← The 2003 CIA World Factbook, Volume 1
Z (part 8)
Ports and harbors:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:
68 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 36 (2002)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,265,019 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,026,063 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 54,445 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:
Kyrgyzstan's constitutional court has ruled that 1,270 sq km ceded
to China in a 2000 delimitation agreement were legally transferred;
delimitation with Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minor
disputed areas; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of
delimitation with Tajikistan; serious disputes with Uzbekistan
around Uzbek enclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS
markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit
point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of
Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:
In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government,
ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam
and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private
enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the
admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Geography Laos
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
(December to April)
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
arable land: 3.47%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,640 sq km
note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation -
750 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the
population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly
forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with
Thailand
People Laos
Population:
5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,255,172; female 1,242,823)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,592,697; female 1,639,431)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,192; female 104,230) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 88.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 99.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.3 years
male: 52.34 years
female: 56.33 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 150 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung
(highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic
Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions:
Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian
denominations 1.5%)
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.8%
male: 67.5%
female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Government Laos
Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local short form: none
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Vientiane
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality*
(kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone**
(khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai,
Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan,
Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system:
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures,
and socialist practice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February
1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27
March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27
March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli
(since NA May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since
27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since
26 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held
NA 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the
approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats
increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)
elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court
is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the
People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National
Assembly Standing Committee)
Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party
president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders
fled the country in 1975
International organization participation:
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay
FAX: (202) 332-4923
telephone: (202) 332-6416
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: (21) 212584
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red
with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy Laos
Economy - overview:
The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official
Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging
private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely
low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except
during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis
beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a
country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a
rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal
telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban
areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides
80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from
aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new
foreign investment in food processing and mining.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 23% services: 24% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $211 million
expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est. est.)
Industries:
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
processing, construction, garments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports:
$345 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners:
Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Imports:
$555 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.53 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$345 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
kip (LAK)
Currency code:
LAK
Exchange rates:
kips per US dollar - 7,562 (2002), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64
(2000), 7,102.02 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,915 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving
with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional
48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone
network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1999)
Televisions:
52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.la
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
10,000 (2002)
Transportation Laos
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,664 km
unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,587 km approximately
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 42
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Military Laos
Military branches:
Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force,
National Police Department
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.2% (FY96)
Transnational Issues Laos
Disputes - international:
demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is
nearing completion, but with Thailand several areas including Mekong
River islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and
Vietnam over squatters
Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation
in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated
potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from
2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and
methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis;
growing methamphetamine abuse problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Latvia
Introduction Latvia
Background:
After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars,
Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its
independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the
Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to
Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual
integration into various Western European political and economic
institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography Latvia
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and
Lithuania
Geographic coordinates:
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 64,589 sq km
water: 1,000 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Land use: arable land: 29.01% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
200 sq km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not
irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land
has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service
industries after the country regained independence; the main
environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality
and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and
reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession
negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of
EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with
some hills in the east
People Latvia
Population:
2,348,784 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)
65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 42.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.73% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.31 years
male: 63.46 years
female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%,
Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
Religions:
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:
Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government Latvia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Latvijas Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Riga
Administrative divisions:
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles
Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,
Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,
Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas
Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons,
Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu
Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*,
Ventspils Rajons
Independence:
21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is
the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the
date of independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922
constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president;
parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL
18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%;
seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12,
First Party 10, LNNK 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS
(Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political
Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS];
For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human
Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of
the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or
LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS];
Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris
RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats)
or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS];
Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars
REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars
GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party
[Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social
Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare
Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or
LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner),
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
FAX: (202) 726-6785
telephone: (202) 726-8213, 8214
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: 703-6200
FAX: 781-0047
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and
maroon
Economy Latvia
Economy - overview:
Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian
financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget
stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU
countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The
majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized,
although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large
enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization
in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top
foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government
deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to
increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget
deficit.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 26%
services: 69.5% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers,
agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -
dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:
$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%,
Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Imports:
$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden
5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$96.2 million (1995)
Currency:
Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code:
LVL
Exchange rates:
lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59
(1999), 0.59 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:
734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
401,263 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an international capability independent of the Moscow international
switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,
rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied
subscriber applications
international: international connections are now available via cable
and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections
for most calls (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
41 (2001)
Internet users:
312,000 (2001)
Transportation Latvia
Railways:
total: 2,347 km
broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 73,202 km
paved: 28,256 km
unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Waterways:
300 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:
gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Latvia
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,
National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Latvia
Disputes - international:
the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty
with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns
over oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and
Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American
cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money
laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Lebanon
Introduction Lebanon
Background:
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil
war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national
reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in
the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions
in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have
conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have
extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the
country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons.
Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east of
Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was
legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the
Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in
Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese
Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the
Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southern
Lebanon in May 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese
Christians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as
well.
Geography Lebanon
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and
Syria
Geographic coordinates:
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
water: 170 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers;
Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and
Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Natural resources:
limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit
region, arable land
Land use: arable land: 17.6% permanent crops: 12.51% other: 69.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in
Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes;
pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Nahr el Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an
international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate,
protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion,
clan, and ethnicity
People Lebanon
Population:
3,727,703 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 514,447; female 494,166)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,177,773; female 1,286,433)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 115,693; female 139,191) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 27.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.32 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.07 years
male: 69.64 years
female: 74.61 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups:
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 70% (including Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or
Nusayri), Christian 30% (including Orthodox Christian, Catholic,
Protestant), Jewish NEGL%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)
Government Lebanon
Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local short form: Lubnan
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Beirut
Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa,
Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
Independence:
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution:
23 May 1926, amended a number of times, most recently Charter of
Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Legal system:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law;
no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at
age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 23 October
2000); Deputy Prime Minister Issam FARES (since 23 October 2000);
note - HARIRI resigned on 15 April 2003, but was reappointed the
next day
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president
is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and
the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly
vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or
Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular
vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 August and 3 September 2000 (next to be held
NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - Muslim 57% (of which
Sunni 25%, Sh'ite 25%, Druze 6%, Alawite less than 1%), Christian
43% (of which Maronite 23%); seats by party - Muslim 64 (of which
Sunni 27, Sh'ite 27, Druze 8, Alawite 2), Christian 64 (of which
Maronite 34)
Judicial branch:
four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial
cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council
(called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws);
Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime
minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
FAX: (202) 939-6324
telephone: (202) 939-6320
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent Martin BATTLE
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon
mailing address: P. O. Box 70840, Awkar, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2,
FPO AE 09836-0002
telephone: 011-961-4-543-600/542-600
FAX: 011-961-4-544-136
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red
with a green cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy Lebanon
Economy - overview:
The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic
infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended
Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub.
Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut,
begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government
facilities. Economic recovery was helped by a financially sound
banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers.
Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports,
and international aid provided the main sources of foreign exchange.
Lebanon's economy made impressive gains since the launch in 1993 of
"Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program.
Real GDP grew 8% in 1994, 7% in 1995, 4% in 1996 and in 1997, but
slowed to 1.2% in 1998, -1.6% in 1999, -0.6% in 2000, 0.8% in 2001,
and 1.5% in 2002. During the 1990s annual inflation fell to almost
0% from more than 100%. Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn
physical and financial infrastructure. The government nonetheless
faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has funded
reconstruction by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In
order to reduce the ballooning national debt, the re-installed
HARIRI government began an economic austerity program to rein in
government expenditures, increase revenue collection, and privatize
state enterprises. The HARIRI government met with international
donors at the Paris II conference in November 2002 to seek bilateral
assistance restructuring its domestic debt at lower rates of
interest. While privatization of state-owned enterprises had not
occurred by the end of 2002, the government had successfully avoided
a currency devaluation and debt default in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $17.61 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 21% services: 67% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
28% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services NA%, industry NA%, agriculture NA%
Unemployment rate:
18% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.1 billion
expenditures: $5.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and
chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal
fabricating
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
6.728 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 97.2% hydro: 2.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
7.44 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
107,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats
Exports:
$1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious stones, metal
products, electrical products, jewelry, paper products
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 10.8%, Saudi Arabia 9%, UAE 8.6%, US 6.7%, Jordan 4.6%,
Turkey 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, electrical products, vehicles, minerals, chemicals,
textiles, fuels
Imports - partners:
Italy 11.3%, France 10.7%, Germany 8.4%, US 5.6%, Syria 5.4%, China
4.8%, Belgium 4.5%, UK 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001) $4.2 billion in pledges November
2002 Paris II Aid Conference
Currency:
Lebanese pound (LBP)
Currency code:
LBP
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2002), 1,507.5 (2001),
1,507.5 (2000), 1,507.84 (1999), 1,516.13 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lebanon
Telephones - main lines in use:
700,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
580,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding well underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria;
microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
2.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.18 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lb
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2000)
Internet users:
300,000 (2001)
Transportation Lebanon
Railways:
total: 401 km
standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m
note: rail system is unusable because of damage in civil war (2002)
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m
Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,198 km unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
oil 209 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Antilyas, Batroun, Beirut, Chekka, El Mina, Ez Zahrani, Jbail,
Jounie, Naqoura, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 230,142 GRT/306,442 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 28, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, container 4, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 9, roll on/roll
off 4, vehicle carrier 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 1, Greece 10, Netherlands 4, Panama 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Spain 1, Syria 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Lebanon
Military branches:
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,025,984 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 630,657 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$541 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.8% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Lebanon
Disputes - international:
Syrian troops in central and eastern Lebanon since October 1976;
Lebanese Government claims Shab'a Farms area of Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights
Illicit drugs:
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in
2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way
to US and European markets
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Lesotho
Introduction Lesotho
Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence
from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990.
Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of
military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny
following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South
African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since
restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were
held in 2002.
Geography Lesotho
Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 30,355 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources:
water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other
minerals
Land use: arable land: 10.71% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous,
more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
People Lesotho
Population:
1,861,959
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 353,554; female 349,092)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 516,017; female 541,694)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,735; female 59,867) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.19% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
24.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 86.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 91.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.94 years
male: 36.76 years
female: 37.13 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.52 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
31% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
360,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups:
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Religions:
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Government Lesotho
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Maseru
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales
Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
2 April 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note -
King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to
February 1995, while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the
majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister;
the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution,
which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is
a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative
powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to
determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as
regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may
even depose the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22
principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party)
and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by direct popular vote and 40 by
proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year
terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120
in the May 2002 election
elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC
7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Tseliso MAKHAKHE]; Basotho National
Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress
for Democracy or LCD [Phebe MOTEBANO, chairwoman; Pakalitha
MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress
or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles
MOFELI]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP and Setlamo Alliance
[Vincent MALEBO]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Chief Peete
Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI
FAX: (202) 234-6815
telephone: (202) 797-5533 through 5536
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: 312666 FAX: 310116
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half
is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with
crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with
a green triangle in the corner
Economy Lesotho
Economy - overview:
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances
from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the
Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government
revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to
reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major
hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to
South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. As the number
of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a
small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that
support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries and a
rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The economy is still
primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock,
although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme
inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback.
Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility
with the IMF.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.106 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 46% services: 34% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 49% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56 (1986-87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
838,000
Labor force - by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate:
45% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $76 million
expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $15
million (FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts;
construction; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
15.5% (1999)
Electricity - production:
0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,500 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports:
$422 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and
mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 97.5%, Canada 0.9%, France 0.6% (2002)
Imports:
$738 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum
products (2000)
Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 51.9%, China 25%, France 3.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$735 million (2002)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient:
$41.5 million (2000)
Currency:
loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:
LSL; ZAR
Exchange rates:
maloti per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11
(1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Lesotho
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21,600 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular
mobile telephone system is growing
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
NA (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2000)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.ls
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
5,000 (2002)
Transportation Lesotho
Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 5,940 km
paved: 1,087 km
unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
28 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Military Lesotho
Military branches:
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; including Army and Air Wing), Royal
Lesotho Mounted Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 459,723 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 250,560 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future
structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially
considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening
in political affairs
Transnational Issues Lesotho
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Liberia
Introduction Liberia
Background:
Eight years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1997 when
free and open presidential and legislative elections were held.
President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real
political opposition. Years of fighting, coupled with the flight of
most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity. A still
unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of
rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn
country. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds,
along with an arms embargo and a travel ban on government officials,
for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone.
Renewed rebel activity has further eroded stability and economic
activity. A regional peace initiative commenced in the spring of
2003 but was disrupted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)
indictment of President TAYLOR on war crimes charges.
Geography Liberia
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote
d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km
Coastline:
579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold
nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and
low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.97% permanent crops: 2.08% other: 95.95% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People Liberia
Population:
3,317,176 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831)
15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.67% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
45.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
17.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries though
slowly returning (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 132.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 125.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 139.03 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.15 years
male: 47.03 years
female: 49.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.23 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
125,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:
indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru,
Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella,
Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5%
(descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a
few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6%
note: (2003 est.)
Government Liberia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Monrovia
Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,
River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence:
26 July 1847
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution:
6 January 1986
Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for
the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal
practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2005)
note:: a UN-brokered cease fire among waring factions and the
Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of
former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,
President Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as chairman of the National
Transitional Government on 14 October 2003
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent
of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF
(UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - Taylor
stepped down in August 2003
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve six-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3,
Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1
elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
held 14 October 2003)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader
NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian
Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or
LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party;
United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Aaron B.
KOLLIE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: (202) 723-0436
telephone: (202) 723-0437
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: 226-148
Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in
the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy Liberia
Economy - overview:
Civil war and misgovernment have destroyed much of Liberia's
economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many
businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with
them. Some have returned; many will not. Richly endowed with water,
mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture,
Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products -
primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign
owned, had been small in scope. The restoration of the
infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy
depend on the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of
sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the
encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor
countries.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.116 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 74% industry: 7% services: 19% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
468.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
435.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports:
$110 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:
Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, US
4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$165 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
South Korea 30.3%, Japan 19.1%, Germany 15.6%, France 9.1%,
Singapore 7.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$94 million (1999)
Currency:
Liberian dollar (LRD)
Currency code:
LRD
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95
(2000), 41.9 (1999), 41.51 (1998)
note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship
with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market
determined
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
70,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.lr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)
Internet users:
500 (2000)
Transportation Liberia
Railways:
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railways are in operation (2002)
Highways: total: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport
Merchant marine:
total: 1,432 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 48,700,851 GRT/75,408,994 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 282, cargo 80, chemical tanker
163, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 24, container 357,
liquefied gas 82, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger
6, petroleum tanker 286, refrigerated cargo 60, roll on/roll off 19,
short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 37
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil
5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11,
Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong
69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20,
Isle of Man 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway
103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore
20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9,
Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, UAE 12, UK 39, US
113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
47 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Military Liberia
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 735,481 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 396,725 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Liberia
Disputes - international:
rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra
Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea; the Ivorian Government accuses
Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,
criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide
significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Libya
Introduction Libya
Background:
Since he took power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu
Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system - a
combination of socialism and Islam - which he calls the Third
International Theory. Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he
used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology
outside Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to
hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military adventures
failed, e.g., the prolonged foray of Libyan troops into the Aozou
Strip in northern Chad was finally repulsed in 1987. Libyan support
for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions were imposed in 1992.
Those sanctions were suspended in April 1999.
Geography Libya
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 NM
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 98.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four
days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the
Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in
the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under
the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People Libya
Population: 5,499,074 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.5% (male 970,026; female 929,174)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 1,744,992; female 1,630,399)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 109,262; female 115,221) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.1 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 21.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.39% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.07 years
male: 73.91 years
female: 78.34 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.49 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,
Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major
cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
Government Libya
Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local short form: none
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:
Tripoli
Administrative divisions:
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25
municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:
based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held
NA)
election results: Mubarak al-SHAMEKH elected premier; percent of
General People's Congress vote - NA%
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Premier) Mubarak al-SHAMEKH (since 2 March 2000)
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected
indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible
memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some
Islamic elements
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Libya does not have an embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
Economy Libya
Economy - overview:
The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from
the oil sector, which contribute practically all export earnings and
about one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population
give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little
of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Import
restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to
periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil
manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20%
of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products
to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and
aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit
agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Higher
oil prices in the last three years led to an increase in export
revenues, which has improved macroeconomic balances but has done
little to stimulate broad-based economic growth. Libya is making
slow progress toward economic liberalization and the upgrading of
economic infrastructure, but truly market-based reforms will be slow
in coming.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $33.36 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 45%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $13.7 billion
expenditures: $8.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
20.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
18.77 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1.429 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
29.75 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
770 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.321 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Exports:
$11.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products (1999)
Exports - partners:
Italy 42.6%, Germany 14.1%, Spain 13.6%, Turkey 6.9%, Switzerland
4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods (1999)
Imports - partners:
Italy 25.6%, Germany 9.8%, South Korea 6.6%, UK 6.6%, Tunisia 6.5%,
Japan 6.4%, France 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.4 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$15 million (2000)
Currency:
Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code:
LYD
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.2 (2003), 0.6 (2002), 0.51 (2001),
0.5 (2000), 0.39 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
500,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;
mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat,
and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave
radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece;
participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions:
730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
20,000 (2001)
Transportation Libya
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 225 km; gas 3,196 km; oil 6,872 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's
Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 130,081 GRT/115,480 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Algeria 1, Kuwait 1, UAE 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
136 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
(includes Air Force)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,546,432 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 914,649 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,511 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria
and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;
various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Liechtenstein
Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the
end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic
devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter
into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War
II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low
taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. However,
shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in
concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money
laundering.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population:
33,145 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 2,979; female 3,008)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,646; female 11,740)
65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,538; female 2,234) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.3 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.25 years
male: 75.63 years
female: 82.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%
(June 2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Government type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and
parliamentary basis
Capital:
Vaduz
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established;
12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,
assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince
ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
head of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April
2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April
2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%,
FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1
elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or
Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Fatherland Union or VU [Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party
or FBP [Ernst WALCH]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin
JENNY, Rene HASLER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 216-0460 FAX: (202) 216-0459
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US
Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein
has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The
Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of
small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -
and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called
letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,
providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a
customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its
national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy
requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European
Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.
The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with
those of an integrated Europe.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: 40%
services: NA% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001)
Labor force:
29,000 of which 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,
Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (37256)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 47.4%, services 51.3%, agriculture 1.3% (37256 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.3% (37500)
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% other: 0% (2002) hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports:
$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts
for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK
4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
Imports:
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,
textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:
EU, Switzerland
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:
CHF
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888
(2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,072 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:
12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Liechtenstein
Railways:
total: 18.5 km
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian
Federal Railways (2002)
Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2002)
Military Liechtenstein
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of
land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs:
multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international
guidelines for financial sector oversight found gaps in
Liechtenstein's financial services controls that made it vulnerable
to money laundering, but Liechtenstein has become less attractive as
a haven for illicit funds, based on implementation in 2001 of new
anti-money-laundering legislation and improved mutual legal
assistance cooperation with other countries
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by
the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of
the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but this
proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991
(following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops
withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured its
economy for eventual integration into Western European institutions
and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
water: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
99 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.46% permanent crops: 0.93% other: 53.61% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:
3,592,561 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 323,776; female 310,087)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,188,171; female 1,268,035)
65 years and over: 14% (male 169,513; female 332,979) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.6 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 39.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.23% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.89 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 16.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.6 years
male: 63.78 years
female: 75.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other
2.1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant,
Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages:
Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Vilnius
Administrative divisions:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:
11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6
September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is
the date of independence from German, Austrian, Prussian, and
Russian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of independence from
the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rolandas PAKSAS (since 26 February 2003)
head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3
July 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 22 December 2002 and 5 January 2003 (next to be
held in late 2007); premier appointed by the president on the
approval of the Parliament
election results: Rolandas PAKSAS elected president; percent of vote
- Rolandas PAKSAS 54.9%, Valdas ADAMKUS 45.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly
elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional
representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004)
note: the voting results from the 2000 elections do not correspond
to the make up of the Seimas, which has evolved into a number of
factions, each made up of members of several parties
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic
Coalition 31.1%, New Union-Social Liberals 19.6%, Liberal Union
17.2%, TS 8.6%, remaining parties all less than 5%; seats by faction
- Social Democratic Coalition 51, New Union-Social Liberals 25,
United Political Group-Group of Liberals 24, Liberal Democrats 13,
Conservatives 9, Farmers and New Democracy Parties 8, Mixed Group 6,
independent 1 (four seats unfilled as of 1 June 2003)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for
all courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:
Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI,
chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius
KUBILIUS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [Kestutis
GLAVECKAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Kazys
BOBELIS]; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS,
chairman]; Lithuanian Green Party [Rimantas BRAZIULIS]; Lithuanian
Liberal Youth [Neringa MOROZAITE]; Lithuanian National Democratic
Party [Vygintas GONTIS]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition
[Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian
Democratic Labor Party or LDDP, the Lithuanian Social Democratic
Party or LSDP, and New Democracy; Moderate Conservative Union
[Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Modern Christian Democratic Union [Vytautas
BOGUSIS, chairman]; New Democracy and Farmer's Union [Kazimiera
PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; New Union-Social Liberals [Arturas
PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Young Lithuania [Arnoldas PLATELIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant),
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
FAX: (202) 328-0466
telephone: (202) 234-5860
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
telephone: (5) 266 5500
FAX: (5) 266 5510
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with
Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.
Unemployment remains high, still 10.7% in 2003, but is improving.
Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered
recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.
Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and
has moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of the
large, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is
nearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been
privatized. Foreign government and business support have helped in
the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.08 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 31%
services: 61% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.59 billion
expenditures: $1.77 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,
refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 77.7%
Electricity - consumption:
8.683 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
6.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:
$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and
equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs
5% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Latvia 12.8%, Germany 12%, UK 7.6%, Poland 6.3%, US 5.9%, France
5.8%, Russia 5.7%, Sweden 5%, Denmark 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transport
equipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5%
(2001)
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.1%, Germany 20.3%, Italy 5.9%, Poland 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$228.5 million (1995)
Currency:
litas (LTL)
Currency code:
LTL
Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 3.68 (2002), 4 (2001), 4 (2000), 4 (1999), 4
(1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.142 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
500,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet
is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber
applications
international: landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major
international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by
submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:
1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
32 (2001)
Internet users:
341,000 (2001)
Transportation Lithuania
Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (all service suspended) (2002)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 75,243 km
paved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)
Waterways:
600 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:
gas 1,698 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 303,910 GRT/328,380 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 13 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 23, combination bulk 8, petroleum tanker 2,
refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:
87 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 57 (2002)
Military Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, National Volunteer
Defense Forces (SKAT)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 937,055 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 735,536 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 29,420 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:
in May 2003, the Russian Parliament ratified a 1997 land and
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, which had ratified the
treaty in 1999, legalizing limits of former Soviet republic borders;
the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary
treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil
exploration rights; discussions are still ongoing among Russia,
Lithuania, and the EU concerning a simplified transit document for
residents of the Kaliningrad coastal exclave to transit through
Lithuania to Russia
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe
and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of
its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of
autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany
in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered
into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following
year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries
of the European Economic Community (later the European Union) and in
1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands
to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources:
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
other: 75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0%
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:
454,157 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 44,182; female 41,640)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 152,963; female 151,061)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 26,060; female 38,251) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.1 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 38.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.23% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.66 years
male: 74.38 years
female: 81.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,
Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guest
and resident workers)
Religions:
87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative
language), French (administrative language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:
17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular
elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is
appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of
Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and DP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2004)
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory
body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members
appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 29.79%, DP 21.58%,
LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%, the Left 3.77%; seats by
party - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR 6, Green Party 5, the Left 2
Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district
courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and
tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and
tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are
appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian
Social Party or PCS) [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party or
DP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS];
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN];
Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no formal
leadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union);
Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP
(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil
service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des
Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists);
LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
FAX: (202) 328-8270
telephone: (202) 265-4171
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr. embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: 46 01 23 FAX: 46 14 01
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;
similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and
is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:
This stable, high-income economy features solid growth, low
inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially
dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include
chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial
sector, which now accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more than
compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned
and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small
family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-border
workers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,
like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,
the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate and enjoys an
extraordinarily high standard of living.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $21.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $48,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 30%
services: 69% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
262,300 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarily
from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 90.1%, industry 8%, agriculture 1.9% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $760
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal
products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
457 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% other: 17.5% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
744 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
6.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
865 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Exports: $10.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 23.9%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Italy 6.1%,
Spain 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$13.25 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 29.7%, Germany 23%, France 13.2%, Taiwan 6.7%, Netherlands
4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $160 million (1999)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
215,741 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable
(Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1999)
Televisions:
285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2001)
Transportation Luxembourg
Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 5,189 km
paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
37 km (on the Moselle)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Mertert
Merchant marine:
total: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,507,258 GRT/2,118,597 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 12, container 8, liquefied
gas 18, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 8
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 21, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Monaco 1,
Netherlands 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 9, United States 3 (2002
est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:
Army, Grand Ducal Police
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 114,326 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 93,994 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,636 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$147.8 million (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the
Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all
matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 25.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
41 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two
islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People Macau
Population:
469,903 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 51,078; female 47,118)
15-64 years: 71.8% (male 159,500; female 178,043)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 13,930; female 20,234) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 33.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.72% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.07 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.87 years
male: 79.05 years
female: 84.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry),
Portuguese, other
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic
of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated
as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents
living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited
to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently
registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government
bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
elections: chief executive chosen by a 200-member selection
committee for up to two five-year terms
cabinet: Executive Council consists of all five government
secretaries, three legislators, and two businessmen
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief
executive; members serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc -
Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union
2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1
elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
there are no formal political parties, however, there are civic
associations that, for purposes of legislative voting, join together
to form political blocs
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Catholic Church [Domingos LAM, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism
and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for
Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), IHO, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO
(correspondent), UNESCO (associate), WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water
in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large
in center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's economy four years after reversion to China remains one of
the most open in the world. The territory's net exports of goods and
services account for 39% of GDP with tourism and apparel exports as
the mainstays. Although the territory was hit hard by the 1998 Asian
financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew
an estimated 9.5% in 2002. A rapid rise in the number of mainland
visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on travel drove
the recovery. The budget also returned to surplus in 2002 because of
the surge in visitors from China and a hike in taxes on gambling
profits, which generated about 63% of government revenue. The
liberalization of Macao's gambling monopoly may contribute to GDP
growth, as the three companies awarded gambling licenses have
pledged to invest $2.2 billion - roughly 33% of GDP - in the
territory. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainland
as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may have
to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to generate
growth. Growth fell to 4% in 2003, according to early government
forecasts, with the drop in large measure due to concerns over the
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $18,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 12%
services: 87% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-2.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
214,000 (2002)
Labor force - by occupation: restaurants and hotels 12%, manufacturing 20%, other services and agriculture 68% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.41 billion
expenditures: $1.19 billion, including capital expenditures of $194
million (2002)
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.611 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.688 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
193 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, livestock
Exports:
$2.36 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, cement, machines, and parts
Exports - partners:
US 48.6%, China 15.5%, Germany 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Imports:
$2.53 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, yarn, foodstuffs, fuel, automobiles, capital
goods
Imports - partners:
China 41.7%, Hong Kong 14.5%, Japan 6.7%, Taiwan 6.6%, South Korea
5%, France 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$255 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
pataca (MOP)
Currency code:
MOP
Exchange rates:
patacas per US dollar - 8.03 (2002), 8.03 (2001), 8.03 (2000), 7.99
(1999), 7.98 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
176,902 (November 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
158,251 (November 2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to
international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and
China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2003)
Televisions:
49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
101,000 (2002)
Transportation Macau
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 271 km paved: 271 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Macau
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Macau
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; responsibility for defense
reverted to China on 20 December 1999; there is a local police force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 130,228 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 71,826 (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic
Introduction Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Background:
International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was
delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its
trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of
"Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnic
Albanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status of
neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Geography Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with
heavy snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources:
chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron
ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.59% permanent crops: 1.85% other: 74.56% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Population:
2,063,122
note: a census was taken 1-15 November 2002, but results are not yet
available (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 235,102; female 217,574)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 700,929; female 691,552)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 96,039; female 121,926) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.5 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
13.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.49 years
male: 72.23 years
female: 76.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb
1.8%, other 2.3% (1994)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages:
Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other
3%
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Country name:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
local short form: Makedonija
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Skopje
Administrative divisions:
123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac,
Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila,
Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska,
Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo,
Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo,
Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste,
Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor,
Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo,
Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste,
Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis,
Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska
Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila,
Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo,
Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica,
Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman,
Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnica, Srbinovo,
Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica,
Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo,
Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,
Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas,
Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute "greater Skopje"
Independence:
8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing
independence (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's
Day and Ilinden
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Parliament approved a
series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 1
November 2002)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October
2004); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1
November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round
ballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI
46.2%; Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected prime minister by Parliament with
72% of the vote
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and DUI (or BDI)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - 85 members are elected
by popular vote, 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted
by parties based on the percentage that a party gains from the
overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Together for Macedonia coalition (SDSM and LDP) 60, VMRO-DPMNE 33,
Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic Party of Albanians
7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2, National Democratic Party 1,
Socialist Party of Macedonia 1
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Constitutional
Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council
- Parliament appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president];
Democratic Union for Integration or DUI (also BDI) [Ali AHMETI];
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH [Arben XHAFERI, president];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI,
president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True
Macedonian Reform Option or VMRO-VMRO [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan
ANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Kastriot HAXHIREXHA];
Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD [Abdurrahman HALITI];
Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI,
president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV,
president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM and
LDP) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Union of Romanies of Macedonia or SRM
[leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: (202) 337-3093 telephone: (202) 337-3063
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence Edward BUTLER embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: 116-180 FAX: 117-103
Flag description:
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of
the red field
Economy Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Economy - overview:
At independence in November 1991, Macedonia was the least developed
of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal
output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended
transfer payments from the center and eliminated advantages from
inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of
infrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largest
markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the
country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth
until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However,
the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and
regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian
insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased
trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on
security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in
2002 to 0.3%, then rose to 2.8% in 2003. Unemployment at one-third
of the workforce remains the most critical economic problem. But
even this issue is overshadowed by the fragile political situation.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.57 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 31% services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
24% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.1 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
37% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.13 billion
expenditures: $1.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood
products, tobacco, food processing, buses
Industrial production growth rate:
-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.465 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.112 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports:
$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.2%, Italy 9.2%, US 6.7%, Croatia 5.5%, Greece 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products
Imports - partners:
Greece 19.4%, Germany 14.4%, Bulgaria 7.5%, Slovenia 6.9%, Italy
6.9%, Turkey 5.9%, Ukraine 5%, Austria 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$150 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:
MKD
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9
(2000), 56.9 (1999), 54.46 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Telephones - main lines in use:
408,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12,362 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2001)
Transportation Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Military branches:
Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 553,988 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 446,726 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 17,909 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Disputes - international:
the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. while continuing to seek regional
cooperation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo continue to protest 2000
F.Y.R.O.M.-Serbia and Montenegro boundary treaty, which transfers
small tracts of land to F.Y.R.O.M.; dispute with Greece over
country's name persists
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
while money laundering is a problem on a local level due to
organized crime activities, the lack of a well-developed financial
infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free
presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17
years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential
race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was
returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was
contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc
RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In
April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the
winner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4.41% permanent crops: 0.93% other: 94.66% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to
the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People Madagascar
Population:
16,979,744 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 3,822,823; female 3,807,958)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 4,366,748; female 4,452,686)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 243,411; female 286,118) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.4 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
42.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 80.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 88.63 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.14 years
male: 53.82 years
female: 58.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
22,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
870 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November
2006); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of
candidates nominated by the National Assembly
election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 40.89%,
Marc RAVALOMANANA 46.21%; note - on 29 April 2002, the High
Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner by 51.5%
after a recount; RATSIRIKA's prime minister was put under house
arrest on 27 May 2002, and SYLLA was appointed the new prime
minister by President RAVALOMANANA
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats;
members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms); note - the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral
Parliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the
seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose
members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of
the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of
seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will
serve four-year terms
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to
be held NA 2006)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD
5, others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant];
Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or
LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; I Love Madagascar or TIM
[leader NA]; National Union or FP [leader NA]; Renewal of the Social
Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: (202) 483-7603
telephone: (202) 265-5525, 5526
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:
Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has
since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of
privatization and liberalization, which has placed the country on a
slow and steady growth path. Agriculture, including fishing and
forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for one-fourth of
GDP and employing four-fifths of the population. Export earnings
primarily are earned in the small industrial sector, which features
textile manufacturing and agriculture processing. Deforestation and
erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of
fuel are serious concerns. The separatist political crisis of 2002
undermined macroeconomic stability, with the estimated drop in
output being subject to a wide margin of error. Poverty reduction
will be the centerpiece of economic policy for the next few years.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.59 billion (2002)
GDP - real growth rate:
-11.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 12% services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
71% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
7.3 million (2000)
Unemployment rate:
5.9% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $553 million
expenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
830.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
772.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $700 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite,
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
France 34%, US 24.6%, Netherlands 6%, Germany 5.9%, Mauritius 4%
(2002)
Imports:
$985 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:
France 17.2%, Iran 11%, Mauritius 10.6%, Bahrain 9.4%, Hong Kong
6.9%, South Africa 5.9%, China 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$838 million (1997)
Currency:
Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code:
MGF
Exchange rates:
Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,831.96 (2002), 6,588.49 (2001),
6,767.48 (2000), 6,283.77 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
55,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
63,100 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean
region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
35,000 (2002)
Transportation Madagascar
Railways: total: 732 km narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
of local importance only
Ports and harbors:
Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2002
est.)
Airports:
121 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 92 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 46 under 914 m: 44 (2002)
Military Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces (comprising Intervention Force, Development
Force, Aeronaval [Navy and Air] Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential
Security Regiment
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,880,332 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,300,587 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 163,864 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$52.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan
de Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Malawi
Introduction Malawi
Background:
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became
the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of
one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under
a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following
year. National multiparty elections were held again in 1999.
Geography Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of
uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 19.93% permanent crops: 1.33% other: 78.74% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
280 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most
prominent physical feature
People Malawi
Population:
11,651,239
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 2,748,058; female 2,698,052)
15-64 years: 50.5% (male 2,911,892; female 2,973,723)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 128,722; female 190,792) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 16.1 years
female: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
44.7 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
22.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 105.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 100.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 109.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 37.98 years
male: 37.57 years
female: 38.39 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.1 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
850,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
80,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European
Religions:
Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs
3%, other 2%
Languages:
English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important
regionally
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Government Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
Lilongwe
Administrative divisions:
27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,
Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected president; percent of vote
- Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD
15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 96, MCP 61, AFORD 30, others 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the
president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Malawi Congress
Party or MCP [John TEMBO, president; Gwanda CHAKUAMBA, vice
president]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI] - governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Democratic Alliance [Brown MPINGANJIRA]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul Tony Steven KANDIERO
FAX: (202) 265-0976
telephone: (202) 797-1007
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen BROWN embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: (1) 773 166 FAX: (1) 770 471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a
radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:
the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Economy Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed
countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%
of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for
nearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. The economy
depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF,
the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi
was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) program. In November 2002 the World Bank approved a $50
million drought recovery package, which is to be used for famine
relief. The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to fully
develop a market economy, to improve educational facilities, to face
up to environmental problems, to deal with the rapidly growing
problem of HIV/AIDS, and to satisfy foreign donors that fiscal
discipline is being tightened. The performance of the tobacco sector
is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 50% of
exports.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $6.811 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 37% industry: 16% services: 47% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
54% (FY 90/91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
27.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 86% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $490 million
expenditures: $523 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
769.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
715.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Exports: $435 million f.o.b. (201)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel
Exports - partners:
US 17.3%, Germany 13.6%, South Africa 10.2%, Egypt 6.2%, Japan 6%,
Netherlands 5.5%, Russia 4.8%, UK 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$505 million f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 44.4%, Zambia 12.7%, US 5.6%, India 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.9 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$540 million (1999)
Currency:
Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:
MWK
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 76.69 (2002), 72.2 (2001), 59.54
(2000), 44.09 (1999), 31.07 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
49,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third
station held in standby status) (2001)
Radios:
2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)
Internet users:
35,000 (2002)
Transportation Malawi
Railways: total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 144 km note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire Riverall
Ports and harbors:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Airports:
43 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Military Malawi
Military branches:
Army (including Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (including
paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,625,495 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,347,248 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$13.01 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Malaysia
Introduction Malaysia
Background:
Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a federation of the former
British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, including the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of
Borneo. The first several years of the country's history were marred
by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to
Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the federation in 1965.
Geography Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island
of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of
Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,750 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast
(October to February) monsoons
Terrain:
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 5.54% permanent crops: 17.61% other: 76.85% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China
Sea
People Malaysia
Population:
23,092,940 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.7% (male 4,001,507; female 3,777,896)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 7,163,252; female 7,131,745)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 447,230; female 571,310) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.6 years
male: 23 years
female: 24.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.86% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.7 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.67 years
male: 69.01 years
female: 74.51 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
42,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 24%, Indian 8%, others 10%
(2000)
Religions:
Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in
addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages:
Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese,
Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu,
Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - in addition, in East Malaysia
several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and
Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.9%
male: 92.4%
female: 85.4% (2003 est.)
Government Malaysia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Federation of Malaysia
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August
1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore)
formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965);
nominally headed by the paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament
consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;
Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka,
George Town (Penang), Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are
appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments
are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the
federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional
prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration
controls); Sabah - holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with
foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers
delegated to federal government; Sarawak - holds 28 seats in House
of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal
security, and other powers delegated to federal government
Capital:
Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 3 federal
territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah
persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri
Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Putrajaya*, Sabah,
Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is within the federal territory of
Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable;
Independence:
31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni
Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12
December 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since
31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister NA (since 31 October 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
election results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed
Putra Jamalullail elected paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers
of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12
December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality
of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan
Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed
by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan
Rakyat (193 seats; members elected by popular vote weighted toward
the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - BN 56%, other 44%; seats by party - BN 148, PAS 27, DAP 10,
Keadilan 5, PBS 3
elections: House of Representatives - last held 29 November 1999
(next must be held by November 2004)
Judicial branch:
Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the
advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling coalition parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM
[LIM Kheng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik
- Sabah) or LDP [CHONG Kah Kiat]; Malaysian Chinese Association
(Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [LING Ong Ka Ting]; Malaysian
Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU];
Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak or PBDS [Leo MOGGIE]; Parti Bersatu Sabah
or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or
PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Sabah Progressive Party
(Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United
People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [WONG Soon
Kah]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH Ahmad
Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization
(Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [leader
NA]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan
Demokratik) or DAP [KERK Kim Hock]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti
Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; National Justice Party
(Parti Keadilan Nasional) or Keadilan [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael];
National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (the ruling coalition
dominated by the UMNO and includes MCA, MIC, PGRM, PBDS, SUPP, PBB,
PBS, LDP, SAPP, UPKO) [ABDULLAH Ahmad Badawi]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: (202) 572-9882
telephone: (202) 572-9700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marie T. HUHTALA embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152 telephone: (3) 2168-5000 FAX: (3) 2142-2207
Flag description:
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white
(bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the
crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design
was based on the flag of the US
Economy Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971
through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an
emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven
by exports - particularly of electronics - and, as a result Malaysia
was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the
Information Technology (IT) sector in 2001. GDP in 2001 grew only
0.5% due to an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but a
substantial fiscal stimulus package mitigated the worst of the
recession and the economy rebounded in 2002. Healthy foreign
exchange reserves and relatively small external debt make it
unlikely that Malaysia will experience a crisis similar to the one
in 1997, but the economy remains vulnerable to a more protracted
slowdown in Japan and the US, top export destinations and key
sources of foreign investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $198.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 40% services: 48% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 38.4% (1997 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.9 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: local trade and tourism 28%, manufacturing 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, services 10%, government 10%, construction 9% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20.3 billion
expenditures: $27.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.4
billion (2001 est.)
Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining
and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging,
petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum
production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
68.34 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.5% hydro: 10.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
63.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
75 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
729,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
472,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.729 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
53.66 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
31.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
22.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.23 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -
subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber,
pepper; timber
Exports:
$95.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and
wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 21%, Singapore 17.4%, Japan 10.9%, China 6.5%, Hong Kong 5%,
Thailand 4% (2002)
Imports:
$76.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,
iron and steel products, chemicals (2000)
Imports - partners:
Japan 16.9%, Singapore 15.9%, US 15.5%, China 7.3%, South Korea 5%,
Taiwan 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$47.5 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
ringgit (MYR)
Currency code:
MYR
Exchange rates:
ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2002), 3.8 (2001), 3.8 (2000), 3.8
(1999), 3.92 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.6 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic
satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific
Ocean) (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Radios:
10.9 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
10.8 million (1999)
Internet country code:
.my
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7 (2000)
Internet users:
5.7 million (2002)
Transportation Malaysia
Railways:
total: 2,418 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,361 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 65,877 km
paved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways)
unpaved: 15,942 km (1999)
Waterways:
7,296 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km
Pipelines:
condensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refined products 114
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad
Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, George Town (Penang), Port Dickson,
Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine:
total: 366 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,111,476 GRT/7,242,323 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 15,
Indonesia 3, Japan 4, Monaco 1, Philippines 2, Singapore 78, South
Korea 2, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 103, chemical tanker 37, container 69,
liquefied gas 23, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker
55, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 8
Airports:
114 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 79 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 72 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Malaysia
Military branches:
Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force,
Royal Malaysian Police Field Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border
Scouts
Military manpower - military age:
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,067,155 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,672,517 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 218,216 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.03% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Malaysia
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute over Spratly Islands with China,
Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and possibly Brunei; claimants in
November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea," a mechanism to ease tension but which fell
short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; disputes over
deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation
on Johor, maritime boundaries, and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca
Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist - parties agree to ICJ arbitration
on island dispute within three years; ICJ awarded Ligitan and
Sipadan islands off the coast of Sabah, also claimed by Indonesia
and Philippines, to Malaysia; a small section of the
Malaysia-Thailand boundary in the Kolok River remains in dispute
Illicit drugs:
transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted
vigorously and carries severe penalties
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Maldives
Introduction Maldives
Background:
The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then
under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three
years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on
the archipelago.
Geography Maldives
Location:
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest
of India
Geographic coordinates:
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:
flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 3.33%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 90% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands,
plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic
location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People Maldives
Population:
329,684 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 75,991; female 71,826)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 87,734; female 84,150)
65 years and over: 3% (male 5,073; female 4,910) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 60.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 59.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.3 years
male: 62.07 years
female: 64.6 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),
English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
Government Maldives
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Male
Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order
administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu,
Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
adopted January 1998
Legal system:
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nomination
must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval
margin is required); president elected for a five-year term;
election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in
referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon
Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
need not be members of Majlis
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November
2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York; permanent representative is
Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description:
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical
white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side
of the flag
Economy Maldives
Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and
more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%
of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands
in 1998. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian
Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by
lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private
sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more
foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a
lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability
of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple
foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment
production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18%
of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and
possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area
is one meter or less above sea level.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NEGL%
Budget:
revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
117 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
108.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports:
$110 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, clothing
Exports - partners:
US 51.7%, Sri Lanka 16.2%, Thailand 9.3%, Japan 7.6%, UK 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$395 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Singapore 25.6%, Sri Lanka 15%, UAE 14.5%, India 6.6%, Malaysia
5.7%, Thailand 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$281 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code:
MVR
Exchange rates:
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000),
11.77 (1999), 11.77 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,290 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
10,000 (1999)
Internet country code:
.mv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
6,000 (2001)
Transportation Maldives
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Gan, Male
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,689 GRT/56,132 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Maldives
Military branches:
National Security Service
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 78,025 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 43,386 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$34.46 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8.6% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Maldives
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Mali
Introduction Mali
Background:
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in
1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few
months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a
transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic
presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997,
President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and
economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's
two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was
succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Geography Mali
Location:
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid,
and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in
south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources:
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 3.77%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 96.19% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,380 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring
droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies
of potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Geography - note:
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
People Mali
Population:
11,626,219 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.2% (male 2,759,802; female 2,727,226)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 2,771,532; female 3,017,348)
65 years and over: 3% (male 161,983; female 188,328) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.3 years
male: 15.7 years
female: 16.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
47.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
19.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 119.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 112.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 125.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.43 years
male: 44.7 years
female: 46.19 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.66 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups:
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,
Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages:
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
Government Mali
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
local long form: Republique de Mali
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bamako
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,
Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:
22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally
established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed Ag HAMANI (since 9
June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held NA
May 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of
vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 July and 28 July 2002 (next to be held NA
July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda Traore KEITA, party
chairman]; Block of Alternative for the Renewal of Africa or BARA
[Yoro DIAKITE]; Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou
Bakary SANGARE, chairman]; Hope 2002 [leader NA]; Movement for the
Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA
[Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for
Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party for
Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for
National Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME,
secretary general]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali
GNANGADO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA,
chairman]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Bonbasor KEITA, chairman];
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou
TOURE, secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress
or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary general]; Union for Democracy and
Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and
Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP FAX: (202) 332-6603 telephone: (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki HUDDLESTONE embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: (2) 223-833 FAX: (2) 223-712
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Mali
Economy - overview:
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its
land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal
distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the
riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is
nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and
fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm
commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable
to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along
with gold. The government has continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%
devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 have pushed up
economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2002. Worker
remittances and external trade routes have been jeopardized by
continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.775 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
64% average; 30% of the total population living in urban areas; 70%
of the total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.93 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.6% urban areas; 5.3% rural areas (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $764 million
expenditures: $828 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
480.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.7% hydro: 58.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 446.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
$680 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock
Exports - partners:
Thailand 13.9%, Italy 9.8%, India 7.7%, Brazil 5.5%, Germany 5%,
Spain 4.9%, Portugal 4.3%, Taiwan 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$630 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Cote d'Ivoire 17.1%, France 13.5%, Senegal 6.5%, Germany 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$596.4 million (2001)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mali
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
40,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
provides only minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open-wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1 note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International (2001)
Radios:
570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
45,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ml
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2001)
Internet users:
30,000 (2002)
Transportation Mali
Railways: total: 729 km narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,815 km
Ports and harbors:
Koulikoro
Airports:
26 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Military Mali
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard,
National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,441,769 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,400,711 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$419.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
15% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mali
Disputes - international: armed bandits based in Mali attack southern Algerian towns
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Malta
Introduction Malta
Background:
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The
island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and
remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the
island has become a freight transshipment point, financial center,
and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU
membership.
Geography Malta
Location:
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily
(Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use: arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest
islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being
inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Malta
Population:
400,420 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 40,448; female 37,623)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 136,221; female 134,142)
65 years and over: 13% (male 21,730; female 30,256) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.73% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.94 years
female: 81.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups:
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with
strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government Malta
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and
again in 1987
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6
September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by
April 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the
deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister
election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House
of Representatives vote - 54%
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note -
additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular
vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD
0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are
appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry
VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party
or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
C, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL consulate(s): New York FAX: (202) 387-5470 telephone: (202) 462-3611, 3612 chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta
telephone: 21-235-960
FAX: 2124-3229
Flag description:
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the
upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,
edged in red
Economy Malta
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 fresh water 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. The island remains
divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU.
Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back
exports, tourism, and overall growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $6.818 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 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):
2.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
160,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food
and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.768 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.644 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Exports:
$2 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:
Singapore 17.3%, US 11.4%, UK 9.4%, Germany 9%, France 7.2%, China
6.5%, Italy 6% (2002)
Imports:
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Italy 18.3%, France 12.1%, South Korea 11.3%, UK 7.5%, Singapore
5.3%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 5%, US 4.6%, Spain 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$130 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:
MTL
Exchange rates:
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.43 (2002), 0.45 (2001), 0.44 (2000),
0.4 (1999), 0.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Malta
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):
6 (2002)
Internet users:
59,000 (2002)
Transportation Malta
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,254 km paved: 1,972 km unpaved: 282 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:
total: 1,234 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,885,128 GRT/42,467,864 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 3,
Bulgaria 19, Canada 2, China 16, Croatia 14, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7,
Denmark 3, Estonia 5, Finland 1, Germany 54, Greece 627, Hong Kong
12, Iceland 3, India 10, Iran 2, Israel 26, Italy 36, Japan 2,
Latvia 24, Lebanon 6, Monaco 29, Netherlands 10, Nigeria 2, Norway
43, Poland 29, Portugal 2, Romania 15, Russia 85, Saudi Arabia 1,
Slovenia 2, South Korea 5, Spain 1, Switzerland 54, Syria 4, Turkey
84, Ukraine 25, UAE 3, UK 4, US 10 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 459, cargo 280, chemical tanker 45, combination
bulk 10, combination ore/oil 10, container 80, liquefied gas 3,
livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 236, refrigerated
cargo 37, roll on/roll off 41, short-sea passenger 7, vehicle
carrier 15
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Malta
Military branches:
Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron
and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese
Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 99,312 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 79,080 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$60 million (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (2000)
Transnational Issues Malta
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western
Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Man, Isle of
Introduction Man, Isle of
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.
Geography Man, Isle of
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 572 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:
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; 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: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)
(1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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
People Man, Isle of
Population:
74,261 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 6,637; female 6,337)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 24,373; female 24,165)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,102; female 7,647) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.1 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 40.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.38 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.98 years
male: 74.62 years
female: 81.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2003 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%
Government Man, Isle of
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 no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but 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 Ian MACFADYEN (since 26
October 2002)
election results: Richard CORKILL elected chief minister by the
Tynwald
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 6 December 2001 (next to be held
NA December 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Richard CORKILL (since 6 December
2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (an 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 22 November 2001 (next to be
held NA November 2006)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Man
Labor Party 17.3%, Alliance for Progressive Government 14.6%; seats
by party - Man Labor Party 2, Alliance for Progressive Government 3,
independents 19
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: Man Labor Party [leader NA]; Alliance for Progressive Government [leader NA]; Man Nationalist Party [leader NA] note: most 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
Economy Man, Isle of
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.
Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to
EU markets.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
13.5%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (March 2003 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:
0.7% (March 2003)
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% (FY 96/97)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Exports - partners:
UK (2000 est.)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
timber, fertilizers, fish
Imports - partners:
UK (2000)
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 - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596
(2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); the Manx pound is at par with
the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Man, Isle of
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
Transportation Man, Isle of
Railways: total: 60 km (35 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 800 km paved: 800 km unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine:
total: 211 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,297,301 GRT/8,703,079 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 45, France 1, Germany 48, Greece 6, Hong Kong
10, Iceland 1, Italy 8, Monaco 7, Netherlands 3, Norway 5, Sweden 4,
Switzerland 2, UK 70, US 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 32, chemical tanker 20, combination
bulk 2, container 22, liquefied gas 38, petroleum tanker 49, roll
on/roll off 16, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Man, Isle of
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Man, Isle of
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Marshall Islands
Introduction Marshall Islands
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 atolls between 1947 and 1962. The
Marshall Islands have been home to the US Army Base Kwajalein
(USAKA) since 1964.
Geography Marshall Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 181.3 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,
Rongelap, and Utirik
water: 0 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
Area - comparative:
about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
370.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 0% other: 83.33% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
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
People Marshall Islands
Population:
56,429 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.1% (male 11,233; female 10,819)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 16,857; female 16,003)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 726; female 791) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 19.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
34.18 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 35.38 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.39 years
male: 67.49 years
female: 71.4 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.12 children born/woman (2003 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 (widely spoken as a second language, both English and
Marshallese are official languages), two major Marshallese dialects
from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
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 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later
than November 2007)
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
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, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, ITU, OPCW (signatory), 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 consulate(s) general: Honolulu FAX: (202) 232-3236 telephone: (202) 234-5414
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. SENKO
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: 247-4011
FAX: 247-4012
Flag description:
blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner -
orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays
and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island
economy. Agricultural production is primarily subsistence and is
concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are
coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the
labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.
Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US has
provided more than $1 billion in aid since 1986. Negotiations have
continued for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought,
a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign
investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and less income
from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to
an average of 1% over the past decade.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $115 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
28,698
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%
Unemployment rate:
30.9% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)
Industries:
copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Exports:
$9 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)
Imports:
$54 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000)
Debt - external:
$86.5 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,186 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
489 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services
include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID,
and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
(2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2002)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
2 (both are US military stations) (2002)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
900 (2002)
Transportation Marshall Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: 64.5 km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Majuro
Merchant marine:
total: 342 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,471,690 GRT/23,802,896 DWT
note: the ship's register of the Marshall Islands is a flag of
convenience register since essentially none of the vessels on it is
owned domestically; includes the following foreign-owned ships
registered here as a flag of convenience: China 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark
9, Germany 70, Greece 54, Hong Kong 2, Japan 4, Monaco 8,
Netherlands 8, UK 3, US 87, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 86, cargo 18, chemical tanker 31, combination
bulk 4, combination ore/oil 7, container 69, liquefied gas 8,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker
106, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4
Airports:
15 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Marshall Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Martinique
Introduction Martinique
Background:
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a
French possession except for three brief periods of foreign
occupation.
Geography Martinique
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,100 sq km
water: 40 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October);
vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on
average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain:
mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 9.43% permanent crops: 11.32% other: 79.25% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one
major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted
and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000
inhabitants
People Martinique
Population:
425,966 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 49,310; female 47,908)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 142,242; female 142,688)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 19,656; female 24,162) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.7 years
male: 32 years
female: 33.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.85% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.96 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.72 years
male: 79.27 years
female: 78.16 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups:
African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East
Indian, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%,
other 3.5% (1997)
Languages:
French, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.4%
female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
Government Martinique
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Michel CADOT (since 21 June 2000)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a
unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be
held NA 2006); Regional Assembly - last held on 15 March 1998 (next
to be held by March 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wing
candidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPM
won a plurality; Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - RPR-UDF 14, MIM 13, PPM 7, left parties 4, PMS 3
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held NA September 2001 (next to be held September 2004); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPM 2; Martinique
also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next
to be held not later than June 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, PS 1, MIM 1, left-wing
candidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wing candidate was found invalid
by the Constitutional Council; new elections will be called)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Pierre SUEDILLE]; Martinique
Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique
Progressive Party or PPM [Camille DARSIERES]; Martinique Socialist
Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats and
Ecologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA];
Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Socialist
Revolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for French
Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;
League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
International organization participation:
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white
cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of
France is used for official occasions
Economy Martinique
Economy - overview:
The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light
industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small
industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most
of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports
are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable,
and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic
trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from
France. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has become
more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign
exchange.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (1990)
Labor force:
165,900 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate:
27.2% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $900 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140
million (1996)
Industries:
construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.151 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Exports:
$250 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples (2001 est.)
Exports - partners:
France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)
Imports:
$2 billion c.i.f. (1997)