El Salvador-Forestry
Background | | El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.
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Location | | Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
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Area(sq km) | | total: 21,041 sq km land: 20,721 sq km water: 320 sq km
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Geographic coordinates | | 13 50 N, 88 55 W
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Land boundaries(km) | | total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
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Coastline(km) | | 307 km
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Climate | | tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
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Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
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Natural resources | | hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
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Land use(%) | | arable land: 31.37% permanent crops: 11.88% other: 56.75% (2005)
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Irrigated land(sq km) | | 450 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources(cu km) | | 25.2 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | | total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%) per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards | | known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
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Environment - current issues | | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
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Environment - international agreements | | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note | | smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
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Population | | 7,185,218 (July 2009 est.)
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Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617) 15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2009 est.)
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Median age(years) | | total: 22.5 years male: 21.3 years female: 23.6 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate(%) | | 1.656% (2009 est.)
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Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 25.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 5.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
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Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | -3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 61% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 72.33 years male: 68.72 years female: 76.11 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 3 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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Nationality | | noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
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Ethnic groups(%) | | mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
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Religions(%) | | Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
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Languages(%) | | Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
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Country name | | conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador
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Government type | | republic
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Capital | | name: San Salvador geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions | | 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan
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Constitution | | 20-Dec-83
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Legal system | | based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage | | 18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch | | chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014) election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%
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Legislative branch | | unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1
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Judicial branch | | Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict)
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Political pressure groups and leaders | | labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
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International organization participation | | BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Flag description | | 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 round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
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Economy - overview | | The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent years. Economic growth will decelerate in 2009 due to the global slowdown and to El Salvador's dependence on exports to the US and remittances from the US. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income. In 2006 El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the maquila sector. The SACA administration has sought to diversify the economy, focusing on regional transportation and tourism. El Salvador has promoted an open trade and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
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GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $43.73 billion (2008 est.) $42.66 billion (2007 est.) $40.75 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate) | | $22.12 billion (2008 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate(%) | | 2.5% (2008 est.) 4.7% (2007 est.) 4.2% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $6,200 (2008 est.) $6,100 (2007 est.) $6,000 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 10.7% industry: 28.8% services: 60.6% (2008 est.)
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Labor force | | 2.947 million (2008 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation(%) | | agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (2006 est.)
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Unemployment rate(%) | | 6.9% (2008 est.) 6.2% (2007 est.) note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment
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Population below poverty line(%) | | 30.7% (2006 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 37% (2005)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index | | 52.4 (2002) 52.5 (2001)
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Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) | | 14.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Budget | | revenues: $4.016 billion expenditures: $4.242 billion (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 7.3% (2008 est.) 4.6% (2007 est.)
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Stock of money | | $213.7 million (31 December 2008) $209.7 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money | | $788.7 million (31 December 2008) $797.1 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit | | $1.19 billion (31 December 2008) $1.15 billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares | | $NA (31 December 2008) $6.743 billion (31 December 2007) $5.465 billion (31 December 2006)
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Economic aid - recipient | | $267.6 million of which $55 million from US (2005)
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Public debt(% of GDP) | | 44.7% of GDP (2008 est.) 41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products | | coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
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Industries | | food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
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Industrial production growth rate(%) | | 1.5% (2008 est.)
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Current account balance | | -$1.595 billion (2008 est.) -$1.119 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports | | $4.611 billion (2008 est.) $4.035 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities(%) | | offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
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Exports - partners(%) | | US 47.5%, Guatemala 14.2%, Honduras 11.5%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2008)
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Imports | | $9.003 billion (2008 est.) $8.108 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities(%) | | raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
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Imports - partners(%) | | US 29.9%, Guatemala 11.8%, Mexico 9.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | | $2.545 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external | | $10.69 billion (31 December 2008) $9.808 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | | $6.702 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $5.918 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | | $440 million (31 December 2008 est.) $384 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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Exchange rates | | the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
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Currency (code) | | US dollar (USD)
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Telephones - main lines in use | | 1.077 million (2008)
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Telephones - mobile cellular | | 6.951 million (2008)
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Telephone system | | general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2008 mobile-cellular density stood at nearly 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2008)
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Internet country code | | .sv
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Internet users | | 826,000 (2008)
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Airports | | 65 (2009)
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Roadways(km) | | total: 10,886 km paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)
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Ports and terminals | | Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
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Military branches | | Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
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Military service age and obligation(years of age) | | 18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)
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Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 1,634,816 females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 1,201,290 females age 16-49: 1,547,278 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 77,473 female: 74,655 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 5% of GDP (2006)
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Disputes - international | | International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca
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Electricity - production(kWh) | | 5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 44% hydro: 30.9% nuclear: 0% other: 25.1% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 7 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 38 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008)
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Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | 0.8% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | 35,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths | | 1,700 (2007 est.)
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Major infectious diseases | | degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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Literacy(%) | | definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 80.2% male: 82.8% female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)
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Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 3.1% of GDP (2006)
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