barada River - is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Syrian(s)", + "adjective": "Syrian" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian (widely understood); French, English (somewhat understood)" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Sunni Muslim (Islam - official) 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)" + }, + "population": { + "text": "22,457,336 (July 2013 est.)", + "note": "approximately 18,700 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2011)" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "33.9% (male 3,900,073/female 3,707,117)", + "15_24_years": "20.8% (male 2,387,006/female 2,285,496)", + "25_54_years": "36.9% (male 4,214,621/female 4,075,181)", + "55_64_years": "4.6% (male 504,422/female 517,413)", + "65_years_and_over": "3.9% (male 395,806/female 470,201) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "64.3 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "57.7 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "6.7 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "15 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "22.7 years", + "male": "22.5 years", + "female": "22.9 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "0.15% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "23.01 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "3.67 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "-17.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "56.1% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "2.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "Aleppo 2.985 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.527 million; Hims 1.276 million; Hamah 854,000 (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.06 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "1.04 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "0.97 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "0.85 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "14.63 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "16.83 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "12.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "75.14 years", + "male": "72.74 years", + "female": "77.69 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "2.77 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "58.3% (2006)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "3.4% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2008)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "1.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 93% of population; rural: 86% of population; total: 90% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 7% of population; rural: 14% of population; total: 10% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 96% of population; rural: 93% of population; total: 95% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 4% of population; rural: 7% of population; total: 5% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "less than 0.1% (2001 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "fewer than 500 (2003 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "fewer than 200 (2003 est.)" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "27.1% (2008)" + }, + "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": { + "text": "10.1% (2009)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "5.1% of GDP (2009)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "84.1%", + "male": "90.3%", + "female": "77.7% (2011 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "11 years", + "male": "12 years", + "female": "11 years (2007)" + }, + "child_labor_children_ages_5_14": { + "total_number": "192,915", + "percentage": "4 % (2006 est.)" + }, + "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": { + "total": "19.2%", + "male": "15.3%", + "female": "40.2% (2010)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "Syrian Arab Republic", + "conventional_short_form": "Syria", + "local_long_form": "Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah", + "local_short_form": "Suriyah", + "former": "United Arab Republic (with Egypt)" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "republic under an authoritarian regime" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Damascus", + "geographic_coordinates": "33 30 N, 36 18 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)", + "daylight_saving_time": "+1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March; ends at midnight on the first Friday in November" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab, Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Independence Day, 17 April (1946)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "13 March 1973; amended February 2012" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law (for family courts)" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "18 years of age; universal" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 21 February 2006); Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)", + "head_of_government": "Prime Minister Wael al-HALQI (since 9 August 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Fahd Jasim al-FURAYJ, Lt. Gen., Walid al-MUALEM", + "cabinet": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - new Council appointed on 14 April 2011", + "elections": "president approved by popular referendum for a second seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers", + "election_results": "Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%, other 2.4%" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "unicameral People's Assembly or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)", + "elections": "last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)", + "election_results": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 members)", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms", + "subordinate_courts": "courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "legal_parties": "National Progressive Front or NPF [President Bashar al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH] (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr al-DIN]; Syrian Arab Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social Nationalist Party [As'ad HARDAN]; Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL])", + "kurdish_parties_considered_illegal": "Kurdish Azadi Party; Kurdish Democratic Accord Party (al Wifaq); Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Ibrahim wing); Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Mustafa wing); Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria or KDP-S; Kurdish Democratic Patriotic/National Party; Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Darwish; Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Muhammad; Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD [Salih Muslim MOHAMMAD]; Kurdish Democratic Unity Party; Kurdish Democratic Yekiti Party; Kurdish Future Party or KFP; Kurdish Future Party [Rezan HASSAN]; Kurdish Left Party; Kurdish Yekiti (Union) Party; Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party; ", + "other_parties": "Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "Free Syrian Army; National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Oppositon Forces or Syrian Oppositon Coalition [Mu'aaz al-KHATIB] (operates in exile in Cairo); Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH] (operates in exile in London); ", + "note": "there are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mounir KOUDMANI", + "chancery": "2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 232-6313", + "fax": "[1] (202) 265-4585" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Robert S. FORD; note - on 6 February 2012, the US closed its embassy in Damascus", + "embassy": "Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 29, Damascus", + "telephone": "[963] (11) 3391-4444", + "fax": "[963] (11) 3391-3999" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980", + "note": "similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "hawk" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"Humat ad-Diyar\" (Guardians of the Homeland)", + "lyrics_music": "Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL", + "note": "adopted 1936, restored 1961; between 1958 and 1961, while Syria was a member of the United Arab Republic with Egypt, the country had a different anthem" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Despite modest economic growth and reform prior to the outbreak of unrest, Syria's economy continues to suffer the effects of the ongoing conflict that began in 2011. The economy further contracted in 2012 because of international sanctions and reduced domestic consumption and production, and inflation has risen sharply. The government has struggled to address the effects of economic decline, which include dwindling foreign exchange reserves, rising budget and trade deficits, and the decreasing value of the Syrian pound. Prior to the unrest, Damascus began liberalizing economic policies, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange. The economy remains highly regulated by the government. Long-run economic constraints include foreign trade barriers, declining oil production, high unemployment, rising budget deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$107.6 billion (2011 est.); $110.1 billion (2010 est.); $113.9 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2011 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$64.7 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "NA% (2012 est.); -2.3% (2011 est.); 3.4% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$5,100 (2011 est.); $5,100 (2010 est.); $5,300 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2011 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "12.5% of GDP (2012 est.); 15% of GDP (2011 est.); 26.1% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "69.4%", + "government_consumption": "17.2%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "20.5%", + "investment_in_inventories": "8.4%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "13.9%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-29.4% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "16.5%", + "industry": "22.8%", + "services": "60.7% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, car assembly" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "-36% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "5.327 million (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "agriculture": "17%", + "industry": "16%", + "services": "67% (2008 est.)" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "18% (2012 est.); 14.9% (2011 est.)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "11.9% (2006 est.)" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "NA%", + "highest_10%": "NA%" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$5.222 billion", + "expenditures": "$12.59 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "8.1% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "-11.4% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "52.2% of GDP (2012 est.); 35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "calendar year" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "37% (2012 est.); 4.8% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "0.75% (31 December 2012 est.); 5% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "11.7% (31 December 2012 est.); 10.5% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$18.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $22.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$30.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $39.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$18.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $27.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "-$5.103 billion (2012 est.); -$7.726 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$3.876 billion (2012 est.); $10.29 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "Iraq 55.9%, Saudi Arabia 9.3%, Kuwait 6.1%, UAE 5.3%, Lebanon 4.2% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$10.78 billion (2012 est.); $17.6 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "Saudi Arabia 21.2%, UAE 10.4%, Iran 7.7%, China 7%, Iraq 6.3%, Ukraine 6.3%, Egypt 4.3% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$4.774 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $14.83 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$8.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $8.196 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -; 64.3919 (2012 est.); 48.371 (2011 est.); 11.225 (2010 est.); 46.708 (2009); 46.5281 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "40.86 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "28.87 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "8.2 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "84.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "15.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "333,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "144,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "2.183 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "255,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "258,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "14,540 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "58,160 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "8.94 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "9.63 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "690 million cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "63.1 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "4.345 million (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "13.117 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology and expansion of the network to rural areas; 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", + "domestic": "the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephone subscribership nearly 60 per 100 persons in 2011", + "international": "country code - 963; submarine cable connection to Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel (2011)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and a satellite channel; 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 (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".sy" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "416 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "4.469 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "90 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "29", + "over_3_047_m": "5", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "16", + "914_to_1_523_m": "3", + "under_914_m": "5 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "61", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "1", + "914_to_1_523_m": "12", + "under_914_m": "48 (2013)" + }, + "heliports": { + "text": "6 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "gas 3,170 km; oil 2,029 km (2013)" + }, + "railways": { + "total": "2,052 km", + "standard_gauge": "1,801 km 1.435-m gauge", + "narrow_gauge": "251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "68,157 km", + "paved": "61,514 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways)", + "unpaved": "6,643 km (2006)" + }, + "waterways": { + "text": "900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "19", + "by_type": "bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, carrier 1", + "registered_in_other_countries": "166 (Barbados 1, Belize 4, Bolivia 4, Cambodia 22, Comoros 5, Dominica 4, Georgia 24, Lebanon 2, Liberia 1, Malta 4, Moldova 5, North Korea 4, Panama 34, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Sierra Leone 13, Tanzania 23, Togo 6, unknown 1) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Forces (includes Air Defense Command) (2008)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve; re-enlistment obligation 5 years, with retirement after 15 years or age 40 (enlisted) or 20 years or age 45 (NCOs) (2012)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "5,889,837", + "females_age_16_49": "5,660,751 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "5,055,510", + "females_age_16_49": "4,884,151 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "256,698", + "female": "244,712 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "3.6% of GDP (2011)" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force patrolling a buffer zone since 1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan" + }, + "refugees_and_internally_displaced_persons": { + "refugees_country_of_origin": "486,946 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 87,741 (Iraq) (2012)", + "idps": "4.25 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2012)", + "stateless_persons": "221,000 (2012); note - Syria's stateless population is composed 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" + }, + "trafficking_in_persons": { + "current_situation": "due to Syria's political uprising and violent unrest, hundreds of thousands of Syrians, foreign migrant workers, and refugees have fled the country and are vulnerable to human trafficking; the lack of security and inaccessibility of the majority of the country makes it impossible to conduct a thorough analysis of the ongoing conflict and the scope and magnitude of Syria's human trafficking situation; prior to the uprising, Syria was principally a destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking; thousands of women - the majority from Indonesia, the Philippines, Somalia, and Ethiopia - were recruited to work as domestic servants but were subsequently subjected to forced labor; Filipina domestic workers continue to be sent to Syria and are vulnerable to forced labor; the Syrian armed forces and opposition forces are using Syrian children in combat and support roles and as human shields; Iraqi women and girls continue to be sexually exploited, and Syrian children still face conditions of forced labor", + "tier_rating": "Tier 3 - the government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government does not demonstrate evidence of increasing efforts to investigate and punish trafficking offenses, provide protective services to victims, inform the public about human trafficking, or provide much-needed anti-trafficking training to law enforcement and social welfare officials; the government does not refer any victims to NGO-operated shelters and has failed to institute procedures for the identification, interview, and referral of trafficking victims; the status of the national plan of action against trafficking is unknown (2013)" + }, + "illicit_drugs": { + "text": "a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/middle-east/ye-yemen.json b/middle-east/ye-yemen.json new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c872bebc --- /dev/null +++ b/middle-east/ye-yemen.json @@ -0,0 +1,623 @@ +{ + "intro": { + "background": { + "text": "North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a cease-fire that continues to hold. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals including secession. Public rallies in Sana'a against then President SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to heavy street fighting and his injury in an explosion in June 2011. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following elections in February 2012, won by HADI, SALIH formally transferred his powers. In accordance with the GCC initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues in mid-March 2013." + } + }, + "geo": { + "location": { + "text": "Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia" + }, + "geographic_coordinates": { + "text": "15 00 N, 48 00 E" + }, + "map_references": { + "text": "Middle East" + }, + "area": { + "total": "527,968 sq km", + "land": "527,968 sq km", + "water": "0 sq km", + "note": "includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)" + }, + "area_comparative": { + "text": "slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming" + }, + "land_boundaries": { + "total": "1,746 km", + "border_countries": "Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km" + }, + "coastline": { + "text": "1,906 km" + }, + "maritime_claims": { + "territorial_sea": "12 nm", + "contiguous_zone": "24 nm", + "exclusive_economic_zone": "200 nm", + "continental_shelf": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" + }, + "climate": { + "text": "mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east" + }, + "terrain": { + "text": "narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula" + }, + "elevation_extremes": { + "lowest_point": "Arabian Sea 0 m", + "highest_point": "Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m" + }, + "natural_resources": { + "text": "petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west" + }, + "land_use": { + "arable_land": "2.2%", + "permanent_crops": "0.55%", + "other": "97.25% (2011)" + }, + "irrigated_land": { + "text": "6,801 sq km (2004)" + }, + "total_renewable_water_resources": { + "text": "2.1 cu km (2011)" + }, + "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": { + "total": "3.57 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)", + "per_capita": "162.4 cu m/yr (2005)" + }, + "natural_hazards": { + "text": "sandstorms and dust storms in summer", + "volcanism": "limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (elev. 244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, erupted in 2007 after awakening from dormancy; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a century" + }, + "environment_current_issues": { + "text": "limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification" + }, + "environment_international_agreements": { + "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection", + "signed_but_not_ratified": "none of the selected agreements" + }, + "geography_note": { + "text": "strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes" + } + }, + "people": { + "nationality": { + "noun": "Yemeni(s)", + "adjective": "Yemeni" + }, + "ethnic_groups": { + "text": "predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans" + }, + "languages": { + "text": "Arabic (official)" + }, + "religions": { + "text": "Muslim (Islam - official) including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu" + }, + "population": { + "text": "25,408,288 (July 2013 est.)" + }, + "age_structure": { + "0_14_years": "42% (male 5,433,121/female 5,235,891)", + "15_24_years": "21.1% (male 2,720,793/female 2,640,652)", + "25_54_years": "30.6% (male 3,974,091/female 3,797,543)", + "55_64_years": "3.7% (male 446,293/female 490,628)", + "65_years_and_over": "2.6% (male 315,141/female 354,135) (2013 est.)" + }, + "dependency_ratios": { + "total_dependency_ratio": "75.6 %", + "youth_dependency_ratio": "70.6 %", + "elderly_dependency_ratio": "5.1 %", + "potential_support_ratio": "19.8 (2013)" + }, + "median_age": { + "total": "18.5 years", + "male": "18.4 years", + "female": "18.6 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "population_growth_rate": { + "text": "2.5% (2013 est.)" + }, + "birth_rate": { + "text": "31.63 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "death_rate": { + "text": "6.64 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "net_migration_rate": { + "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)" + }, + "urbanization": { + "urban_population": "32.3% of total population (2011)", + "rate_of_urbanization": "4.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)" + }, + "major_urban_areas_population": { + "text": "SANAA (capital) 2.229 million (2009)" + }, + "sex_ratio": { + "at_birth": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "0_14_years": "1.04 male(s)/female", + "15_24_years": "1.03 male(s)/female", + "25_54_years": "1.05 male(s)/female", + "55_64_years": "0.92 male(s)/female", + "65_years_and_over": "0.9 male(s)/female", + "total_population": "1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)" + }, + "mother_s_mean_age_at_first_birth": { + "text": "19.2", + "note": "Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (1997 est.)" + }, + "maternal_mortality_rate": { + "text": "200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)" + }, + "infant_mortality_rate": { + "total": "51.93 deaths/1,000 live births", + "male": "56.33 deaths/1,000 live births", + "female": "47.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)" + }, + "life_expectancy_at_birth": { + "total_population": "64.47 years", + "male": "62.39 years", + "female": "66.65 years (2013 est.)" + }, + "total_fertility_rate": { + "text": "4.27 children born/woman (2013 est.)" + }, + "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "27.7% (2006)" + }, + "health_expenditures": { + "text": "5.2% of GDP (2010)" + }, + "physicians_density": { + "text": "0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2009)" + }, + "hospital_bed_density": { + "text": "0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)" + }, + "drinking_water_source": { + "improved": "urban: 72% of population; rural: 47% of population; total: 55% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 28% of population; rural: 53% of population; total: 45% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "sanitation_facility_access": { + "improved": "urban: 93% of population; rural: 34% of population; total: 53% of population", + "unimproved": "urban: 7% of population; rural: 66% of population; total: 47% of population (2010 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "0.1% (2001 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": { + "text": "12,000 (2001 est.)" + }, + "hiv_aids_deaths": { + "text": "NA" + }, + "major_infectious_diseases": { + "degree_of_risk": "high", + "food_or_waterborne_diseases": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever", + "vectorborne_diseases": "dengue fever and malaria", + "water_contact_disease": "schistosomiasis (2013)" + }, + "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": { + "text": "14.5% (2008)" + }, + "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": { + "text": "43.1% (2003)" + }, + "education_expenditures": { + "text": "5.2% of GDP (2008)" + }, + "literacy": { + "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write", + "total_population": "65.3%", + "male": "82.1%", + "female": "48.5% (2011 est.)" + }, + "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": { + "total": "9 years", + "male": "11 years", + "female": "7 years (2005)" + }, + "child_labor_children_ages_5_14": { + "total_number": "1,334,288", + "percentage": "23 % (2006 est.)" + } + }, + "govt": { + "country_name": { + "conventional_long_form": "Republic of Yemen", + "conventional_short_form": "Yemen", + "local_long_form": "Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah", + "local_short_form": "Al Yaman", + "former": "Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]" + }, + "government_type": { + "text": "republic" + }, + "capital": { + "name": "Sanaa", + "geographic_coordinates": "15 21 N, 44 12 E", + "time_difference": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)" + }, + "administrative_divisions": { + "text": "20 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 municipality*; Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City)*, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz" + }, + "independence": { + "text": "22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became independent in November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)" + }, + "national_holiday": { + "text": "Unification Day, 22 May (1990)" + }, + "constitution": { + "text": "16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001" + }, + "legal_system": { + "text": "mixed legal system of Islamic law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law" + }, + "international_law_organization_participation": { + "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" + }, + "suffrage": { + "text": "18 years of age; universal" + }, + "executive_branch": { + "chief_of_state": "President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (Field Marshal) (since 25 February 2012)", + "head_of_government": "Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH (since 27 November 2011)", + "cabinet": "on 27 November 2011, Vice President HADI requested Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH to form a new government following the resignation of President SALIH on 24 November 2011", + "elections": "president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term based on constitution; however a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH based on a GCC-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011 (next election to be held in 2014); vice president appointed by the president but position is vacant; prime minister appointed by the president", + "election_results": "Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates" + }, + "legislative_branch": { + "text": "bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve six-year terms)", + "elections": "last held on 27 April 2003 (scheduled April 2009 election postponed)", + "election_results": "House of Representatives percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 47, YSP 6, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 5" + }, + "judicial_branch": { + "highest_courts": "Supreme Court (consists of the president of the Court, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions)", + "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, chaired by the president of the republic and consisting of 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65", + "subordinate_courts": "appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts" + }, + "political_parties_and_leaders": { + "text": "General People's Congress or GPC [Ali Abdallah SALIH, Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI, Abdul Wahab al-ANSI]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Sultan al-ATWANI]; Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Yasin Said NU'MAN]; ", + "note": "there are at least seven more active political parties" + }, + "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": { + "text": "Muslim Brotherhood; Women National Committee; ", + "other": "conservative tribal groups; Huthis, southern secessionist groups; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)" + }, + "international_organization_participation": { + "text": "AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adel Ali Ahmed AL-SUNAINI", + "chancery": "2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008", + "telephone": "[1] (202) 965-4760", + "fax": "[1] (202) 337-2017" + }, + "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": { + "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador Gerald M. FEIERSTEIN", + "embassy": "Sa'awan Street, Sanaa", + "mailing_address": "P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa", + "telephone": "[967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266", + "fax": "[967] (1) 303-182" + }, + "flag_description": { + "text": "three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)", + "note": "similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band" + }, + "national_symbols": { + "text": "golden eagle" + }, + "national_anthem": { + "name": "\"al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida\" (United Republic)", + "lyrics_music": "Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI", + "note": "adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990" + } + }, + "econ": { + "economy_overview": { + "text": "Yemen is a low income country that is highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and 70% of government revenue. Yemen has tried to counter the effects of its declining oil resources by diversifying its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas as part of this diversification effort. In January 2010, the international community established the Friends of Yemen group that aims to support Yemen's efforts toward economic and political reform. In 2012, the Friends of Yemen pledged over $7 billion in assistance to Yemen. The Yemeni Government also endorsed a Mutual Accountability Framework to facilitate the efficient implementation of donor aid. The unrest that began in early 2011 caused GDP to plunge more than 15% in 2011, and about 2% in 2012. Availability of basic services, including electricity, water, and fuel, has improved since the transition, but progress toward achieving more sustainable economic stability has been slow and uneven. Yemen continues to face difficult long-term challenges, including declining water resources, high unemployment, and a high population growth rate." + }, + "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": { + "text": "$60.06 billion (2012 est.); $59.97 billion (2011 est.); $66.99 billion (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gdp_official_exchange_rate": { + "text": "$35.64 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_real_growth_rate": { + "text": "0.1% (2012 est.); -10.5% (2011 est.); 7.7% (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_per_capita_ppp": { + "text": "$2,300 (2012 est.); $2,400 (2011 est.); $2,700 (2010 est.)", + "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars" + }, + "gross_national_saving": { + "text": "8.2% of GDP (2012 est.); 8.6% of GDP (2011 est.); 9.9% of GDP (2010 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_end_use": { + "household_consumption": "77.3%", + "government_consumption": "14.3%", + "investment_in_fixed_capital": "18%", + "investment_in_inventories": "-4.1%", + "exports_of_goods_and_services": "19.7%", + "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-25.2% (2012 est.)" + }, + "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": { + "agriculture": "8.5%", + "industry": "36%", + "services": "55.5% (2012 est.)" + }, + "agriculture_products": { + "text": "grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish" + }, + "industries": { + "text": "crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production" + }, + "industrial_production_growth_rate": { + "text": "0.8% (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force": { + "text": "7.158 million (2012 est.)" + }, + "labor_force_by_occupation": { + "note": "most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force" + }, + "unemployment_rate": { + "text": "35% (2003 est.)" + }, + "population_below_poverty_line": { + "text": "45.2% (2003)" + }, + "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": { + "lowest_10%": "2.9%", + "highest_10%": "30.8% (2005)" + }, + "distribution_of_family_income_gini_index": { + "text": "37.7 (2005); 33.4 (1998)" + }, + "budget": { + "revenues": "$7.359 billion", + "expenditures": "$11.2 billion (2012 est.)" + }, + "taxes_and_other_revenues": { + "text": "20.6% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": { + "text": "-10.8% of GDP (2012 est.)" + }, + "public_debt": { + "text": "43% of GDP (2012 est.); 36.5% of GDP (2011 est.)" + }, + "fiscal_year": { + "text": "calendar year" + }, + "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": { + "text": "10.2% (2012 est.); 19.5% (2011 est.)" + }, + "central_bank_discount_rate": { + "text": "NA%" + }, + "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": { + "text": "23% (31 December 2012 est.); 25% (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_narrow_money": { + "text": "$5.142 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $4.645 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_broad_money": { + "text": "$10.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $10.17 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_domestic_credit": { + "text": "$9.576 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $7.662 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "current_account_balance": { + "text": "-$2.19 billion (2012 est.); -$1.663 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports": { + "text": "$7.604 billion (2012 est.); $8.662 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "exports_commodities": { + "text": "crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish, liquefied natural gas" + }, + "exports_partners": { + "text": "China 37.3%, Thailand 15.8%, South Korea 11.4%, India 9.9%, UAE 5.3% (2012)" + }, + "imports": { + "text": "$8.893 billion (2012 est.); $8.248 billion (2011 est.)" + }, + "imports_commodities": { + "text": "food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals" + }, + "imports_partners": { + "text": "China 15.7%, UAE 14.4%, India 9.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Kuwait 5.1% (2012)" + }, + "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": { + "text": "$6.158 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $4.531 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "debt_external": { + "text": "$7.395 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $6.418 billion (31 December 2011 est.)" + }, + "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": { + "text": "$NA" + }, + "exchange_rates": { + "text": "Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -; 214.35 (2012 est.); 213.8 (2011 est.); 219.59 (2010 est.); 202.85 (2009); 199.76 (2008)" + } + }, + "energy": { + "electricity_production": { + "text": "6.339 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_consumption": { + "text": "4.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_exports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_imports": { + "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)" + }, + "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": { + "text": "1.33 million kW (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": { + "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": { + "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_production": { + "text": "162,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_exports": { + "text": "191,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_imports": { + "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)" + }, + "crude_oil_proved_reserves": { + "text": "2.88 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_production": { + "text": "83,130 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": { + "text": "177,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_exports": { + "text": "18,140 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "refined_petroleum_products_imports": { + "text": "61,950 bbl/day (2008 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_production": { + "text": "6.24 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_consumption": { + "text": "760 million cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_exports": { + "text": "5.48 billion cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_imports": { + "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)" + }, + "natural_gas_proved_reserves": { + "text": "478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)" + }, + "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": { + "text": "26.5 million Mt (2010 est.)" + } + }, + "comm": { + "telephones_main_lines_in_use": { + "text": "1.075 million (2011)" + }, + "telephones_mobile_cellular": { + "text": "11.668 million (2011)" + }, + "telephone_system": { + "general_assessment": "since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network", + "domestic": "the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by regional standards", + "international": "country code - 967; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti (2006)" + }, + "broadcast_media": { + "text": "state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed (2007)" + }, + "internet_country_code": { + "text": ".ye" + }, + "internet_hosts": { + "text": "33,206 (2012)" + }, + "internet_users": { + "text": "2.349 million (2009)" + } + }, + "trans": { + "airports": { + "text": "57 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_paved_runways": { + "total": "17", + "over_3_047_m": "4", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "9", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "3", + "914_to_1_523_m": "1 (2013)" + }, + "airports_with_unpaved_runways": { + "total": "40", + "over_3_047_m": "3", + "2_438_to_3_047_m": "5", + "1_524_to_2_437_m": "7", + "914_to_1_523_m": "16", + "under_914_m": "9 (2013)" + }, + "pipelines": { + "text": "gas 641 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,370 km (2013)" + }, + "roadways": { + "total": "71,300 km", + "paved": "6,200 km", + "unpaved": "65,100 km (2005)" + }, + "merchant_marine": { + "total": "5", + "by_type": "chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1", + "registered_in_other_countries": "14 (Moldova 4, Panama 4, Sierra Leone 2, Togo 1, unknown 3) (2010)" + }, + "ports_and_terminals": { + "text": "Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla" + }, + "transportation_note": { + "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced the incidence of piracy in that body of water by more than half in 2010" + } + }, + "military": { + "military_branches": { + "text": "Land Forces, Naval and Coastal Defense Forces (includes Marines), Air and Air Defense Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yemeniya), Border Guards, Stategic Reserve Forces (2013)" + }, + "military_service_age_and_obligation": { + "text": "18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 2-year service obligation (2012)" + }, + "manpower_available_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "5,652,256", + "females_age_16_49": "5,387,160 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_fit_for_military_service": { + "males_age_16_49": "4,056,944", + "females_age_16_49": "4,116,895 (2010 est.)" + }, + "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": { + "male": "287,141", + "female": "277,612 (2010 est.)" + }, + "military_expenditures": { + "text": "6.6% of GDP (2006)" + }, + "military_note": { + "text": "a Coast Guard was established in 2002" + } + }, + "issues": { + "disputes_international": { + "text": "Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities" + }, + "refugees_and_internally_displaced_persons": { + "refugees_country_of_origin": "5,221 (Ethiopia) (2012); 229,447 (Somalia) (2013)", + "idps": "306,791 (conflict in Sa'ada governorate; clashes between AQAP and government forces) (2013)" + }, + "trafficking_in_persons": { + "current_situation": "Yemen is a source and, to a much lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Yemeni children, mostly boys, migrate to Yemeni cities or across the border to Saudi Arabia and, less frequently Oman, where they end up as forced laborers in domestic service or small shops, beggars, or prostitutes; some of the large number of child workers in Yemen also face conditions of forced labor; other Yemeni children are conscripted into the government's armed forces or tribal or rebel militias; to a lesser degree, Yemen is a country of origin for girls trafficked within country or to Saudi Arabia to work as prostitutes in hotels and clubs; additionally, Yemen is a destination and transit country for women and children from the Horn of Africa who are looking for work or have received false job offers in the Gulf states but are subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor upon arrival; reports indicate that adults and children are still sold or inherited as slaves in Yemen", + "tier_rating": "Tier 3 - Yemen does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; prolonged political, economic, and security crises impeded the government's modest anti-trafficking efforts; the government has not instituted formal procedures to identify and protect victims of trafficking or investigate or prosecute officials complicit in trafficking-related crimes; no known efforts have been made to investigate or punish the practice of chattel slavery; the government has taken some steps to prevent the recruitment of children in the armed forces, but it is unclear if efforts have been made to remove child soldiers from the military and provide them with protective or rehabilitative services; no progress has been made in implementing Yemen's 2008 national action plan on trafficking (2013)" + } + } +} \ No newline at end of file