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Atlas

Statute

 

United Nations of America 2010

 

Organization of American States

 

 

Country

Population

GDP in billions

Per capita

ODA Millions

2008

Con.

52

America

927,421,954

21,711

$23,420

31,627

-7,214

1945

2003

North America

451,911,120

17,027

37,670

31,627

-149

1994

1

Canada

33,487,208

1,285

$38,400

4,785

1867

2

Mexico

111,211,789

1,482

$13,500

-149

1810

3

United States

307,212,123

14,260

$46,400

26,842

1776

 7

Central America

42,108,880

252

$6,000

-2,194

2005

4

Belize

307,899

2.485

$8,100

 -25

1981

5

Costa Rica

4,253,877

48.63

$10,900

-66 

1821

6

El Salvador

7,185,218

42.92

$7,100

-233

1821

7

Guatemala

13,276,517

69.21

$5,200 

-536

1821

8

Honduras

7,833,696

33.17

$4,200

-564

1821

9

Nicaragua

5,891,199

16.53

$2,800

-741

1821

10

Panama

3,360,474

40.32

$11,900

-29

1903

13 

South America

392,366,329

4,064

$10,367

-3,354

 

Andean Community

124,387,525

1157

$9,330

-2,383

1969

11

Bolivia

9,775,246

45.11

$4,600

-628

1825

12

Colombia

43,677,372

401

$9,200

-972

1810

13

Ecuador

14,573,101

108.2

$7,400

-231

1822

14

Peru

29,546,963

253

$8,600

-466

1821

15

Venezuela

26,814,843

350.1

$13,100

-59

1811

 7

Other Southern States

267,978,804

2,907

$10,847

-971

 

16

Argentina

40,913,584

558

$13,800

 

1816

17

Brazil

198,739,269

2,025

$10,200

-460

1822

18

Chile

16,601,707 

243.7

$14,700

-73

1810

19

Guyana

752,940

2.844

$3,800

-166

1966

20

Paraguay

6,995,655

28.27

$4,100

-134

1811

21

Suriname

481,267

4.274

$9,000

-102

1975

22

Uruguay

3,494,382

44.52

$12,700

-33 

1825

 30

Caribbean Community

41,021,128

367

$8,951

-137.2

2001

13 

Independent

35,339,267

273

$7,800

-29.1

 

23

Antigua & Barbuda

85,632

1.55

18,100

-8

1981

24

Bahamas

307,552

5.295

$29,800

 

1973

25

Barbados

284,589 

4.569

$18,500

-9.1

1966

26

Cuba

11,451,652

111.1

$9,700

-127

1902

27

Dominican Republic

9,650,054

80.53

$8,300

-153

1844

28

Dominica

72,660

0.743

$10,200

-22

1978

29

Grenada

90,739

1.156

$10,800

-33

1974

30

Haiti

9,035,536

11.9

$1,300

-912

1804

31

Jamaica

2,825,928

23.24

$8,200

-79

1962

32

Saint Kitts & Nevis

40,131

0.753

$15,200

-46

1983

33

Saint Lucia

160,267

1.75

$10,900

-19

1979

34

Saint Vincent & Grenadines

104,574

1.55

$18,100

-27 

1979

35

Trinidad & Tobago

1,229,953

28.41

$23,100

-12

1962

 8

British Dependencies

194,615

8

$41,025

-108.1

 

36

Anguilla

14,436

0.175

$12,200

-3

 

37

Bermuda

67,837

4.5

$69,900

 

 

38

Falkland Islands

3,140

0.105

$35,400

 

 

39

Cayman Islands

49,035

2.25

$43,800

 

 

40

British Virgin Islands

24,491

0.872

$38,500

 

1976 

41

Montserrat

5,097

0.029

$3,400

-35

 

42

Saint Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha

7,637

0.018

2,500

-66

 

43

Turks & Caicos

22,942

0.216

11,500

-4.1

 

US Dependencies

4,076,038

70

$17,500

 

 

44

Puerto Rico

3,966,213 

68.14

$17,200

 

1952 

45

Virgin Islands

109,825

1.577

$14,500

 

 

Dutch Dependency

103,065

2.258

$21,800

 

 

46

Aruba

103,065

2.258

$21,800

 

 

 5

French Dependencies

1,088,185

11

$10,110

 

 

47

Guadeloupe

448,713[1]

3.513

$7,900

 

 

48

French Guiana

199,509[2]

1.551

$8,300

 

 

49

Saint Pierre & Michelon

7,063

0.0483

$7,000

 

 

50

Martinique

432,900[3]

6.117

$14,400

 

 

51

Saint Barthelemy

7,406

 

 

 

 

 1

French and Dutch

219,958

2.8

$16,000

 

 

52

Netherlands Antilles

219,958

2.8

$16,000

 

 

 

Vital Statistics

 

Country

Population

Growth

Births per 000

Deaths per 000

Immi

gration per

000

Infant Mortal ity per 000

Life Expec

tancy

AIDS

rate

Literacy

Penal Pop.

Penal

Pop.

Per 00,000

America

927,421,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,468,708

374

 

Anguilla

14,436

2.272%

13.02

4.36

14.06

3.52

80.65

 

95%

55

401

 

Antigua & Barbuda

85,632

1.301%

16.95

5.94

2.38

16.25

74.76

 

85.8%

229

329

 

Argentina

40,913,584

1.053%

17.94

7.41

0

11.44

76.56

0.5%

97.2%

52,457

132

 

Aruba

103,065

1.478%

12.79

7.71

9.7

13.79

75.28

 

97.5%

277

269

 

Bahamas

307,552

0.925%

16.41

7.16

0

14.84

69.92

3%

95.6%

1,301

376

 

Barbados

284,589 

0.383%

12.55

8.41

-0.31

12.29

73.94

1.5%

99.7%

899

326

 

Belize

307,899

2.154%

27.33

5.8

0

23.07

68.2

2.1%

76.9%

1,400

449

 

Bermuda

67,837

0.647%

11.57

7.3

2.2

2.46

80.43

 0.3%

98%

261

394

 

Bolivia

9,775,246

1.772%

25.82

7.05

-1.05

44.66

66.89

0.2%

86.7%

7,778

80

 

Brazil

198,739,269

1.199%

18.43

6.35

-0.09

22.58

71.99

0.6%

88.6%

469,546

242

 

British Virgin Islands

24,491

1.837%

14.62

4.37

8.13

14.65

77.26

 

97.8%

117

488

 

Canada

33,487,208

0.88%

10.28

7.74

5.63

5.04

81.23

0.4%

99%

39,132

117

 

Cayman Islands

49,035

2.394%

12.36

4.89

16.48

6.94

80.44

 

98%

194

346

 

Chile

16,601,707 

0.881%

14.64

5.84

 

7.71

77.34

0.3%

95.7%

52,403

305

 

Colombia

43,677,372

1.219%

18.09

5.22

-0.69

17.37

74.07

0.6%

90.4%

76,500

167

 

Costa Rica

4,253,877

1.356%

17.43

4.34

0.47

8.77

77.58

0.4%

94.9%

10,318

224

 

Cuba

11,451,652

0.233%

11.13

7.24

-1.56

5.82

77.45

0.1%

99.8%

60,000

531

 

Dominica

72,660

0.208%

15.73

8.2

-5.45

13.65

75.55

 

94%

235

324

 

Dominican Republic

9,650,054

1.489%

22.39

5.28

-2.22

25.96

73.7

1.1%

87%

19,100

189

 

Ecuador

14,573,101

1.497%

20.77

4.99

-0.81

20.9

75.3

0.3%

91%

10,808

79

 

El Salvador

7,185,218

1.656%

25.31

5.47

-3.27

21.52

72.33

 0.8%

80.2%

22,969

370

 

Falkland Islands

3,140

0.011%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

French Guiana

199,509

1.96%

20.46

4.88

4.01

11.76

77.27

 

83%

746

365

 

Grenada

90,739

0.468%

21.32

6.09

-10.55

13.23

65.95

 

96%

372

358

 

Guadeloupe

448,713

0.92%

15.42

6.06

-0.15

8.6

77.9

 

90%

790

174

 

Guatemala

13,276,517

2.066%

27.98

5.11

-2.21

27.84[4]

70.29

0.8%

69.1%

9,993

70

 

Guyana

752,940

0.634%

18.31

7.34

-17.31

39.11

66.31

2.5%

98.8%

1,989

261

 

Haiti

9,035,536

1.838%

29.1

8.65[5]

-2.07

59.69

60.78

2.2%

52.9%

8,301

83

 

Honduras

7,833,696

2.002%

26.23

4.96

-1.3

21.68

70.45

0.7%

80%

11,348

151

 

Jamaica

2,825,928

0.755%

19.68

6.43

-5.7

15.22

73.58

1.6%

87.9%

4,709

174

 

Martinique

432,900

0.76%

14.14

6.44

-0.04

7.09

79.04

 

97.7%

0

163

 

Mexico

111,211,789

1.13%

19.71

4.8

-3.61

18.42

76.06

0.3%

91%

224,749

204

 

Montserrat

5,097

0.392%

12.36

8.44

 

16.08

72.76

 

97%

0

 

 

Netherlands Antilles

227,049 

0.732%

14.19

6.48

-0.39

9.09

76.65

 

96.7%

713

319

 

Nicaragua

5,891,199

1.784%

23.25

4.3

-1.11

25.02

71.5

0.2%

67.5%

6,060

107

 

Panama

3,360,474

1.503%

20.18

4.66

-0.49

12.67

77.25

1%

91.9%

10,370

296

 

Paraguay

6,995,655

2.364%

28.17

4.46

-0.07

24.68

75.77

0.6%

94%

5,889

95

 

Peru

29,546,963

1.229%

19.38

6.14

-0.95

28.62

70.74

0.5%

92.9%

0

126

 

Puerto Rico

3,966,213 

0.298%

11.72

7.78

-0.96

8.28

78.52

 

94.1%

12,130

303

 

Saint Barthelemy

7,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

Saint Helena

7,637

0.445%

11.13

6.68

 

17.63

78.44

 

97%

0

 

 

Saint Kitts & Nevis

40,131

0.847%

17.67

8.05

-1.15

13.94

73.2

 

97.8%

262

660

 

Saint Lucia

160,267

0.416%

15.1

6.8

-4.14

13.43

76.45

 

90.1%

550

303

 

Saint Pierre

7,063

0.099%

12.74

6.8

-4.96

7.03

79.08

 

99%

0

 

 

Saint Vincent

104,574

-0.34%

15.27

6.91

-11.8

15.14

73.65

 

96%

410

346

 

Suriname

481,267

1.103%

16.8

5.51

-0.26

18.81

73.73

2.4%

89.6%

0

356

 

Trinidad & Tobago

1,229,953

-0.102%

14.36

8.11

-7.28

29.93

70.86

1.5%

98.6%

5,803

293

 

Turks & Caicos

22,942

2.563%

20.79

4.18

9.02

13.86

75.42

 

98%

0

 

 

United States

307,212,123

0.977%

13.83

8.38

4.32

6.22

78.11

0.6%

99%

2,304,115

753

 

Uruguay

3,494,382

0.466%

13.91

9.09

-0.16

11.32

76.35

0.6%

98%

8,749

261

 

Venezuela

26,814,843

1.508%

20.61

5.12

-0.42

21.54

73.61

0.7%

93%

24,069

85

 

Virgin Islands

109,825

-0.029%

11.95

6.75

-5.49

7.56

79.05

 

 90%

612

561

 

 

Sources: CIA World Fact Book July 2009; World Prison Brief 18 March 2010

 

Economics

 

Country

Population

GDP

PPP

billions

GDP

Ex. rate

trillions

Economic

Growth

Per capita

PPP

Labor

000s

Unem

ploy

ment

Below Poverty Line

Budget Revenue billions

Budget Expense billions

Surplus

Deficit

billions

Deficit % GDP

Ex. rate

Public Debt

% GDP

Inflation

Exports  billions

Imports  billions

Trade Balance

billions

Trade Balance

% GDP

External Debt  billions

ODA millions

2008

 

America

927,414,548

21,711

16,200

 

$23,420

430,959

 

 

3,295

5,089

-1,794

-11%

 

 

2,042

2,483

-441

-2.7%

15,256

31,627 

-7,214

Anguilla

14,436

0.175

0.175

-8.5

$12,200

 6

8%

23%

0.0228

0.0225

0.0003

1.7%

 

5.3%

0.119

0.143

-0.024

-13.7%

0.0088

-3

Antigua & Barbuda

85,632

1.55

1.194

-6.5%

$18,100

30 

11%

 

0.230

0.294

-0.064

-5.3%

130%

1.5%

0.084

0.523

-0.439

-36.8%

0.360

-8

Argentina

40,913,584

558

304.9

-2.5%[6]

$13,800

16,540

9.6%

13.9%

84.3

86.2

-1.9

-0.6%

49.1%

7.7%

55.7

38.71

16.99

5.6%

108.6

 

Aruba

103,065

2.258

2.258

2.4%

$21,800

41.5

6.9%

 

0.508

0.578

-0.07

-3.1%

46.3%

3.4%

0.124

1.054

-0.93

-41.2%

0.479

 

Bahamas

307,552

5.278

7.49

-4%

$29,800

 184

7.6%

 9.3%

1.03

1.03

0

0%

 

2.4%

0.674

2.401

-1.727

-23%

343

 

Barbados

284,589 

4.569

3.637

-2.8%

$18,500

 175

10.7%

 

0.847

0.886

-0.039

-1.1%

 

5.5%

0.385

1.586

-1.201

-33%

0.668

-5

Belize

307,899

2.485

1.424

-1.5%

$8,100

122.3

8.1%

33.5%

0.377

0.413

-0.036

-2.5%

 

0.3%

0.395

0.616

-0.221

-15.5%

0.954

 -25

Bermuda

67,837

4.5

 

4.6%

$69,900

 38

2.1%

19%

0.738

0.665

0.073

1.6%

 

2.8%

0.763

1.162

-0.399

 

0.160

 

Bolivia

9,775,246

45.11

17.76

2.8%

$4,600

4,536

8.5%

60%

7.946

8.319

-0.373

-2.1%

44%

4.3%

4.837

4.166

0.671

3.8%

5.349

-628

Brazil

198,739,269

2,025

1,499

-0.2%[7]

$10,200

95,210

7.4%

26%

244

219.9

 

 

46.8%

4.2%

159

136

23

1.5%

216.1

-460

British Virgin Islands

24,491

0.853

1.095

-0.6%

$38,500

 13

3.6%

 

0.205

0.180

0.025

2.3%

 

7.1%

0.0253

0.187

-0.162

-14.8%

0.036

 

Canada

33,487,208

1,285

1,335

-2.5%

$38,400

18,400

8.5%

 10.8%

514.5

547.2

-32.7

-2.4%

72.3%

0.2%

298.5

305.2

-6.7

-0.5%

633.8

4,785

Cayman Islands

49,035

2.25

2.25

1.1%

$43,800

 39

4%

 

0.424

0.393

0.031

1.4%

 

4.1%

0.014

0.877

-0.863

 

0.070

 

Chile

16,601,707 

243.7

152.1

-1.7%[8]

$14,700

7,420

10%

18.2%

31.31

37.87

-6.56

-4.3%

9%

1.7%

48.85

40.91

7.94

5.2%

60.9

-73

Colombia

43,677,372

401

231.3

-0.1%[9]

$9,200

21,530

12%

46.8%

72.55

74.6

-2.05

-0.8%

46.1%

2%

31.34

31.67

-0.33

-0.1%

47.33

 -972

Costa Rica

4,253,877

48.63

29.64

-1.6%[10]

$10,900

2,090

6.4%

16%

3.795

4.908

-1.143

-3.85%

49.3%

8.3%

8.096

10.53

-2.434

-8.2%

8.057

 -66

Cuba

11,451,652

111.1

56.52

1.4%

$9,700

4,968

1.6%

 

39.11

42.58

-3.47

-6.1%

34.8%

4.3%

3.253

10.86

-7.607

-13.5%

19.44

-127

Dominica

72,660

0.743

0.380

1.1%[11]

$10,200

25

23%

30%

0.0739

0.0844

-0.01

-2.7%

85%

2.7%

0.094

0.296

-0.202

-53%

0.213

-22

Dominican Republic

9,650,054

80.53

45.24

1.8%[12]

$8,300

4,417

15.1%

42.2%

6.361

7.588

-1.227

-2.7%

41.5%

1.4%

5.372

12.14

-6.768

-14.9%

11.85

-153

Ecuador

14,573,101

108.2

56.27

-1%[13]

$7,400

4,430

7.9%

35.1%

15.58

17.58

-2

-3.6%

20.2%

4.3%

13.76

14.09

-0.34

-0.6%

13.28

-231

El Salvador

7,185,218

42.92

22.43

-3%[14]

$7,100

2,917

7.2%

30.7%

3.798

4.803

-1.005

-4.5%

55.4%

1%

4.086

7.215

-3.13

-13.9%

11.51

-233

Falkland Islands

3,140

0.105

0.105

 

$35,400

 2

 

 

0.066

0.068

-0.002

-1.9%[15]

 

3.6%

0.125

0.090

0.035

33%

0.470

 

French Guiana

199,509

1.551

 

 

$8,300

 62

19.2%

 

0.225

0.390

-0.165

-10.6%

 

1%

0.155

0.625

-0.47

 

0.8

 

Grenada

90,739

1.156

0.691

-4%

$10,800

42.3

12.5%

32%

0.0858

0.102

-0.0162

-2.3%

 

3.7%

0.038

0.343

-0.305

-44%

0.347

-33

Guadeloupe

448,713

3.513

0

 

$7,900

191.4

27.8%

 

0.225

0.390

 

 

 

 

0.140

1.7

-1.56

 

 0

 

Guatemala

13,276,517

69.21

36.9

-0.5%[16]

$5,200 

4,157

3.2%

56.2%

4.07

5.563

-1.493

-4%

32.7%

2.2%

6.768

10.91

-4.42

-11.9%

7.489

-536

Guyana

752,940

2.844

1.21

-1.7%

$3,800

333.9

11%

 

0.494

0.597

-1.03

-8.5%

120%

5.2%

0.652

1.066

-0.414

-34.2%

0.804

-166

Haiti

9,035,536

11.9

6.989

2%[17]

$1,300

3,643

66%

80%

0.961

1.186

-0.225

-3.2%

 

0.4%

0.524

2.023

-1.499

-21.5%

0.426

-912

Honduras

7,833,696

33.17

14.75

-3%[18]

$4,200

3,052

6%

59%

2.819

3.4

-0.581

-3.9%

24.3%

5.9%

5.25

7.571

-2.321

-15.7%

3.315

-564

Jamaica

2,825,928

23.24

12.06

-4.2%[19]

$8,200

1,311

14.5%

14.8%

2.898

4.332

-1.434

-11.9%

131.7%

8.6%

1.442

4.625

-3.183

-26.4%

11.55

-79

Martinique

432,900

6.117

0

 

$14,400

 0

27.2%

 

0.9

2.5

 

 

 

3.9%

0.250

2

 

 

0.180

 

Mexico

111,211,789

1,482

1,017

-6.5%[20]

$13,500

47,000

5.6%

18.2%

208.6

229

-20.4

-2%

37.7%

3.6%

230

234

-4

-0.4%

177

-149

Montserrat

5,097

0.029

0

-1%[21]

$3,400

 0

6%

 

0.0314

0.0316

-0.0002

-6.9%

 

2.6%

0.0007

0.017

-0.0163

 

8.9

-35

Netherlands Antilles

227,049 

2.8

0

1%

$16,000

 91.47

15.5%

 

0.758

0.950

-0.192

-6.9%

 

2.1%

3.71

15.74

-12.03

 

2.68

 

Nicaragua

5,891,199

16.53

6.372

-2.9%[22]

$2,800

2,383

5.9%

48%

1.286

1.483

-0.197

-3.1%

87%

4.3%

2.344

3.968

-1.624

-25.5%

4.7

-741

Panama

3,360,474

40.32

25.04

2.4%[23]

$11,900

1,423

7.1%

28.6%

5.667

6.527

-0.86

-3.4%

49.5%

2.3%

11.41

13.62

-2.21

-8.8%

12.04

-29

Paraguay

6,995,655

28.27

13.77

-3.5%[24]

$4,100

2,981

7.9%

19.4%

2.323

2.444

-0.121

-0.88%

24%

1.9%

3.167

6.497

-3.33

-24%

3.22

-134 

Peru

29,546,963

253

128.9

0.9%[25]

$8,600

10,260

9%

44.5%

33.55

37.97

-4.42

-3.4%

26.1%

1.2%

23.07

20.3

2.77

2.1%

30.04

-466

Puerto Rico

3,966,213 

68.14

87.79

-3.9%[26]

$17,200

1,479

12%

 

6.7

9.6

-2.9[27]

-3.3%

 

6.5%

46.9

29.1

17.8

19.9%

 0

 

Saint Helena

7,637

0.018

0

 

$2,500

 0

14%

 

0.0112

0.011

 

 

 

3.2%

0.017

0.042

-0.025

 

 0

-66

Saint Kitts & Nevis

40,131

0.753

0.553

-2%

$15,200

18

4.5%

 

0.0897

0.1262

0.0365

-6.6%

185%

4.5%

0.084

0.383

-0.299

-54%

0.314

-46

Saint Lucia

160,267

1.75

1.003

-2.5%

$10,900

 80

20%

 

0.141

0.147

-0.006

-0.6%

 

1.9%

0.288

0.791

-0.503

-50%

0.257

-19

Saint Pierre

7,063

0.0483

0

 

$7,000

 3.5

10.3%

 

0.070

0.060

0.01

20.7%

 

8.1%

0.005

0.068

-0.063

 

 

Saint Vincent

104,574

1.55

0.632

-6.5%

$18,100

 58

15%

47.5%

0.0946

0.0858

0.0088

0.6%

 

6.1%

0.193

0.578

-0.385

-60.9%

0.223

 -27

Suriname

481,267

4.274

3.184

-2.2%[28]

$9,000

166

9.5%

70%

0.393

0.426

-0.033

-1%

 

6.4%

1.391

1.297

0.094

2.9%

0.504

-102

Trinidad & Tobago

1,229,953

28.41

23.27

-3.5%[29]

$23,100

 629

7.5%

17%

6.176

7.415

-1.239

-5.4%

26.7%

7.6%

10.64

7.449

3.191

13.7%

2.079

-12

Turks & Caicos

22,942

0.216

0

4.9%

$11,500

 4.8

10%

 

0.047

0.0336

0.0134

6.2%

 

4%

0.1692

0.1756

-0.0064

 

 0

 

United States

307,212,123

14,260

14,430

-2.4%[30]

$46,400

154,100

9.3%

12%

1,914

3,615

-1,701

-11.8%

52.9%

-0.7%

994.7

1,445

-450.3

-3.1%

13,450

26,842

Uruguay

3,494,382

44.52

31.98

1.7%[31]

$12,700

1,636

7.9%

27.4%

8.841

9.666

-0.825

-2.6%

58.7%

7.3%

6.32

6.576

-0.256

-0.8%

12.61

 -33

Venezuela

26,814,843

350.1

357.6

-2.9%[32]

$13,100

12,670

10.9%

37.9%

65.14

92.04

-26.9

-7.5%

19.4%

27.1%

51.99

41.04

10.95

3%

43.41

-59

Virgin Islands

109,825

1.577

0

2%

$14,500

50

6.2%

 28.9%

0.837

0.837 

0

0%

 

2.2%

 4.234

 4.609

-0.375

 

 0

 

 

 Sources: CIA World Fact Book July 2009; OECD Development Aid at a Glance: Statistics by Region 8 February 2010

 

 

                                                                                                



[1] There is no entry for Guadalupe in the CIA World Factbook 2009

[2] There is no entry for French Guiana in the CIA World Factbook 2009

[3] There was no CIA World Factbook entry for Martinique in 2009

[4] The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest decile comprising over 40% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More than half of the population is below the national poverty line and 15% lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up 38% of the population, averages 76% and extreme poverty rises to 28%. 43% of children under five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. 

[5] The earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010 took the lives of an estimated 212,000, reducing the population of July 2009 to 8,823,536, not taking into consideration growth of 1.838% annually.  So 6 months at 0.9% annual growth and a population of  9,035,536, 9,1185,725, less 212,000 for a 2010 estimate of 8,906,572.

[6] A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - the largest in history - on the government's foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the subsequent six years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies.

[7] Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments, adhering to an inflation target, and committing to fiscal responsibility. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After record growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Braxil in September 2008. Brazil's currency and its stock market - Bovespa - saw large swings as foreign investors pulled resources out of Brazil. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. Consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth returned to positive in the second quarter, 2009. The Central Bank expects growth of 5% for 2010.

[8] Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Exports account for more than one-fourth of GDP, with commodities making up some three-quarters of total exports. Copper alone provides one-third of government revenue.  Sovereign wealth funds - kept mostly outside the country and separate from Central Bank reserves - amounted to more than $20 billion. Chile used $4 billion from this fund to finance a fiscal stimulus package to fend off recession. The economy was starting to show signs of a rebound in the fourth quarter, 2009, although GDP still fell more than 1% for the year. In December 2009, the OECD invited Chile to become a full member, after a two year period of compliance with organization mandates. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile in February 2010 was one of the top ten strongest earthquakes on record. It caused considerable damage near the epicenter, located about 70 miles from Concepcion - and about 200 miles southwest of Santiago.

[9] In Columbia foreign direct investment reached a record $10 billion in 2008.  Because of the global financial crisis and weakening demand for Colombia's exports, Colombia's economy grew only 2.6% in 2008, and contracted slightly in 2009.

[10] Prior to the global economic crisis, Costa Rica enjoyed stable economic growth. The economy contracted by about 2% in 2009. 

[11] In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address an economic and financial crisis and to meet IMF requirements. This restructuring paved the way for an economic recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and helped to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 85% of GDP. Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages equivalent to 20% of GDP. In 2009, growth slowed as a result of the global recession and is projected to pick up only slightly in 2010.

[12] The Dominican Republic economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for about two-thirds of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts. The financial crisis and the US recession caused GDP to dip in 2009, but a rebound is expected in 2010.

[13] Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracting by more than 6%. Poverty increased significantly, the banking system collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined during this period but remained high at 38% in 2006. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth rate of 6.5% in 2008, in large part due to high global petroleum prices. Poverty levels declined to about 35% by the end of 2008. In December 2008 Ecuador defaulted on $3.2 billion in international bonds, representing over 80% of Ecuador's private external debt. The Ecuadorian economy contracted in 2009, mainly due to the global financial crisis, and also the sharp decline in world oil prices and remittance flows.

[14]  Economic growth in El Salvador has been modest in recent years and contracted by 2.6% in 2009. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income and about a third of all households receive these financial inflows.  In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region, the primary conflict zone during the civil war, through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy. Any counter-cyclical policy response to the downturn must be through fiscal policy, which is constrained by legislative requirements for a two-thirds majority to approve any international financing.

[15] Budget information for the Falkland Islands and others are from 99/00.

[16] The Guatemalan economy contracted in 2009 as export demand from US and other Central American markets fell and foreign investment slowed amid the global recession. The economy will likely recover gradually in 2010 and return to more normal growth rates by 2012.

[17] Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation.  The apparel sector accounts for two-thirds of Haitian exports and nearly one-tenth of GDP. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP and more than twice the earnings from exports. Haiti suffers from a lack of investment because of insecurity and limited infrastructure, and a severe trade deficit. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. Haiti received debt forgiveness for about $525 million of its debt through the Highly-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative in 2009. The government relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability.

[18] Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high unemployment and underemployment. Nearly half of Honduras's economic activity is directly tied to the US, with exports to the US equivalent to 30% of GDP and remittances for another 22%. The economy is expected to register marginally positive economic growth in 2010, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 60% of the population in poverty. Despite improvements in tax collections, the government's fiscal deficit is growing due to increases in current expenditures from increasing public wages. 

[19] Remittances account for nearly 20% of GDP, but have declined 15% since the onset of the Global recession. Tourism revenues account for 20% of GDP, and arrivals have remained strong, up 4% in 2009, although total revenues have declined due to discounts offered to retain visitors. Jamaica's onerous debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. The Government of Jamaica signed a $1.27 billion, 27-month Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for balance of payment support in February 2010. 

[20] Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. 

[21] Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.  Statistics are from 2002.

[22] Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America, has widespread underemployment and poverty. GDP fell by almost 3% in 2009, due to decreased export demand in the US and Central American markets, lower commodity prices for key agricultural exports, and low remittance growth - remittances are equivalent to almost 15% of GDP. 

[23] Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 25% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway, and should help to reduce the high unemployment rate. The United States and China are the top users of the Canal, and while a lower volume of cargo is expected to transit the Canal with the global economic slowdown, higher transit fees will result in a net increase in revenues. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About 30% of the population lives in poverty, however, during TORRIJOS's term poverty was reduced from 40% to 30% and unemployment dropped from 12% to 6%. In 2009, the world recession reduced the amount of revenues Panama earned through global shipping that transits the Canal. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.

[24] Paraguay’s economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.5% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to growth.

[25] The Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. Growth jumped to 9% per year in 2007 and 2008, driven by higher world prices for minerals and metals and the government's aggressive trade liberalization strategies, but then fell to 1% in 2009 in the face of the world recession and lower commodity export prices. Peru's rapid expansion has helped to reduce the national poverty rate by about 15% since 2002, 

[26] Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-08.

[27] Puerto Rican budget figures are from 99/00

[28] The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of alumina, gold, and oil accounting for about 85% of exports and 25% of government revenues, making the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The economy contracted in 2009, however, as investment waned and the country earned less from its commodity exports when global prices for most commodities fell. As trade picks up, Suriname's economic outlook for 2010 has improved, but the government's budget is likely to remain strained, with increased social spending in this election year. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.

[29] In Trinidad and Tobago economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8%, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, it has slowed down since then and contracted about 2.7% in 2009. 

[30] The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,900. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. Soaring oil prices between 2005 and the first half of 2008 threatened inflation and unemployment, as higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption.  The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $840 billion in 2008 before shrinking to $450 billion in 2009. The global economic downturn, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, investment bank failures, falling home prices, and tight credit pushed the United States into a recession by mid-2008. GDP contracted until the third quarter of 2009, making this the deepest and longest downturn since the Great Depression. To help stabilize financial markets, the US Congress established a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in October 2008. In January 2009 the US Congress passed and President Barack OBAMA signed a bill providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over 10 years - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover. Approximately two-thirds of these funds will have been injected into the economy by the end of 2010. In March 2010, President OBAMA signed a health insurance reform bill into law that will extend coverage to an additional 32 million American citizens by 2016, through private health insurance for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished.

[31] Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. In 2001-02, Argentine citizens made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks after bank deposits in Argentina were frozen, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso, a banking crisis, and a sharp economic contraction. Real GDP fell in four years by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year. The unemployment rate rose, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Financial assistance from the IMF helped stem the damage. Uruguay restructured its external debt in 2003 without asking creditors to accept a reduction on the principal. Economic growth for Uruguay resumed, and averaged 8% annually during the period 2004-08. The 2008-09 global financial crisis put a brake on Uruguay's vigorous growth, which decelerated to 2.9% in 2009. Nevertheless, the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment.

[32] Fueled by high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP by about 10% in 2006, 8% in 2007, and nearly 5% in 2008, before the world recession caused a contraction in 2009. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has created a consumption boom but has come at the cost of higher inflation - roughly 20% in 2007 and more than 30% in 2008. CHAVEZ announced a dual exchange rate system for the fixed rate bolivar. The system offers a 2.6 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of essentials, including food, medicine, and industrial machinery, and a 4.3 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of other products, including cars and telephones.