Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/175.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 12.7 KB | 415 lines

@node Geography (Nicaragua)
@section Geography (Nicaragua)

@display

Location:
  Central America, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
 total area:
  129,494 km2
 land area:
  120,254 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries:
  total 1,231 km, Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
  910 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y
  Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; International Court of Justice (ICJ)
  referred the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca to an
  earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
  resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be
  required
Climate:
  tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
  extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains;
  narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Natural resources:
  gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  9%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  43%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  12%
Irrigated land:
  850 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional
  severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution



@end display

@node People (Nicaragua)
@section People (Nicaragua)

@display

Population:
  3,987,240 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.74% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  54.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  63.5 years
 male:
  60.7 years
 female:
  66.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.48 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Nicaraguan(s)
 adjective:
  Nicaraguan
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages:
  Spanish (official)
 note:
  English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
 total population:
  57%
 male:
  57%
 female:
  57%
Labor force:
  1.086 million
 by occupation:
  service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)



@end display

@node Government (Nicaragua)
@section Government (Nicaragua)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:   Republic of Nicaragua
 conventional short form:
  Nicaragua
 local long form:
  Republica de Nicaragua
 local short form:
  Nicaragua
Digraph:
  NU
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Managua
Administrative divisions:
  17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo,
  Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua,
  Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva
  Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  January 1987
Legal system:
  civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
 ruling coalition:
  National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate parties:
  National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo, president;
  Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA, Arnold
  ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin
  JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA, Francisco MAYORGA; National
  Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; National Action Party (PAN),
  Duilio BALTODANO; NOU - hardline parties: Independent Liberal Party (PLI),
  Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD),
  Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative
  Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua
  (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA
  Esquivel
 opposition parties:
  Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central American
  Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative Party of
  Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN),
  Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
  Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Revolutionary Workers' Party
  (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando
  AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement - Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
  Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ



@end display

@node Government (Nicaragua 2. usage)
@section Government (Nicaragua 2. usage)

@display

Other political or pressure groups:
  National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor
  unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC);
  Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE);
  National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists
  of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional
  Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers
  (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four
  non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS);
  Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General
  Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS);
  Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior
  Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups
Suffrage:
  16 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results -
  Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN)
  40.8%, other 4.5%
 National Assembly:
  last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results - UNO
  53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 42, FSLN 39,
  PSC 1, MUR 1, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 9
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President
  Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990)
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
  (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA (since January 1993)
 chancery:
  1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Ronald GODARD
 embassy:
  Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34021
 telephone:
  [505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032
  through 34
 FAX:
  [505] (2) 666046



@end display

@node Government (Nicaragua 3. usage)
@section Government (Nicaragua 3. usage)

@display

Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
  national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
  a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and
  AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which
  features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN
  LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
  Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the
  white band



@end display

@node Economy (Nicaragua)
@section Economy (Nicaragua)

@display

Overview:
  Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although
  the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention. Four
  private banks have been licensed, and the government has liberalized foreign
  trade and abolished price controls on most goods. In early 1993, fewer than
  50% of the agricultural and industrial firms remain state owned. Sandinista
  economic policies and the war had produced a severe economic crisis. The
  foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural
  commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7%
  in 1989 and 4% in 1990, and remained about even in 1991-92. The agricultural
  sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of
  export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and
  contributes about 25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989, fell slightly in
  1990, and remained flat in 1991-92; output still is below pre-1979 levels.
  External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In
  1992 the inflation rate was 8%, down sharply from the 766% of 1991.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $425 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  13% underemployment 50% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $347 million; expenditures $499 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA million (1991)
Exports:
  $280 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals
 partners:
  OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10%
Imports:
  $720 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing
 partners:
  Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and Eastern Europe 10%, other 15%
  (1990 est.)
External debt:
  $10 billion (December 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  434,000 kW capacity; 1,118 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum
  refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops - coffee, bananas,
  sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans;
  variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; normally
  self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
  minor transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US



@end display

@node Economy (Nicaragua 2. usage)
@section Economy (Nicaragua 2. usage)

@display

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,381 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $3.5 billion
Currency:
  1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 25,000,000 (March 1992),
  21,354,000 (1991), 15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987); note - new gold
  cordoba issued in 1992
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (Nicaragua)
@section Communications (Nicaragua)

@display

Railroads:
  373 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge, government owned; majority of system not
  operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect
  with mainline)
Highways:
  25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved, 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km
  earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved; Pan-American highway 368.5 km
Inland waterways:
  2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines:
  crude oil 56 km
Ports:
  Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama
Merchant marine:
  2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  226
 usable:
  151
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  12
Telecommunications:
  low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into
  Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
  45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Nicaragua)
@section Defense Forces (Nicaragua)

@display

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 911,397; fit for military service 561,448; reach military
  age (18) annually 44,226 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 2.7% of GDP (1992 budget)



@end display