FAX: 243229

Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the Saint George Cross, edged in red

Malta Economy

Economy - overview: Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. However, the island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $14,300 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8%

industry: 25.5%

services: 71.7% (1999)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 145,901 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation: industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (3rd Quarter 2000)

Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion

expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $265.4 million (1999)

Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 1.65 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: 1.534 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners: US 21.4%, France 15.2%, Germany 12.6%, UK 9.3%,
Italy 4.9% (1999)

Imports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Imports - partners: France 19.1%, Italy 16.7%, UK 10.9%, Germany 10.0%, US 8.5% (1999)

Debt - external: $130 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code: MTL

Exchange rates: Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.4370 (January 2001), 0.4376 (2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Malta Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 187,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 17,691 (1997)

Telephone system: general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements

domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands

international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios: 255,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (2000)

Televisions: 280,000 (1997)

Internet country code: .mt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)

Internet users: 40,000 (2000)

Malta Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 1,742 km

paved: 1,677 km

unpaved: 65 km (1997)

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine: total: 1,414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,191,090 GRT/46,773,603 DWT

ships by type: bulk 443, cargo 394, chemical tanker 48, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 14, container 69, liquefied gas 2, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 296, refrigerated cargo 37, roll on/roll off 50, short-sea passenger 15, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 18

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 1, Bermuda 1, Belgium 1, Bangladesh 2, Bulgaria 11, China 7, Costa Rica 1, Cuba 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Estonia 2, Finland 1, Germany 23, Greece 258, Hong Kong 3, Croatia 9, Hungary 1, India 2, Israel 2, Italy 17, South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Latvia 2, Lithuania 1, Monaco 14, Nigeria 1, Netherlands 10, Norway 31, Poland 8, Romania 3, Russia 39, Singapore 6, Spain 3, Sweden 3, Syria 1, Switzerland 25, UAE 2, Turkey 24, UK 8, Ukraine 9, US 9, Venezuela 1, Vietnam 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Malta Military

Military branches: Armed Forces (including land forces, an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 98,953 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 78,783 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $201 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.5% (FY98)

Malta Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North
Africa to Western Europe

@Man, Isle of

Man, Isle of Introduction

Background: Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Celtic language.

Man, Isle of Geography

Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland

Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 572 sq km

land: 572 sq km

water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 160 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: cool summers and mild winters; temperate; overcast about one-third of the time

Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m

highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land: 9%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 46%

forests and woodland: 6%

other: 39% (includes 25% mountain and heathland)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution

Geography - note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

Man, Isle of People

Population: 73,489 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.51% (male 6,562; female 6,306)

15-64 years: 65.19% (male 24,061; female 23,845)

65 years and over: 17.3% (male 5,076; female 7,639) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.52% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 11.58 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 11.84 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.64 years

male: 74.26 years

female: 81.2 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)

adjective: Manx

Ethnic groups: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Languages: English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy: definition: NA

total population: NA%

male: NA%

female: NA%

Man, Isle of Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Isle of Man

Dependency status: British crown dependency

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Douglas

Administrative divisions: there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July

Constitution: unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act, 1961, does not embody the Manx Constitution

Legal system: English common law and Manx statute

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since 27 October 1995)

head of government: Chief Minister Donald GELLING (since 3 December 1996)

cabinet: Council of Ministers

elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected by the Tynwald; election last held 3 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

election results: Donald GELLING elected chief minister by the Tynwald

Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (a 11-member body composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: House of Keys - last held 21 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2001)

election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 24

Judicial branch: High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)

Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members sit as independents

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)

Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Man, Isle of Economy

Economy - overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking and other services now contribute 42% to GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 13.5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,800 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1%

industry: 9%

services: 90% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 36,610 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, forestry and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%, entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10%

Unemployment rate: 0.6% (August 2000)

Budget: revenues: $485 million

expenditures: $463 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)

Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (FY96/97)

Agriculture - products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Exports: $NA

Exports - commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

Exports - partners: UK

Imports: $NA

Imports - commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports - partners: UK

Debt - external: $NA

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Manx pound

Currency code: GBP

Exchange rates: Manx pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Man, Isle of Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 51,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system: general assessment: NA

domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system

international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Televisions: 27,490 (1999)

Internet country code: .im

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA

Internet users: NA

Man, Isle of Transportation

Railways: total: 68.5 km (43.5 km electrified)

Highways: total: 800 km

paved: 800 km

unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey

Merchant marine: total: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,917,402 GRT/8,333,858 DWT

ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 13, chemical tanker 11, combination bulk 3, container 20, liquefied gas 13, petroleum tanker 43, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 1, Denmark 1, Germany 1, Netherlands 1, Sweden 1, UK 3 (2000 est.)

Airports: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Man, Isle of Military

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Man, Isle of Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

@Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands Introduction

Background: After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the islands between 1947 and 1962.

Marshall Islands Geography

Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 181.3 sq km

land: 181.3 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 370.4 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use: arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 60%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 0%

other: 40%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

Marshall Islands People

Population: 70,822 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 49.29% (male 17,808; female 17,101)

15-64 years: 48.61% (male 17,573; female 16,853)

65 years and over: 2.1% (male 707; female 780) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.88% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 45.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 39.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.84 years

male: 64.04 years

female: 67.73 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)

adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups: Micronesian

Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)

Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93%

male: 100%

female: 88% (1980 est.)

Marshall Islands Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall
Islands

conventional short form: Marshall Islands

former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

Capital: Majuro

Administrative divisions: 33 municipalities; Ailinginae,
Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon,
Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib,
Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap,
Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution: 1 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of Parliament

elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003)

election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Kabua Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Banny DE BRUM

chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: (202) 234-5414