THE PACIFIC SUMMIT : THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY

The vast Pacific Ocean touches the shorelines of at least 40 independent countries, including the western flank of Central and Latin America and the tiny island-nations scattered across the South Pacific. Ten other Asian nations are either landlocked or border the Indian Ocean. Levels of economic and social development vary widely across the region, challenging efforts to define common interests.

Profiled on these pages are the 15 nations or economies currently belonging to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, or APEC. They are Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.

AUSTRALIA

Population: 17.62 million (86% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $288.88 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 2.2%

Per capita GDP: $16,395

Exports: $42.34 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 5,291 kg

Persons per passenger car: 2

Persons per telephone: 2

Literacy: 99%

Life expectancy: 77

Work force: 6% agric., 36% ind./commerce, 58% service.

BRUNEI

Population: 300,000 (64% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $6.45 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 0.0%

Per capita GDP: $23,716

Exports: $6.45 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 7,912 kg

Persons per passenger car: 3

Persons per telephone: 4

Literacy: 85.1%

Life expectancy: 75.5

Work force distribution: not available.

CANADA

Population: 27.3 million (77% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $568.65 billion (1992)

Real Growth Rate: 0.9%

Per capita GDP: $20,820

Exports: $134 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 9,959 kg

Persons per passenger car: 2

Persons per telephone: 1

Literacy: 99%

Life expectancy: 77

Work force: 4% agric., 52% ind./commerce, 44% service.

CHINA

Population: 1.2 billion (53% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $434.08 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 12.8%

Per capita GDP: $370

Exports: $84.9 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 591 kg

Persons per passenger car: 4,345

Persons per telephone: 3.8

Literacy: 73%

Life expectancy: 70

Work force: 60% agric., 30% ind./commerce, 10% service.

HONG KONG

Population: 5.7 million (94% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $92.8 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 5%

Per capita GDP: $15,725

Exports: $ 117.84 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 1,629 kg

Persons per passenger car: 35

Persons per telephone: 2

Literacy: 75%

Life expectancy: 78

Work force: 1% agric., 60% ind./commerce, 39% service.

INDONESIA

Population: 181 million (30% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $123.24 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 5.8%

Per capita GDP: $670

Exports: $32.5 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 263 kg

Persons per passenger car: 144

Persons per telephone: 108

Literacy: 85%

Life expectancy: 61.8

Work force: 56% agric., 23% ind./commerce, 21% service.

JAPAN

Population: 124 million (77% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $3,671.01 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 1.3%

Per capita GDP: $29,525

Exports: $330.9 illion

Per capital oil consumption: 3,484 kg

Persons per passenger car: 4

Persons per telephone: 2

Literacy: 99%

Life expectancy: 79

Work force: 8% agric., 34% ind./commerce, 58% service.

MALAYSIA

Population: 18.2 million (42% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $50.44 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 8%

Per capita GDP: $2,680

Exports: $37.51 illion

Per capital oil consumption: 920 kg

Persons per passenger car: 11

Persons per telephone: 9

Literacy: 80%

Life expectancy: 70

Work force: 22% agric., 40% ind./commerce, 38% service.

NEW ZEALAND

Population: 3.4 million (84% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $42.61 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 3%

Per capita GDP: $12,495

Exports: $9.82 illion

Per capital oil consumption: 5,282 kg

Persons per passenger car: 2

Persons per telephone: 1

Literacy: 99%

Life expectancy: 75

Work force: 11% agric., 41% ind./commerce, 48% service.

PHILIPPINES

Population: 62.8 million (42% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $52.62 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 0

Per capita GDP: $815

Exports: $9.8 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 217 kg

Persons per passenger car: 156

Persons per telephone: 53

Literacy: 88%

Life expectancy: 64

Work force: 46% agric., 20% ind./commerce, 34% service.

SINGAPORE

Population: 2.79 million (100% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $46 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 5.8%

Per capita GDP: $16,500

Exports: $60.9 illion

Per capital oil consumption: 6,165 kg

Persons per passenger car: 12

Persons per telephone: 2

Literacy: 87%

Life expectancy: 74

Work force: 1% agric., 64% ind./commerce, 35% service.

SOUTH KOREA

Population: 43.3 million (71% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $296.84 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 4.8%

Per capita GDP: $6,800

Exports: $76.8 billion

Per capital oil consumption:1,832 kg

Persons per passenger car: 38

Persons per telephone: 3

Literacy: 92%

Life expectancy: 70

Work force: 18% agric., 26% ind./commerce, 56% service.

TAIWAN

Population: 20.9 million (72% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $206.8 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 6.1%

Per capita GDP: $9,945

Exports: $80.72 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 820 kg

Persons per passenger car: NA

Persons per telephone: 2

Literacy: 90%

Life expectancy: NA

Work force: 17% agric., 53% ind./commerce, 30% service.

THAILAND

Population: 57.2 million (22% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $106.3 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 7.5%

Per capita GDP: $1,835

Exports: $33 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 331 kg

Persons per passenger car: 68

Persons per telephone: 29

Literacy: 89%

Life expectancy: 66

Work force: 59% agric., 24% ind./commerce, 17% service.

UNITED STATES

Population: 253 million (75% urban)

Gross Domestic Product: $5,950 billion (1992)

Real Economic Growth Rate: 2.1%

Per capita GDP: $23,315

Exports: $439.27 billion

Per capital oil consumption: 7,794 kg

Persons per passenger car: 2

Persons per telephone: 1

Literacy: 99%

Life expectancy: 76

Work force: 4% agric., 29% ind./commerce, 67% service.

Sources: International Business Communications/USA Inc.; World Bank; Bank of America/World Information Services; Asiaweek.