User:John Carter/Sealand
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PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND
World FactBook Entry Submission
Introduction
Background:
The Principality was declared in 1967 after occupation the previous year by Roy Bates and his family of a 20-year plus abandoned fort built in international waters by the United Kingdom during the early stages of World War 2. The fort was originally known as ‘Roughs Tower’ and is shown with this designation on UK maps.
Geography
Location: Central North Sea, approximately 7 nm East of the United Kingdom shoreline of the Essex-Suffolk border and the major port of Felixstowe.
Coordinates: 51 54 N; 01 29 E
Map Reference: Europe
Area: Total: 100 sq km Land: 0.004 sq km Water: 99.996 sq km
Comparative: (land): Slightly smaller than The Mall in Washington DC
Land boundary: None
Border Countries: UK
Coastline: 400 m
Maritime Claims: Contiguous: Median line to UK Territorial sea: 12 nm from central land area except to median line with UK border where appropriate.
Climate: Oceanic; temperate winters and summers.
Terrain: Highly secure concrete and steel island with no surface access.
Elevation: Max: 32 m Min: -15 m
Land use: Arable land: 0% Permanent crops: 0% Permanent pastures: 0% Forests and Woodlands: 0% Other: 100%
Irrigated Land: None
Natural hazards: Occasionally inaccessible due to weather and sea conditions.
Environment: Self-contained structure with independent water and power production and sewerage facilities.
Geography-note: Claimed territorial waters and airspace intersect major shipping and air transport routes from UK to Europe.
People
Population: 27 (2002 actual)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 9% 15-64 years: 82% 65 years and over: 9%
Population growth: 0%
Birth rate: 0%
Death rate: 0%
Net migration: -28% (2000-2002)
Sex ratio: 0-14 years: 2.0 males/female 15-64 years: 6.0 males/female 65 years and over: 2.0 males/female
Total population: 4.4 males/female
HIV/AIDS: Nil
Nationality: Noun: Sealander(s) Adjective: Sealand
Ethnic groups: European, North American
Religions: Church of England 26%; other 74%
Language: English
Literacy: Over 95%
People-note: Population principally from Europe and North America.
Government
Country name: Conventional long form: Principality of Sealand Conventional short form: Sealand
Dependency status: None.
Government type: Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Sealand
Independence: 2 September 1967
National Holidays: Independence Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Family Day (21 June), Regent’s Day (2 August); Sovereign’s Day (29 August)
Constitution: Declared: 2 September 1967; Decreed: 2 September 1995.
Legal system: Common Law (based on English Law)
Executive branch: Sovereign: Prince Roy of Sealand Head of State: Prince Regent Michael of Sealand Cabinet: (appointed): Principal Secretary, Office of Head of State; Chiefs of Bureaux, External and Internal Affairs and of Posts, Telecomms, and Technology.
Legislative branch: Senate: (elected and appointed): 6 persons, 2 each of which are elected by citizenry and by industries, and 2 further citizens appointed by the Sovereign. (Last elections 2001; currently 6-year terms).
Judicial branch: Advocate-General, Recorder Principius.
Political parties: None
Diplomatic representation in the US: None
Diplomatic representation from the US: None
Flag description: National: Red at hoist with white bar sinister and black fly (State specification 011201a) Royal Standard: as national with Crest in middle of red triangle (State specification 011201b)
Economy
Overview: The Principality has been economically and politically independent since its proclamation. Its imports are principally manufactured goods, fuels, and foodstuffs, mostly from the UK, and its exports are philatelic and similar materials and technical services to a global market. There is a major proportion of total GDP expended upon state services and security; technical services and in particular information services are the major export revenue source.
GDP: US$600,000
GDP growth rate: +25% [2000 – 2001]
GDP per capita: US$22,200
GDP per sector: Agriculture: 0% Industry: 16% Services: 84% Population below poverty line: 0%
Household income: NA%
Inflation rate: 1.5%
Labour force: 22
Labour by occupation: Services: 82% Industry: 18%
Unemployment: 0%
Budget: Revenues: US$372,000
Expenditures: US$194,000
Industries: Information services, technical research, tourism [currently limited scale; includes philatelic and similar activities]
Industrial growth rate: 29% [2000-2001]
Electricity production: 885 thousand kWh [2001]
Electricity production fossil fuel: 100% By source: hydro: 0% Nuclear: 0% Other: 0%
Electricity consumption: 771 thousand kWh [2001]
Electricity exports: 0%
Electricity imports: 0%
Agriculture products: none
Exports: US$325,000
Exports-commodities [principally services] Services: 92%; other 8%
Exports-partners: North America, EU
Imports: US$122,000
Imports-commodities: fuel, manufactured goods, foodstuffs
Imports-partners: EU, North America
Debt-external US$0
Economic aid: US$0
Currency: Sealand $ [pegged in value to US$]
Currency code: not assigned
Fiscal year: 1 January – 31 December
Communications
Telephones: Main lines in use: 87 [2001] Cellular: 0
Telephone system: Main assessment: automatic domestic system with adequate international facilities.
Domestic: Automatic exchanges
International: fibre, microwave, satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations: 0
Radios: 33
TV broadcast stations: 0
Television sets: 11
Internet country code: not assigned
ISP(s): 1
Internet users: 7
Transportation
Railways: nil
Highways: nil
Waterways: nil
Pipelines: nil
Ports and harbours: Sealand [accessible by prior arrangement]
Merchant marine: nil
Airports: nil
Heliports: 1 [use by prior arrangement only]
Military
Branches: Sealand Security
Note: Several vessels used for surveillance and transport to neighbouring countries
Transnational issues
Disputes: UK claims Sealand territorial waters and jurisdiction since 1987 [date of extension of UK territorial limits]
