Statistical information World 1990

World map
World - Introduction 1990
top of pageBackground: Globally the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk North Carolina (US) to the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America Europe and Japan; (g) increased concerns about the environment including loss of forests shortages of energy and water the drop in biological diversity and air pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820 to 2 billion in 1930 3 billion in 1960 4 billion in 1974 5 billion in 1988.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 442,000 km
Coastline: 359,000 km
Maritime claims: Contiguous zone:generally 24 nm, but varies from 4 nm to 24 nm; Continental shelf:generally 200 nm, but some are 200 meters in depth;
Climate: two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates
Terrain: highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and lowest elevation is the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level; greatest ocean depth is the Marianas Trench at 10,924 meters
ElevationNatural resources: the oceans represent the last major frontier for the discovery and development of natural resources
Land use: 10% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 24% meadows and pastures; 31% forest and woodland; 34% other; includes 1.6% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 5,316,644,000 (July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)
NationalityEthnic groupsLanguagesReligionsDemographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 27 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration ratePopulation distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions), industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife resources, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion World World World
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 70 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 64 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 77% men; 66% women (1980)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameGovernment typeCapitalAdministrative divisions: 248 nations, dependent areas, and other entities
Dependent areasIndependenceNational holidayConstitutionLegal system: varies among each of the entities; 162 are parties to the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrageExecutive branchLegislative branch: ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn the us: there are 159 members of the UN World WorldWorld
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National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: In 1989 the World economy grew at an estimated 3.0%, somewhat lower than the estimated 3.4% for 1988. The technologically advanced areas--North America, Japan, and Western Europe--together account for 65% of the gross world product (GWP) of $20.3 trillion; these developed areas grew in the aggregate at 3.5%. In contrast, the Communist (Second World) countries typically grew at between 0% and 2%, accounting for 23% of GWP. Experience in the developing countries continued mixed, with the newly industrializing countries generally maintaining their rapid growth, and many others struggling with debt, inflation, and inadequate investment. The year 1989 ended with remarkable political upheavals in the Communist countries, which presumably will dislocate economic production still further. The addition of nearly 100 million people a year to an already overcrowded globe will exacerbate the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, and poverty throughout the 1990s.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.0% (1989 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $3,870
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: cereals (wheat, maize, rice), sugar, livestock products, tropical crops, fruit, vegetables, fish
Industries: chemicals, energy, machinery, electronics, metals, mining, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1989 est.)
Labor force: 1,939,000,000 (1984)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetTaxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal yearInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $2,694 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: NA
Partners: in value, about 70% of exports from industrial countries
Imports: $2,750 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: NA
Partners: in value, about 75% of imports by the industrial countries
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1,008 billion for less developed countries (1988 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityCapacity: 2,838,680,000 kW capacity; 11,222,029 million kWh produced, 2,140 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaWorld - Communication 1990
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: 5.4% of GWP, or $1.1 trillion (1989 est.) World World World
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsWorld - Transportation 1990
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirportsHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsWorld - Transnational issues 1990
top of pageDisputes international: 13 international land boundary disputes--Argentina-Uruguay, Bangladesh-India, Brazil-Paraguay, Brazil-Uruguay, Cambodia-Vietnam, China-India, China-USSR, Ecuador-Peru, El Salvador-Honduras, French Guiana-Suriname, Guyana-Suriname, Guyana-Venezuela, Qatar-UAE
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs