Published in New internationalist
Fiji is a country consisting of 300 South Pacific islands, of which the largest is Vitu Levu, which includes the capital, Suva. The islands are home to 700,000 people, of whom 50% are Indian, 46% Melanesian, and the rest Chinese or European. The official language is English, and the major religions are Hinduism and Christianity. Literacy is 79% for...
Published in New internationalist
One of Africa's most rural and densely populated countries, Burundi is a landlocked nation in Central Africa. The 4.9 million people are 85% Hutus, agricultural people of Bantu origin. However, the Hutus are excluded from power by the minority Tutsis, and the 2 groups have engaged in violent conflict. After a military coup in 1987, a new president,...
Published in New internationalist
In the 1840s, the small fishing community that is now Hong Kong became a British colony and an important naval base for the Opium Wars. Now it is a leading capitalist center operating on mainland communist China. Hong Kong is scheduled to go back to China in 1997. In the agreement signed between the British government and China, Hong Kong's present...
Published in New internationalist
The nation of Djibouti lies on the east coast of Africa at the point where the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden meet. It has been independent since 1977, yet French influence and presence continue. For example, 2000 French troops are in Djibouti to guard its independence from its combative neighbors Somalia and Ethiopia. France also supports the govern...
Published in New internationalist
Established as a trading post by the people of the Netherlands in the 1600's, Suriname grew into an agricultural colony farming sugar and tobacco. The Dutch have sustained a presence in Suriname, and in 1975, they granted $2.7 billion in aid over 14 years. However, despite financial assistance, Suriname has undergone a number of economic and identi...
Published in New internationalist
Although Swaziland had been independent from colonialism for 20 years, a powerful monarch, King Mswati II, continues to control the country's political, religious, and social system. Swaziland has a population of 676,000, half of whom are under 15 years of age. The infant mortality rate is 105/1000 live births and 25% of children die before they re...
Published in New internationalist
A brief profile of Lebanon's economy, people, health, culture and political situation is presented. Lebanon has an estimated 3.5 million people, with a Maronite Christian elite, a Muslim Shiite majority, and Muslim Sunnis and Druze groups. The infant mortality is estimated at 41/1000; literacy is 69% among women and 86% among men; life expectancy w...
Published in New internationalist
The Netherlands Antilles is the former name for the 5 islands called "the Antilles of the Five" (Curacao, Bonaire, St Maarten, St Eustatius, and Saba) and the separatist (since 1986) island of Aruba, which has its own prime minister (Henny Eamon -- the prime minister of the other 5 islands is Don Martina). The total 1988 population is 264,000. They...
Published in New internationalist
Iraq, with a population of 15.9 million, is blessed with vital natural resources, oil being its chief export product, as well as barley, dates, and wheat. Fertile land and unlimited supplies of water give it enormous productive potential. However, that potential has not been realized because of the war with Iran, which began in 1980 when President ...
Published in New internationalist
Data are presented on the economy, the people, the population's health, and the culture in this country profile of Algeria. The population numbers 21.7 million. The infant mortality rate, used as a health indicator, is 81/1000 live births. Algeria's gross national product per capita is $2410 (US$15,390). Its main imports are machinery, transport eq...
