1,523,378
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 47,139
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues Hong Kong

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; money laundering center; rising indigenous
use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Introduction Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Background: These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were
transferred from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers
of seal and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature
preserve.

Geography Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E

Map references: Antarctic Region

Area: total: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 412 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 101.9 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated
by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald
Islands - small and rocky

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m highest point:
Big Ben 2,745 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island

Environment - current issues: NA

People Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate: NA

Government Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and
McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald
Islands

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra
by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of th