Region wide, the average percentage of GDP earmarked for social spending in the ECLAC region rose from 10.1 per cent to 13.8 per cent.

Average fertility in the region is currently 2.5 children per woman.

The exception was the African region, where 33 per cent reported positively.

Parties in this region proposed 50 per cent of all forest sector projects.

Africa 23 countries, or 53 per cent of the countries in the region

Asia 21 countries, or 43 per cent of the countries in the region

Europe 30 countries, or 65 per cent of the countries in the region

Latin America 21 countries, or 64 per cent of the countries in the region

Arab States 19 countries, or 86 per cent of the countries in the region.

Throughout the 1990s, Asia remained the most favoured host region, accounting for about 47 per cent 52 per cent of OFDI from Singapore.

In 2004, the Latin America and Caribbean region collectively represented over 31 per cent of total programme expenditure (42 per cent in 2003) and 88 per cent of total local resources expenditure (87 per cent in 2003).

However, the region is still experiencing literacy rates of only 67 per cent for its adult population and 75 per cent for its youth population.

No more than five representatives, who should be experienced in reporting shall be nominated per region.

No more than five representatives, who should be experienced in reporting, shall be nominated per region.

In recent years, GDP growth rates within the region have averaged less than 2 per cent.

The local comprehensive health care systems with the highest rates were Estelí (77 per cent), León (74.8 per cent) and Carazo (74.2 per cent), while those with the lowest rates were the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (45.9 per cent) and Jinotega (55 per cent).

Of the joint programmes and projects, 50 per cent were in Eastern and Southern Africa, 19 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and 11 per cent in the CEE CIS region.

Furthermore, the region is home to 70 per cent of the illiterate population of the world (600 million persons), 65 per cent of whom are women.

Oil production continued to expand rapidly in the ESCWA region, rising to 19 billion barrels per day, an increase of 6 per cent over its 2003 level.

The economic benefits would therefore range from 3 to 34 per 1 invested, depending on the region.

In the rural part of the Pacific region, female headship went down among non poor households (from 19.5 per cent to 17.5 per cent), while it increased among poor households, particularly among the extremely poor (from 22.6 per cent to 27.0 per cent).

Both in Africa and the Arab region, intraregional trade remained mostly stagnant for decades representing some 10 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, of their trade volume.

Family planning indicators for the region show that 68.3 per cent of married or partnered women use modern contraceptives. Unmet demand for contraceptives stands at 21.4 per cent.

China's average per capita income still ranks comparatively low on the world scale, and there remain great developmental imbalances between urban and rural areas, and from region to region.

The ratio of debt to exports was 83.4 per cent, likewise one of the lowest in the region.

For the ESCWA region as a whole (including Iraq and Palestine), 5.4 per cent real growth is expected.

As mentioned above, oil production continued to grow rapidly in the ESCWA region, expanding by 6 per cent from its 2003 level and generating 19 billion barrels per day.

The rate of sharing syringes has been as high as 50 per cent in some countries of the region.

The Tribunal's web site continues to reach out to the region receiving an average of 13,000 individual visits per month.

Most parts of the Central African Republic receive more than 122 millimetres of rain per year only the sub Sahelian region of Birao receives less than 1 metre of rainfall per year.

In the ECLAC region, the trend towards higher levels of unemployment, currently at 10 per cent, shows no signs of abating.

Gross oil export revenue in the region was estimated at 213 billion in 2004, a 29 per cent increase over 2003.

What is most notable is the high response rate from the Arab region. At 86 per cent, this is the highest rate of response from that region in the history of these surveys.7

Despite increased UNDP activity, approximately 40 per cent of ex combatants in the region have not yet received any direct reintegration support.

In 2003, the region hosted some 28 per cent of OFDI from Singapore. While some of this OFDI was in the natural resources sector, a substantial portion went to tax free zones in the region.

Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and virtually no unemployment,

Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and virtually no unemployment,

It also undermines the stability of the region and accounts for approximately 90 per cent of the heroin reaching the streets of Europe.

The Americas was the only region where a majority of the States (65 per cent) reported that their relevant authorities kept such statistical data.

The overall rate of inflation in developing economies of the ESCAP region was unchanged from the previous year at 4.8 per cent in 2004.

More than 90 per cent of the land in the region is hyper arid or desert, while the remaining area is classified as dry .

The fastest growth in outward FDI was noted for South, East and South East Asia the share of this region in the world outward FDI stock rose from 2.3 per cent to 7.4 per cent between 1990 and 2003.

GDP, in constant 2000 prices, grew by 4.8 per cent in the ESCWA region (excluding Iraq and Palestine), declining from the high 5.7 per cent achieved in 2003, but still representing a considerable improvement over growth in recent years.

Prospects for 2005 indicate a slowdown in GDP growth in the ESCAP region to an estimated 6.2 per cent as the external environment weakens, with inflation slowing slightly to an estimated 4.6 per cent, based on the assumption that the average price of oil will be around 38 dollars ( ) per barrel.

Between LAC and Africa Apart from a small share of investments from Brazil (0.3 per cent) there is only limited investment in Africa from the LAC region.