Map of Paracel Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932 French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974 when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.


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Location: Southeastern Asia group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N 112 00 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: NA km²
Land: NA km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: NA

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 518 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: mostly low and flat

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources: none

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land: 0 km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: typhoons

Geography
Note: composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group


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Population
Note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages

Religions

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate

Death rate

Net migration rate

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Government type

Capital

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch

Legislative branch

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products

Industries

Industrial production growth rate

Labor force

Unemployment rate

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports

Imports

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (2007)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded


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Disputes international: occupied by China also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs