1014 Countries of the World

SURINAME and achieved independence on 25 November 1975 as . At independence, about 40 per cent of the Republiek Suriname – Republic of Suriname population emigrated to the Netherlands. The early years of independence were politically unstable, with a period of military rule under Desi Bouterse following a coup in 1980. A guerrilla campaign for the restoration of democracy began in 1986. A peace accord with the guerrillas in 1989, following the return to civilian rule in 1988, was opposed by Bouterse, who engineered a coup in 1990 that deposed the president. Elections in 1991 were won by the New Front for Democracy and Development alliance, led by Ronald Venetiaan, who became president. President Venetiaan introduced an unpopular austerity programme, which improved the economy but lost him the 1996 election. After the 2005 legislative election the New Front for Democracy, a four-party alliance, remained the largest bloc in the legislature, but lost its overall majority. Two Area – 163,270 sq. km rounds of voting in the July 2005 presidential election Capital – Paramaribo; population, 252,000 (2007 est) failed to produce the necessary majority, requiring a third Major towns – Lelydorp, Nieuw Nickerie round of voting by a United People’s Assembly; this Currency – Suriname dollar of 100 cents re-elected President Venetiaan to another term in office. Population – 475,996 rising at 1.1 per cent a year (2008 est); Hindustani (37 per cent), Creole (31 per cent), POLITICAL SYSTEM Javanese (15 per cent), Maroons (10 per cent), Under the 1987 constitution, the executive president is Amerindian (2 per cent) (est) elected for a five-year term by a two-thirds majority in the Religion – Christian 41 per cent, Hindu 20 per cent, legislature or, if the required majority cannot be achieved, Muslim 14 per cent (predominantly Sunni), indigenous by a specially convened United Peoples’ Assembly religions 3 per cent (est) including district and local council representatives. The Language – Dutch (official), English, Surinamese, vice-president is elected in the same way. The unicameral Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese National Assembly has 51 members directly elected for a Population density – 3 per sq. km (2007) five-year term. Urban population – 74 per cent (2006 est) Median age (years) – 27.5 (2008 est) HEAD OF STATE – ‘God zij met ons Suriname’ [‘God Be President, Ronald Venetiaan, sworn in 12 August 2000, With Our Suriname’] re-elected 2005 National day – 25 November (Independence Day) Vice-President, Ram Sardjoe Life expectancy (years) – 73.48 (2008 est) Mortality rate – 5.51 (2008 est) SELECTED GOVERNMENT MEMBERS as at July 2008 Birth rate – 17.02 (2008 est) Defence, Ivan Fernald Infant mortality rate – 19.45 (2008 est) Finance, Humphrey Hildenberg HIV/AIDS adult prevalence – 1.6 per cent (2005 est) Foreign Affairs, Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk Death penalty – Retained (not used since 1982) Internal Affairs, Maurits Hassankhan CPI score – 3.6 (2008) Literacy rate – 90.4 per cent (2007 est) EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME Alexander Gogelweg 2, 2517 JH The Hague, The Netherlands CLIMATE AND TERRAIN T (+31) (70) 365 0844 E [email protected] The narrow, swampy coastal plain is home to about 90 per Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, HE Urmila cent of the population. From the coastal belt, the land Joella-Sewnundun, apptd 2008 rises to a hilly interior covered by tropical rainforest and savannah; the rainforest contains a great diversity of flora BRITISH AMBASSADOR and fauna. Elevation extremes range from 1,230m (Juliana HE Fraser Wheeler, apptd 2006, resident at Georgetown, Top) at the highest point to −2m (coastal plain) at the Guyana lowest. The land is drained by several rivers, some of which have been dammed to create large artificial lakes DEFENCE used to generate hydro-electric power. The climate is The army has 15 armoured personnel carriers. The navy tropical, moderated by the north-east trade winds. There has 8 patrol and coastal combatant vessels at a base in are two wet seasons, from April to August and November Paramaribo. The air force has 4 combat capable aircraft. to February. Military budget – US$22m (2007 est) Military personnel – 1,840: army 1,400, navy 240, air HISTORY AND POLITICS force 200 Although visited and claimed by Spanish explorers in 1593, early European settlements all failed. A British ECONOMY AND TRADE colony was founded in 1651 but this was ceded to the The mainstays of the economy are mining, especially Dutch in 1667. Dutch rule was interrupted by British bauxite and gold, and oil and alumina production, occupation during the French Revolutionary and although these make the economy vulnerable to global Napoleonic wars, but was restored in 1816. The colony, price fluctuations. Bauxite reserves are declining, but oil known as Dutch Guiana, became autonomous in 1954, production is increasing from existing offshore fields and SUR–SWA 1015 onshore exploration has begun. Agriculture employs only Currency – Lilangeni (E; plural Emalangeni) of 100 cents; 8 per cent of the population but produces 10.8 per cent of South African currency is also in circulation. Swaziland GDP. Industries other than mining and oil production are is a member of theCommon Monetary Area and the forestry, food processing and fishing. Industry accounts Lilangeni has a par value with the South African rand for 24.4 per cent of GDP and services for 64.8 per cent. Population – 1,128,814 falling at 0.41 per cent a year The main trading partners are the USA, Canada, (2008 est) Norway, the Netherlands and Trinidad and Tobago. Religion – Christian (Protestant denominations 35 per Principal exports are alumina, gold, crude oil, timber, fish cent, Zionist 30 per cent, Roman Catholic 25 per cent), and prawns, rice and bananas. The main imports are Muslim 1 per cent (est) capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton and Language – English, siSwati (both official) consumer goods. Population density – 67 per sq. km (2007) GNI – US$2,166m; US$4,730 per capita (2007) Urban population – 24 per cent (2006 est) Annual average growth of GDP – 5.4 per cent (2008 est) Median age (years) – 18.7 (2008 est) Inflation rate – 6.4 per cent (2007 est) National anthem – ‘Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibuiso Unemployment – 9.5 per cent (2004) temaSwati’ [‘Oh God, Bestower of Blessings on the Total external debt – US$504.3m (2005 est) Swazi’] Imports – US$940m (2007) National day – 6 September (Independence Day) Exports – US$1,310m (2007) Life expectancy (years) – 31.99 (2008 est) Mortality rate – 30.7 (2008 est) BALANCE OF PAYMENTS Birth rate – 26.6 (2008 est) Trade – US$365m deficit (2008) Infant mortality rate – 69.59 (2008 est) Current Account – US$71m surplus (2007) HIV/AIDS adult prevalence – 34.5 per cent (2005 est) Death penalty – Retained (not used since 1983) Trade with UK 2007 2008 CPI score – 3.6 (2008) Imports from UK £7,996,432 £7,969,352 Population below poverty line – 69 per cent (2006) Exports to UK £314,657 £462,356 Gross enrolment ratio (percentage of relevant age group) – primary 106 per cent; secondary 47 per cent; tertiary 4 COMMUNICATIONS per cent (2007 est) There are 4,300km of roads in total, of which Health expenditure (per capita) – US$155 (2006) approximately one-quarter is surfaced. There are no Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) – 2.1 (2002–7) railways. The 1,200km of waterways provide the most effective means of travel in the inaccessible interior. The CLIMATE AND TERRAIN main seaport is Paramaribo. There are 50 airports and The main regions of the landlocked country are: the airfields; the principal airport is at Paramaribo. densely forested and mountainous Highveld along the The telephone system is good and mobile phone western border, with an average altitude of 1,219m; the services have expanded rapidly. Combined fixed-line and central Middleveld, a mixed farming area which averages mobile density is now about 90 per 100 people. about 609m in altitude, and Lowveld, which was mainly scrubland until the introduction of sugar cane plantations; MEDIA and along the eastern edge of the Lowveld, the Lubombo State-owned broadcast media offer a range of views, and ridge. Four rivers, the Komati, Usutu, Mbuluzi and operate alongside commercial radio and television Ngwavuma, flow from west to east. Elevation extremes stations. The two daily newspapers, De West and De Ware range from 1,862m (Emlembe) at the highest point to Tijd, are privately owned. The government upholds 21m (Great Usutu river) at the lowest. freedom of expression. The climate varies; the Highveld is humid and temperate, the Middleveld and Lubombo are subtropical, and the Lowveld is tropical and semi-arid. Average SWAZILAND temperatures in Mbabane, in the Highveld, range from 13°C in June to 20°C in January. Umbuso weSwatini – Kingdom of Swaziland HISTORY AND POLITICS The Swazi people are believed to have arrived in the area in the 16th century, and by the mid-17th century had developed a strong kingdom thrice the size of the present country. This became a protectorate of the Boer republic of the Transvaal in 1884, and subsequently of Britain. The Kingdom of Swaziland became independent on 6 September 1968. In 1973 King Sobhuza II suspended the constitution, banned political parties and assumed absolute power. The parliamentary system was replaced by traditional tribal communities (tinkhundla). Sobhuza II died in 1982, and was succeeded by a son who was a minor. The regency between 1982 and 1986 led to power struggles within the royal family, but the real power passed to the Dlamini clan, which continues to dominate Area – 17,363 sq. km the government. Capital – Mbabane; population, 78,000 (2007 est). Demands for democratisation of the constitution have Lobamba is the legislative capital grown over the past 20 years, with the campaigning of Major town – Manzini trade unions and political movements supported by 1016 Countries of the World popular demonstrations, general strikes and blockades of GNI – US$2,900m; US$2,560 per capita (2007) the border with South Africa. Annual average growth of GDP – 2 per cent (2008 est) Swaziland has the highest levels of HIV/AIDS Inflation rate – 12.7 per cent (2008 est) infection in the world, and as a consequence faces severe Unemployment – 40 per cent (2006 est) demographic, economic and social problems. Agricultural Total external debt – US$548m (2008 est) output has also been hit by drought in recent years, and Imports – US$2,650m (2007) over a quarter of the population required food aid in Exports – US$2,450m (2007) 2006–7. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS POLITICAL SYSTEM Trade – US$243m surplus (2008) The 2006 constitution retains the executive powers of the Current Account – US$41m deficit (2007) king; it appears to permit political parties while Trade with UK 2007 2008 maintaining the ban on their members standing for Imports from UK £5,005,789 £4,755,538 election. The head of state is a hereditary king who is Exports to UK £28,798,384 £40,993,739 effectively an absolute monarch. There is a bicameral parliament comprising a 30-member senate and a COMMUNICATIONS 65-member House of Assembly; members of both serve a The railway network is 301km long and connects with five-year term. Each of the country’s 55 administrative the Mozambique port of Maputo and the South African districts (tinkhundla) directly elects one member to the railway to Richards Bay and Durban. There are 3,600km House of Assembly and the king appoints ten members; of roads, of which 1,078km are surfaced. There is an the 2006 constitution increases these to 60 elected and international airport at Manzini. Royal Swazi National 15 appointed members. The members of the House of Airways provides scheduled air services to southern and Assembly elect ten of their own number to the senate and eastern Africa. a further 20 senators are appointed by the king. Although modern, the fixed-line telephone system is not extensive and mobile phone services have grown HEAD OF STATE rapidly. There were 44,000 fixed lines in use and 42,000 King of Swaziland, HM King Mswati III, crowned 25 April internet users in 2006, and 380,000 mobile phone 1986 subscribers in 2007.

SELECTED GOVERNMENT MEMBERS as at July 2009 MEDIA Prime Minister, Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini The media is under tight government control. State-run Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku broadcasters provide the only television and radio Finance, Majozi Sithole channels, apart from an American evangelical Christian Foreign Affairs, Lutfo Dlamini radio station which uses local transmitters to transmit Home Affairs, Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze regionally. One daily newspaper supports the government, the other carries little political content. KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND HIGH COMMISSION 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB T 020-7630 6611 E [email protected] SWEDEN High Commissioner (acting), Henry Zeeman Konungariket Sverige – Kingdom of Sweden BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER HE Dr Nicola Brewer, apptd 2009, resident at Pretoria (Tshwane), South Africa

ECONOMY AND TRADE The country is very poor, with 69 per cent of the population living below the poverty line. Customs dues from the South African Customs Union and remittances from expatriates working in South Africa are a vital supplement to the domestic economy. Subsistence agriculture occupies about 70 per cent of the population and contributes 11.9 per cent of GDP. Sugar cane, cotton, citrus fruits and pineapples are the main cash crops and the basis of industries producing sugar, canned fruit and soft drink concentrates. Coal mining has become less Area – 449,964 sq. km important since the 1980s with diversification into Capital – Stockholm; population, 1,264,000 (2007 est) manufacturing such products as textiles, clothing, wood Major cities – Gothenburg, Malmo, Uppsala pulp and refrigerators. However, a shift in global trading Currency – Swedish krona of 100 ore concessions devastated the sugar and clothing industries, Population – 9,045,389 rising at 0.16 per cent a year leaving thousands unemployed. Industry contributes 45.1 (2008 est) per cent of GDP and services 43 per cent. Religion – Christian (Lutheran 75 per cent, other South Africa accounts for about 60 per cent of exports Protestant denominations 4 per cent), Muslim 5 per and over 90 per cent of imports. Principal exports are the cent (est) products of agriculture and manufacturing. The main Language – Swedish (official), Finnish, Sami dialects, imports are vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, Meankieli, Romani, Yiddish (all official national foodstuffs, petroleum products and chemicals. minority languages) SWA–SWE 1017

Population density – 22 per sq. km (2007) succession in the monarch’s eldest child irrespective of Urban population – 84 per cent (2006 est) sex. The unicameral legislature, the Riksdag, has 349 Median age (years) – 41.3 (2008 est) members directly elected by proportional representation National anthem – ‘Du Gamla, Du Fria’ [‘Thou Ancient, for a four-year term. The prime minister appoints the Thou Freeborn’] council of ministers. National day – 6 June (Flag Day) Sweden is divided into 21 counties (lan) and 290 Life expectancy (years) – 80.74 (2008 est) municipalities (kommun). Mortality rate – 10.24 (2008 est) Birth rate – 10.15 (2008 est) HEAD OF STATE Infant mortality rate – 2.75 (2008 est) HM The King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, KG, born 30 Death penalty – Abolished for all crimes (since 1972) April 1946, succeeded 15 September 1973 CPI score – 9.3 (2008) Heir, HRH Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree, Duchess of Vastergotland, born 14 July 1977 CLIMATE AND TERRAIN The terrain is mostly flat or rolling lowlands in the south SELECTED GOVERNMENT MEMBERS as at July 2009 and along the east coast, with mountains in the west. Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt Elevation extremes range from 2,111m (Kebnekaise) at Deputy Prime Minister, Maud Olofsson the highest point to −2.4m (reclaimed bay of Lake Defence, Sten Tolgfors Hammarsjon) at the lowest. There are many lakes, Finance, Anders Borg including Vanern, Vattern, Malaren and Hjalmaren in the Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt south, and over 20,000 islands off the coast near Stockholm. The climate is temperate in the south and EMBASSY OF SWEDEN subarctic in the north; average temperatures in Stockholm 11 Montagu Place, London W1H 2AL are −3°C in January and 18°C in July. T 020-7917 6400 E [email protected] W www.swedenabroad.com/london HISTORY AND POLITICS Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, HE Staffan Sweden takes its name from the Svear people who were Carlsson, apptd 2004 the dominant population in the east from c.500 AD, while the Goths inhabited the west. A kingdom had emerged BRITISH EMBASSY from a gradual union of the two peoples by c.1000, PO Box 27819, Skarpogatan 6–8, 115 93 Stockholm although the south and west remained under Danish rule T (+46) (8) 671 3000 E [email protected] until the 17th century. During the Viking expansion W ukinsweden.fco.gov.uk (c.700–1000), the Swedes colonised the eastern Baltic, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, HE Andrew Finland and Russia; Finland was incorporated into the Mitchell, apptd 2006 kingdom in the 12th century. The Union of Kalmar (1397) brought Sweden and Norway under Danish rule. BRITISH COUNCIL Sweden regained its independence following a rebellion c/o British Embassy by noblemen in 1523 which resulted in the election of T (+46) (8) 671 3110 W www.britishcouncil.org/sweden Gustav I to the Swedish throne. Country Manager, Roger Budd Sweden’s power reached its zenith in the 17th century under Gustavus II. The Danes were driven out of southern DEFENCE Sweden, the Baltic coast of Russia was seized and the The army has 280 main battle tanks, 837 armoured Swedish army pushed into Germany after vanquishing the personnel carriers and 372 armoured infantry fighting Catholic League. Swedish power waned with its defeat in vehicles. The navy has 5 submarines, 5 corvettes and 14 the Great Northern War (1700–21). Finland was lost to patrol and coastal vessels at 3 bases. The air force has 165 Russia in 1809; Norway was ceded to Sweden by the combat aircraft. congress of Vienna (1814–15) but gained its Sweden has a policy of non-alignment in peace and independence in 1905. neutrality in war, and has declined to become a member of Sweden remained neutral during both world wars. NATO. Post-war politics has been dominated by Social Military budget – US$5,250m (2008) Democrat-led coalitions which established a mixed Military personnel – 16,900: army 10,200, navy 3,100, economy and a generous welfare state between 1946 and air force 3,600; paramilitary 600; voluntary auxiliary 1969. Right-wing and centrist parties have held power in organisations 42,000 1976–82, 1991–4 and since 2006. Sweden joined the Conscription duration – 7–15 months EU in 1995, but the government decided against membership of the eurozone in 1997, a decision ECONOMY AND TRADE confirmed in a 2003 national referendum. Sweden developed from an agricultural to an industrial After the 2006 general election, the Social Democrats economy in the early 20th century. The prosperity that remained the largest party in the legislature but a larger had funded the generous welfare state after 1946 ended number of seats were won by a coalition led by the in the early 1990s, when Sweden experienced a deep Moderate Party. A four-party Alliance for Sweden recession. It recovered to experience strong growth until coalition government comprising the Moderate Party, 2008 before again entering recession as a result of the Centre Party, Liberal Party and Christian Democrat Party global downturn. In Februray 2009, the government took office in October 2006. announced a rescue package for the banking sector. The main export-orientated industries are engineering POLITICAL SYSTEM and high-tech manufacturing, mining and forestry. Forests Sweden is a constitutional hereditary monarchy. The cover about half the total land area and sustain the timber, 1975 constitution was amended in 1979 to vest the finished wood products, pulp and paper milling 1018 Countries of the World industries. Mineral resources include iron ore, lead, zinc, Health expenditure (per capita) – US$3,598 (2005) sulphur, granite, marble, precious and heavy metals (the Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) – 3.6 (2000–6) latter not exploited) and extensive deposits of low-grade uranium ore. The general engineering industry provides MEDIA 50 per cent of output and exports, particularly specialised Public television is run by Sveriges Television (SVT). machinery and systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, electrical There are a number of commercial stations and around and electronic equipment, armaments, pharmaceuticals, two-thirds of households have cable or satellite television. plastics and chemical industries. The switch from analogue to digital services was Sweden has no significant resources of hydrocarbon completed in 2007. Commercial radio began in 1993, fuels and relies upon imported gas and coal for 50 per and some of the main stations now have near-national cent of its energy needs and hydroelectricity for about 15 networks, in competition with public broadcaster Sveriges per cent. Nuclear power is being phased out. Less than 10 Radio. The country is among the world’s top consumers per cent of the land area is farmland and only 1.1 per cent of newspapers and the government provides subsidies to of the labour force is employed in farming. Agriculture newspapers regardless of their political affiliation. There contributes 1.5 per cent of GDP, industry 28.9 per cent are four Stockholm-based daily newspapers, one based in and services 69.6 per cent. Gothenburg and one in Malmo. The main trading partners are other EU states, Norway and the USA. Principal exports include machinery, CULTURE vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel Several Swedish writers have become globally successful, products, and chemicals. The main imports are machinery, among them crime-fiction writer Henning Mankel (b. oil and petroleum products, chemicals, vehicles, iron and 1948) and Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002), the creator of steel, foodstuffs and clothing. Pippi Longstocking. A number of Swedes have received GNI – US$437,900m; US$47,870 per capita (2007) Academy awards, including directors Ingmar Bergman Annual average growth of GDP – 0.9 per cent (2008 est) (1918–2007), and Lasse Hallstrom (b. 1946) and actors Inflation rate – 1.6 per cent (2008 est) Greta Garbo (1905–90) and Ingrid Bergman (1915–82). Unemployment – 6.2 per cent (2008 est) ABBA is the country’s most recognisable musical export Total external debt – US$598,200m (2006) and has sold over 370 million albums; founders Bjorn Imports – US$151,400m (2007) Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson also had international hits Exports – US$169,200m (2007) with the stage musicals Mamma Mia! and Chess. In science, astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–44) devised BALANCE OF PAYMENTS the eponymous temperature scale, and the chemist and Trade – US$17,927m surplus (2008) industrialist Alfred Nobel (1833–96) invented dynamite Current Account – US$40,429m surplus (2008) and founded the Nobel prizes. Trade with UK 2007 2008 Imports from UK £4,851,216,782 £5,080,059,997 SWITZERLAND Exports to UK £5,210,005,189 £6,698,405,028 Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft/Confédération suisse/ COMMUNICATIONS Confederazione Svizzera/Confederaziun svizra – Swiss The railway network is 11,528km in length. There are Confederation 425,000km of roads, of which 139,000km are surfaced (including 1,700km of motorways). There are also 2,052km of waterways, navigable for small steamers and barges. The main ports are Gothenburg, Helsingborg, Malmo and Stockholm. The principal airports are at Stockholm, Gothenburg, Kalmar, Linkoping, Malmo, Norrkoping and Orebro. Scandinavian Airlines System provides international and domestic flights, and domestic flights are also provided by Malmo Aviation. The Oresund Bridge connects Sweden to Denmark. The modern telecommunications systems provided services to 5.5 million fixed-line subscribers and 10.3 million mobile phone subscribers in 2005, and 7 million internet users in 2007. EDUCATION AND HEALTH Area – 41,290 sq. km The state education system provides nine years of free and Capital – Bern; population, 337,000 (2007 est) compulsory schooling from the age of seven to 16 in the Major cities – Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich comprehensive elementary schools. Around 95 per cent Currency – Swiss franc of 100 rappen (or centimes) continue into further education of two to four years’ Population – 7,581,520 rising at 0.33 per cent a year duration in the upper secondary schools and a unified (2008 est); German (65 per cent), French (18 per cent), higher education system administered in six regional Italian (10 per cent), Romansch (1 per cent) (est) areas containing one of the universities: Uppsala (founded Religion – Christian (Roman Catholic 42 per cent, 1477); Lund (1668); Stockholm (1878); Gothenburg Protestant denominations 35 per cent, Orthodox 2 per (1887); Umea (1963) and Linkoping (1967). cent), Muslim 4 per cent (est) Gross enrolment ratio (percentage of relevant age group) – Language – German, French, Italian, Romansch (all primary 96 per cent; secondary 103 per cent; tertiary official), Serbo-Croatian, Albanian, Portuguese, 79 per cent (2007 est) Spanish, English