MKD

$NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$646 million (2005)

Currency (code):

Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code:

Exchange rates:

Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003)

Communications
Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

463,600 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.518 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approaching 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 389 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 63, shortwave 0 (2007)

Radios:

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

52 (2007)

Televisions:

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mk

Internet hosts:

36,905 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

685,000 (2007)

Transportation
Macedonia

Airports:

17 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 13,182 km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)

Military
Macedonia

Military branches:

Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 532,856 females age 16-49: 513,684 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 444,693 females age 16-49: 428,341 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 15,141 female: 14,434 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Macedonia

Disputes - international:

Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in
September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

@Madagascar

Introduction
Madagascar

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained 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. RAVALOMANANA is now in his second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006.

Geography
Madagascar

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: