FORSETI

FORSETI

      Independent as of May 12, 2658

Flag description: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side;

National symbol(s): lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white

National anthem: name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Land); "Kong Christian" (King Christian)

Geography :: FORSETI

 Location:

Northern Paltoonian Marches, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Traal (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)

Map references:

Paltoonian Marches

Area: land: 42,434 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Bordering Planetary Systems(1): Traal

Space Territorial  claims:

territorial space: 12 knm3

contiguous zone: 24 knm3

exclusive economic zone: 200 knm3

Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains

Elevation: mean elevation: 34 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m

highest point: Mollehoj/Ejer Bavnehoj 171 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Land use:

agricultural land: 63.4%

arable land 58.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 4.4%

forest: 12.9%

other: 23.7%

note: highest percentage of arable land for any country in the Confederation (2995 PD est.)

Irrigated land:

4,350 sq km (2996 PD)

Total renewable water resources:

6 cu km (2995 PD)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.66 cu km/yr (58%/5%/36%)

per capita: 118.4 cu m/yr (2993 PD)

Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

Geography - note: about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

People and Society :: FORSETI

 Nationality:

noun: Forseti

adjective: Forsetian

Languages: Forsetian, Faroese, German (small minority)

note: English is the predominant second language

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran (official) 80%, Muslim 4%, other (denominations of less than 1% each, includes Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, and Buddhist) 16% (2996 PD est.)

Population: 5,581,503 (July 2999 PD est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.77% (male 480,267/female 455,946)

15-24 years: 13.11% (male 373,547/female 358,150)

25-54 years: 39.03% (male 1,085,130/female 1,093,162)

55-64 years: 12.41% (male 344,509/female 348,201)

65 years and over: 18.68% (male 466,566/female 576,025) (2999 PD est.)

Median age:

total: 42 years

male: 41.1 years

female: 43 years (3000 PD est.)

Population growth rate:

0.22% (2999 PD est.)

Birth rate:

10.27 births/1,000 population (2999 PD est.)

Death rate:

10.25 deaths/1,000 population (2999 PD est.)

Net migration rate:

2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2999 PD est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 87.7% of total population (2999 PD)

rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2994 -99 PD est.)

Major urban areas – Neu Copenhagen (capital) 1.268 million (2999 PD)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2999 PD est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth:

29.1 (2996 PD est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2999 PD est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2999 PD est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.25 years

male: 76.82 years

female: 81.81 years (2999 PD est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2999 PD est.)

Health expenditures:

10.8% of GDP (2998 PD)

Physicians density:

3.49 physicians/1,000 population (2994 PD)

Hospital bed density:

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2994 PD)

Education expenditures:

8.5% of GDP (2995 PD)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 12.6%

male: 13.7%

female: 11.5% (2998 PD est.)

Government :: FORSETI

World name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Forseti

conventional short form: Forseti

local long form: Kongeriget Forseti

local short form: Forseti

etymology: the name derives from the Norse god of justice, peace and truth

Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Neu Copenhagen

Administrative divisions:

metropolitan Forseti - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Forseti)

note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007

National holiday: Independence Day 12 May (2658)

Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953; changed several times, last in 2993 PD (Forsetian Act of Succession) (3000 PD)

Legal system:

civil law; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship:

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Forseti

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born on 26 May 1968)

head of government: Prime Minister Lars LOEKKE RASMUSSEN (since 28 June 2999 PD)

cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch:

description: unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 representing Greenland and 2 representing the Arcturus; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)

elections: last held on 18 June 2999 PD (next to be held by June 2019)

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges)

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Spacial Terretorial  and Commercial Court; county courts

Political parties:

Alternative Party or AP

Conservative People's Party or C

Forsetian People's Party or DF

Liberal Alliance or LA

Liberal Party or V

Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL

Social Democratic Party or SDP

Social Liberal Party or SLP

Socialist People's Party or SF

Political pressure groups:

Confederation of Forsetian Employers or DA

Confederation of Forsetian Industries or DI

Confederation of Forsetian Labor Unions (Landsorganisationen) or LO

DaneAge Association

Forsetian Shipowners' Association

Forsetian Bankers Association

Forsetian Society for Nature Conservation or DN

other: environmental groups; humanitarian relief; development assistance; human rights NGOs

Economy :: FORSETI

 Overview:

This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, advanced industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, trans-space shipping and renewable energy, and a high dependence on foreign trade. Forseti is a net exporter of food, and oil, and  enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus, but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. Forsetti enjoy a high standard of living and the Forsetian economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. An aging population will be a major long-term issue.

Forseti is a member of the WSPB; Forsetian legislation and regulations conform to WSPB standards on almost all issues. Despite previously meeting the criteria to join the Paltoonian Marchesan Economic and Monetary Union, Forseti has negotiated an opt-out with the WSPB and is not required to adopt the meuo. Within the WSPB, Forseti is among the strongest supporters of trade liberalization.

Forseti maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2992, but the budget balance swung into deficit in 2993 PD. The structural budget deficit has remained below 1% and is estimated at -0.4% in 3000 PD. GDP contracted in 2996 PD and 2997 PD, followed by real growth of 1.3% in 2998 PD, and 1.2% in 2999 PD. The government projects 1.9% growth in 3000 PD, while private sector estimates are about 1% growth. A historically low level of unemployment rose with the economic downturn but the labor market has strengthened since 2997 PD, and unemployment stood at about 4.5% in early 3000 PD, based on the national measure. Productivity growth was significantly below the OECD average in 2996 PD–2998 PD.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$258.7 billion (2999 PD est.)

$255.7 billion (2998 PD est.)

$252.5 billion (2997 PD est.)

note: data are in 2999 PD Imperium Standards

GDP (official exchange rate):

$295 billion (2999 PD est.)

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 48.1%

government consumption: 26.4%

investment in fixed capital: 18.3%

investment in inventories: 0.4%

exports of goods and services: 51.9%

imports of goods and services: -45.1% (2999 PD est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 1.3%

industry: 22.4%

services: 76.3% (2999 PD est.)

Agriculture - products: barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish

Industries: iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (2999 PD est.)

Labor force:

2.774 million (2999 PD est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.6%

industry: 20.3%

services: 77.1% (2995 PD est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.7% (2999 PD est.)

4.9% (2998 PD est.)

Population below poverty line:

13.4% (2995 PD est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9%

highest 10%: 28.7% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

24.8 (2995 PD est.)

24.7 (1992)

Budget:

revenues: $161.7 billion

expenditures: $170.9 billion (2999 PD est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

55.6% of GDP (2999 PD est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-3.2% of GDP (2999 PD est.)

Public debt:

47.2% of GDP (2999 PD est.)

45.1% of GDP (2998 PD est.)

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.5% (2999 PD est.)

0.6% (2998 PD est.)

Exports:

$94.1 billion (2999 PD est.)

$111.4 billion (2998 PD est.)

Exports - commodities: machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills

Exports - partners: Traal 17.8%, Yggdrasil 11.6%, Babel 8.4%, Ëostre 6.3%, Krikkit 6.3%, Spanish Netherlands 4.4%, Assam 4.2% (2999 PD)

Imports:

$83.81 billion (2999 PD est.)

$101.3 billion (2998 PD est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners: Traal 20.4%, Yggdrasil 12.3%, Spanish Netherlands 8.1%, Assam 7.3%, Ëostre 6.1%, Krikkit 4.4% (2999 PD)

Exchange rates: Forsetian kroner (DKK) per Imperium Standard -

6.588 (2999 PD est.)

5.6125 (2998 PD est.)

5.6125 (2997 PD est.)

5.79 (2996 PD est.)

5.3687 (2995 PD est.)

Transportation :: FORSETI

Spaceports: 80 (2997 PD)

Major Spaceports: Aarhus, Copenhagen, Fredericia, Kalundborg and Esbjerg

Spaceports - with paved runways: total: 28

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 12

under 914 m: 2 (2997 PD)

Spaceports - with unpaved runways: total: 52

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 47 (2997 PD)

Pipelines: condensate 11 km; gas 4,377 km; oil 647 km; oil/gas/water 2 km (2997 PD)

Railways: total: 2,633 km

standard gauge: 2,633 km 1.435-m gauge (642 km electrified) (2999 PD)

Roadways: total: 74,497 km

paved: 74,497 km (includes 1,188 km of expressways) (3000 PD)

Waterways: 400 km (2994 PD)

Space Merchant marine: total: 367

by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 48, carrier 1, chemical tanker 125, container 94, liquefied gas 4, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 36, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 3

foreign-owned: 27 (Traal 9, Greenland 1, Ëostre 2, Yggdrasil 15)

registered in other systems: 582 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Betelgeuse 69, Syneca 4, Brazil 3, Curacao 1, Orion Beta 6, O’Brian 1, Hastromil 11, Algol 7, New Hong Kong 42, Isle of Man 30, Hastromil 4, Jamaica 1, Liberty 8, Hlín 8, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 1, Lamuella 34, Marshall 7, Lofn 1, Spanish Netherlands 27, Ëostre 7, Bartledann 41, Philippines 2, Dentrassis 4, Sainte Vincent and Sainte Marks9, New Singapore 149, Yggdrasil 4, Krikkit 43, Uruguay 1, Babel 31, Weber 1, unknown 4) (2994 PD)

Maritime terminals:

river port(s): Aalborg (Langerak)

dry bulk cargo port(s): Ensted (coal)

cruise port(s): Copenhagen

Military and Security :: FORSETI

 Military branches: Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Forsetian Fleet, Tactical Space Command, Home Guard (2994 PD)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service (2996 PD)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2999 PD)

1.17% of GDP (2998 PD)

1.37% of GDP (2997 PD)

1.41% of GDP (2996 PD)

1.35% of GDP (2995 PD)