*Svalbard, Economy
Overview:
Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9
February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to
exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,
Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies
still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are
essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs
nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local
services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Budget:
revenues $13.3 million; expenditures $13.3 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1990)
Electricity:
21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 13,860 kWh per capita (1992)
Currency:
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992),
6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988)
*Svalbard, Communications
Ports:
limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay
Airports:
total:
4
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations
- 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian
mainland
*Svalbard, Defense Forces
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
*Swaziland, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
17,360 km2
land area:
17,200 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and
diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
67%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
*Swaziland, People
Population:
906,932 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.18% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
43.22 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
11.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
95.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
55.94 years
male:
51.97 years
female:
60.03 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Swazi(s)
adjective:
Swazi
Ethnic divisions:
African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages:
English (official; government business conducted in English), siSwati
(official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
total population:
55%
male:
57%
female:
54%
Labor force:
195,000 (over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage
earners - many only intermittently)
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social service 20%,
manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21%
note:
15,980 employed in South African gold and coal mines (1991)