Languages Around the World/LanguageWorld.iso/wrldfact/lith_may.txt

Text File | 1996-01-10 | 141KB | 4,747 lines

@Lithuania, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
  Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  65,200 sq km
land area:
  65,200 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia
  (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
  108 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the
  Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank
  and not in midriver as by international standards
Climate:
  maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain:
  lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Natural resources:
  peat
Land use:
arable land:
  49.1%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  22.2%
forest and woodland:
  16.3%
other:
  12.4%
Irrigated land:
  430 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
  contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and
  chemicals at military bases
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
  Climate Change
Population:
  3,848,389 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.74% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.71 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  16.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  71.24 years
male:
  66.53 years
female:
  76.19 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.01 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Lithuanian(s)
adjective:
  Lithuanian
Ethnic divisions:
  Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, other
  2.1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
Languages:
  Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1989)
total population:
  98%
male:
  99%
female:
  98%
Labor force:
  1.836 million
by occupation:
  industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40%
  (1990)

@Lithuania, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form:
  Lithuania
local long form:
  Lietuvos Respublika
local short form:
  Lietuva
former:
  Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  LH
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Vilnius
Administrative divisions:
  44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and 11 municipalities*:
  Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas,
  Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos
  Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas,
  Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes
  Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Ragonas, Kupiskio
  Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Mazeikiu Ragonas, Moletu
  Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas,
  Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas,
  Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu
  Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales
  Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu
  Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges
  Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas,
  Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence:
  6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution:
  adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25 November 1992; elected
  acting president by Parliament 25 November 1992 and elected by direct
  vote 15 February 1993); election last held 14 February 1993 (next to
  be held NA 1997); results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS was elected; note - on
  25 November 1992 BRAZAUSKAS was elected chairman of Parliament and, as
  such, acting president of the Republic; he was confirmed in office by
  direct balloting 15 February 1993
head of government:
  Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since 10 March 1993)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the nomination of
  the prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Seimas (parliament):
  elections last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held
  NA); results - LDDP 51%; seats - (141 total) LDDP 73, Conservative
  Party 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers' Union 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2,
  others 3
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Party (LKDP), Povilas KATILIUS, chairman;
  Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP), Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS,
  chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA,
  chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS,
  chairman; Farmers' Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman; Center Union,
  Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman; Conservative Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS,
  chairman; Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS), Rytardas MACIKIANEC, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  Homeland Union; Lithuanian Future Forum; Farmers Union
Member of:
  BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF,
  INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  LORCS, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
chancery:
  2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
  [phone], 2639
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON
embassy:
  Akmenu 6, Vilnius 232600
mailing address:
  APO AE 09723
telephone:
  370-2-223-031
FAX:
  370-2-222-779
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

@Lithuania, Economy

Overview:
  Since independence in September 1991, Lithuania has made steady
  progress in developing a market economy. Over 40% of state property
  has been privatized and trade is diversifying with a gradual shift
  away from the former Soviet Union to Western markets. Nevertheless,
  the process has been painful with industrial output in 1993 less than
  half the 1991 level. Inflation, while lower than in most ex-Soviet
  states, has exceeded rates in the other Baltic states. Full monetary
  stability and economic recovery are likely to be impeded by periodic
  government backtracking on key elements of its reform and
  stabilization program as it seeks to ease the economic pain of
  restructuring. Recovery will build on Lithuanian's strategic location
  with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in
  Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and
  Ukraine, and on its agriculture potential, highly skilled labor force,
  and diversified industrial sector. Lacking important natural
  resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw
  materials.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $12.4 billion (1993 estimate from
  the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and
  published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as
  extrapolated to 1993 using official Lithuanian statistics, which are
  very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,240 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  188% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
  1.8% (July 1993)
Budget:
revenues:
  $258.5 million
expenditures:
  $270.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $NA
commodities:
  electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%, chemicals 6% (1989)
partners:
  Russia 40%, Ukraine 16%, other FSU countries 32%, West 12%
Imports:
  $NA
commodities:
  oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989)
partners:
  Russia 62%, Belarus 18%, other FSU countries 10%, West 10%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate -52% (1992)
Electricity:
capacity:
  5,925,000 kW
production:
  25 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  6,600 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  employs 42% of the labor force; accounts for 23% of GOP shares in the
  total production of the former USSR are: metal-cutting machine tools
  6.6%; electric motors 4.6%; television sets 6.2%; refrigerators and
  freezers 5.4%; other branches: petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
  ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
  agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
  computers, and amber
Agriculture:
  employs around 18% of labor force; accounts for 25% of GDP; sugar,
  grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, meat, milk, dairy products,
  eggs, fish; most developed are the livestock and dairy branches, which
  depend on imported grain; net exporter of meat, milk, and eggs
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia
  and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit
  opium; mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
  Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
Currency:
  introduced the convertible litas in June 1993
Exchange rates:
  litai per US$1 - 4 (fixed rate 1 May 1994); 3.9 (late January 1994)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Lithuania, Communications

Railroads:
  2,000 km (1,524-mm gauge); 120 km electrified
Highways:
total:
  44,200 km
paved:
  35,500 km
unpaved:
  earth 8,700 km (1990)
Inland waterways:
  600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Klaipeda; inland - Kaunas
Merchant marine:
  44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 276,265 GRT/323,505 DWT, cargo
  29, combination bulk 11, railcar carrier 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:
total:
  96
usable:
  18
with permanent-surface runways:
  12
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
  11
note:
  a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
  Lithuania ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
  in respect to its telecommunications system; telephone subscriber
  circuits 900,000; subscriber density 240 per 1,000 persons; land lines
  or microwave to former USSR republics; international connections no
  longer depend on the Moscow gateway switch, but are established by
  satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from
  Kaunas; 2 satellite earth stations - 1 EUTELSAT and 1 INTELSAT; an
  NMT-450 analog cellular network operates in Vilnius and other cities
  and is linked internationally through Copenhagen by EUTELSAT;
  international electronic mail is available; broadcast stations - 13
  AM, 26 FM, 1 SW, 1 LW, 3 TV

@Lithuania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops), National Guard (Skat)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 941,273; fit for military service 744,867; reach
  military age (18) annually 27,375 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, 5.5% of GDP (1993 est.)


@Luxembourg, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, between Belgium and Germany
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  2,586 sq km
land area:
  2,586 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
  total 359 km, Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
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
  floodplain in the southeast
Natural resources:
  iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
arable land:
  24%
permanent crops:
  1%
meadows and pastures:
  20%
forest and woodland:
  21%
other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  deforestation
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber; signed,
  but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental
  Modification, Law of the Sea
Note:
  landlocked

@Luxembourg, People

Population:
  401,900 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.8% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.81 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  9.47 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  76.69 years
male:
  73.01 years
female:
  80.52 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.64 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Luxembourger(s)
adjective:
  Luxembourg
Ethnic divisions:
  Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and
  European (guest and worker residents)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages:
  Luxembourgisch, German, French, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population:
  100%
male:
  100%
female:
  100%
Labor force:
  177,300 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from
  Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany)
by occupation:
  services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)

@Luxembourg, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form:
  Luxembourg
local long form:
  Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
local short form:
  Luxembourg
Digraph:
  LU
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:
  3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
  1839
National holiday:
  National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's
  birthday)
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 JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI
  (son of Grand Duke Jean, born 16 April 1955)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Jacques SANTER (since 21 July 1984); Vice Prime
  Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the sovereign
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes):
  elections last held on 18 June 1989 (next to be held by June 1994);
  results - CSV 31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%, KPL
  5.1%, other 4.1%; seats - (60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4,
  PAC 4, KPL 1
note:
  the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory body whose views
  are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch:
  Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Social Party (CSV), Jacques SANTER; Socialist Workers Party
  (LSAP), Jacques POOS; Liberal (DP), Colette FLESCH; Communist (KPL),
  Andre HOFFMANN; Green Alternative (GAP), Jean HUSS
Other political or pressure groups:
  group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry;
  Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and
  Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and
  Shopkeepers Federation
Member of:
  ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE,
  EIB, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC,
  NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU,
  WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Alphonse BERNS
chancery:
  2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  New York and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL
embassy:
  22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address:
  PSC 11, Luxembourg City; APO AE 09132-5380
telephone:
  [352] 460123
FAX:
  [352] 461401
Flag:
  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

@Luxembourg, Economy

Overview:
  The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low
  inflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small
  but highly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until
  recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified,
  particularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade,
  growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the
  decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing
  proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic
  union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters, is also
  closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and as a member of
  the 12-member European Union enjoys the advantages of the open
  European market.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.7 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1993)
National product per capita:
  $22,600 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  5.1% (March 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
  $3.5 billion
expenditures:
  $3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
  finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum,
  other industrial products
partners:
  EC 76%, US 5%
Imports:
  $8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
  minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
partners:
  Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%
External debt:
  $131.6 million (1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  1,238,750 kW
production:
  1.375 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  3,450 kWh (1990)
Industries:
  banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products,
  engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Agriculture:
  accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry); principal
  products - barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; cattle
  raising widespread
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 36.242 (January 1994), 34.597
  (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989);
  note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which
  circulates freely in Luxembourg
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Luxembourg, Communications

Railroads:
  Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 272 km 1,435-mm standard
  gauge; 178 km double track; 197 km electrified
Highways:
total:
  5,108 km
paved:
  4,995 km (including 80 km of limited access divided highway)
unpaved:
  gravel 57 km; earth 56 km
Inland waterways:
  37 km; Moselle River
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 48 km
Ports:
  Mertert (river port)
Merchant marine:
  50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,477,998 GRT/2,424,994 DWT,
  bulk 8, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 6, combination
  ore/oil 2, container 4, liquefied gas 9, oil tanker 5, passenger 2,
  refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
Airports:
total:
  2
usable:
  2
with permanent-surface runways:
  1
with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly
  buried cables; 230,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3
  TV; 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable; 1
  direct-broadcast satellite earth station; nationwide mobile phone
  system

@Luxembourg, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 103,872; fit for military service 86,026; reach
  military age (19) annually 2,235 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.2% of GDP (1992)


@Macau

Header
Affiliation:
  (overseas territory of Portugal)

@Macau, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Asia, 27 km west-southwest of Hong Kong on the southeast coast
  of China bordering the South China Sea
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  16 sq km
land area:
  16 sq km
comparative area:
  about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
Coastline:
  40 km
Maritime claims:
  not specified
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
  generally flat
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
arable land:
  0%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  0%
forest and woodland:
  0%
other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  NA
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Ozone Layer Protection
Note:
  essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands
  to the peninsula on mainland

@Macau, People

Population:
  484,557 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.35% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.78 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  4.12 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  79.75 years
male:
  77.33 years
female:
  82.3 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.46 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Macanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Macau
Ethnic divisions:
  Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions:
  Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2%
  (1981)
Languages:
  Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
  90%
male:
  93%
female:
  86%
Labor force:
  180,000 (1986)
by occupation:
  NA

@Macau, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  none
conventional short form:
  Macau
local long form:
  none
local short form:
  Ilha de Macau
Digraph:
  MC
Type:
  overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital:
  Macau
Administrative divisions:
  2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence:
  none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China
  on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the
  joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social
  and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition)
National holiday:
  Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution:
  17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by
  Beijing awaiting final approval
Legal system:
  Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986)
head of government:
  Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991)
cabinet:
  Consultative Council; consists of five members appointed by the
  governor, two nominated by the governor, five members elected for a
  four-year term (2 represent administrative bodies, 1 represents moral,
  cultural, and welfare interests, and 2 economic interests), and three
  statuatory members
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Legislative Assembly:
  elections last held on 10 March 1991; results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (23 total; 8 elected by universal suffrage, 8 by
  indirect suffrage, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by
  party NA
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center;
  Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group
Other political or pressure groups:
  wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy
  pro-Communist merchants representing China's interests; in January
  1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China
  veto power over administration
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), WTO
  (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
US diplomatic representation:
  the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the
  US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag:
  the flag of Portugal is used

@Macau, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and
  textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned
  other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics.
  The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the
  clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings;
  the gambling industry represented well over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau
  depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy
  imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials
  and capital goods.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  12% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $7,300 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $305 million
expenditures:
  $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
  textiles, clothing, toys
partners:
  US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8% (1992
  est.)
Imports:
  $2 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
  raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
partners:
  Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
External debt:
  $91 million (1985)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  258,000 kW
production:
  855 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  1,806 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Agriculture:
  rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables, meat; depends
  mostly on imports for food requirements
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates:
  patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991-93), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989);
  note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per
  Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Macau, Communications

Highways:
total:
  42 km
paved:
  42 km
Ports:
  Macau
Airports:
  none usable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
Telecommunications:
  fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and
  international services; 52,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM,
  3 FM, no TV (TV programs received from Hong Kong); 115,000 radio
  receivers (est.); international high-frequency radio communication
  facility; access to international communications carriers provided via
  Hong Kong and China; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Macau, Defense Forces

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 139,499; fit for military service 77,887
Note:
  defense is responsibility of Portugal


@Madagascar, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of
  Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  587,040 sq km
land area:
  581,540 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  4,828 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
  Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate:
  tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources:
  graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
  semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land:
  4%
permanent crops:
  1%
meadows and pastures:
  58%
forest and woodland:
  26%
other:
  11%
Irrigated land:
  9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
  desertification; surface water contaminated with untreated sewage and
  other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the
  island are endangered
natural hazards:
  subject to periodic cyclones
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
  Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
  the Sea
Note:
  world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
  Channel

@Madagascar, People

Population:
  13,427,758 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.19% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.22 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  13.35 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  89 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  53.98 years
male:
  52.06 years
female:
  55.96 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Malagasy
Ethnic divisions:
  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:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  80%
male:
  88%
female:
  73%
Labor force:
  4.9 million (90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence
  agriculture; 175,000 wage earners)
by occupation:
  agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%,
  construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2%
note:
  51% of population of working age (1985)

@Madagascar, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:
  Madagascar
local long form:
  Republique de Madagascar
local short form:
  Madagascar
former:
  Malagasy Republic
Digraph:
  MA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
  6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga,
  Toamasina, Toliary
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 Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993); election last held on 10
  February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD),
  67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
head of government:
  Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August 1993)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament
Senate:
  (Senat) two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled by an
  electoral college made up of representatives of territorial
  collectivities; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential
  appointment, following nomination by economic, social, and cultural
  groups; the selection of senators was scheduled for March 1994
National Assembly:
  (Assemblee Nationale) elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be
  held June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (138
  total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7,
  various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8
note:
  the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and
  early 1993 in preparation for new legislative elections. In its place,
  an interim High Authority of State and a Social and Economic Recovery
  Council have been established
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour
  Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders:
  Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an alliance of National Union for
  Development and Democracy (UNDD), Support Group for Democracy and
  Development in Madagascar (CSDDM), Action and Reflection Group for the
  Development of Madagascar (Grad), Congress Party for Madagascar
  Independence - Renewal (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other
  anti-Ratsiraka oppositon parties, trade unions, and religious groups;
  leader Dr. Albert ZAFY; Militant Party for the Development of
  Madagascar (PMDM/MFM; formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power),
  Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for
  Development (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United
  Malagasys (Famima); Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre
  TSIRANANA
Other political or pressure groups:
  National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO
chancery:
  2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 5526
consulate(s) general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT
embassy:
  14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address:
  B. P. 620, Antananarivo
telephone:
  [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18
FAX:
  261-234-539
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
  white band of the same width on hoist side

@Madagascar, Economy

Overview:
  Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture,
  including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy,
  accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total
  export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of
  agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted
  for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year
  development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice)
  by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports.
  Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of
  protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political
  reform.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $10.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $250 million
expenditures:
  $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991
  est.)
Exports:
  $312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
  coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum
  products
partners:
  France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US
Imports:
  $350 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%,
  consumer goods 14%, food 13%
partners:
  France, Germany, UK, other EC, US
External debt:
  $4.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  125,000 kW
production:
  450 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  35 kWh (1991)
Industries:
  agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries,
  tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries
  (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
  petroleum
Agriculture:
  accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane,
  cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts;
  cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
  mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
Currency:
  1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,965.8 (January 1994), 1,864.0
  (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Madagascar, Communications

Railroads:
  1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
  40,000 km
paved:
  4,694 km
unpaved:
  gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth 34,495 km
  (est.)
Inland waterways:
  of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal
  des Pangalanes
Ports:
  Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara
Merchant marine:
  10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,620 GRT/33,173 DWT, cargo 5,
  chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 2
Airports:
total:
  140
usable:
  105
with permanent-surface runways:
  30
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  37
Telecommunications:
  above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio
  relay, and troposcatter links; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite
  earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and broadcast stations - 17
  AM, 3 FM, 1 (36 repeaters) TV

@Madagascar, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development
  Forces, Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie,
  Presidential Security Regiment
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,924,829; fit for military service 1,739,830; reach
  military age (20) annually 124,652 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)


@Malawi, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, between Mozambique and Zambia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  118,480 sq km
land area:
  94,080 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
  total 2,881 km, Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain:
  narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
  mountains
Natural resources:
  limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land:
  25%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  20%
forest and woodland:
  50%
other:
  5%
Irrigated land:
  200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
  runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
  endangers fish population
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
  landlocked

@Malawi, People

Population:
  9,732,409 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -1.09% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  50.42 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  23.19 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -38.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  141.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  39.73 years
male:
  38.93 years
female:
  40.55 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.43 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Malawian(s)
adjective:
  Malawian
Ethnic divisions:
  Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian,
  European
Religions:
  Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditional indigenous
  beliefs
Languages:
  English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important
  regionally
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
total population:
  22%
male:
  34%
female:
  12%
Labor force:
  428,000 wage earners
by occupation:
  agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services 15%, commerce
  9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other permanently
  employed 6% (1986)

@Malawi, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Malawi
conventional short form:
  Malawi
former:
  Nyasaland
Digraph:
  MI
Type:
  multiparty democracy following a referendum on 14 June 1993; formerly
  a one-party republic
Capital:
  Lilongwe
Administrative divisions:
  24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa,
  Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji,
  Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje,
  Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:
  6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
  6 July 1966; republished as amended January 1974
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:
  21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
  President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994), leader of the United
  Democratic Front
cabinet:
  Cabinet; named by the president
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
National Assembly:
  elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held NA); seats - (177
  total) UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5
Judicial branch:
  High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party:
  United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZI
opposition groups:
  Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Gwanda CHAKUAMBA Phiri, secretary general
  (top party position); Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Chakufwa
  CHIHANA; Socialist League of Malawi (Lesoma), Kapote MWAKUSULA,
  secretary general; Malawi Democratic Union (MDU), Harry BWANAUSI;
  Congress for the Second Republic (CSR), Kanyama CHIUME; Malawi
  Socialist Labor Party (MSLP), Stanford SAMBANEMANJA
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert B. MBAYA
chancery:
  2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Michael T. F. PISTOR
embassy:
  address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe
mailing address:
  P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone:
  [265] 783-166
FAX:
  [265] 780-471
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a
  radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to the
  flag of Afghanistan, which is longer and has the national coat of arms
  superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands

@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 accounts for 40% of GDP
  and 90% of export revenues. After two years of weak performance,
  economic growth improved significantly in 1988-91 as a result of good
  weather and a broadly based economic adjustment effort by the
  government. Drought cut overall output sharply in 1992. The economy
  depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF,
  the World Bank, and individual donor nations.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent $6 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  21% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $416 million
expenditures:
  $498 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $413 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
  tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products
partners:
  US, UK, Zambia, South Africa, Germany
Imports:
  $737 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
  food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
  transportation equipment
partners:
  South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe
External debt:
  $1.8 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.5% (1992 est.); accounts for about 15% of GDP (1992
  est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
  190,000 kW
production:
  620 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  65 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  agricultural processing (tea, tobacco, sugar), sawmilling, cement,
  consumer goods
Agriculture:
  accounts for 40% of GDP; cash crops - tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea,
  and corn; subsistence crops - potatoes, cassava, sorghum, pulses;
  livestock - cattle, goats
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $215 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.15
  billion
Currency:
  1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Exchange rates:
  Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 4.4598 (November 1993), 3.6033 (1992),
  2.8033 (1991), 2.7289 (1990), 2.7595 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

@Malawi, Communications

Railroads:
  789 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
  13,135 km
paved:
  2,364 km
unpaved:
  gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 251 km; earth, improved earth
  10,520 km
Inland waterways:
  Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
Ports:
  Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, and Nkotakota - all on Lake Nyasa
  (Lake Malawi)
Airports:
total:
  47
usable:
  41
with permanent-surface runways:
  6
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  10
Telecommunications:
  fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio
  communications stations; 42,250 telephones; broadcast stations - 10
  AM, 17 FM, no TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
  and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
Note:
  a majority of exports would normally go through Mozambique on the
  Beira, Nacala, and Limgogo railroads, but now most go through South
  Africa because of insurgent activity and damage to rail lines

@Malawi, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (including Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (including
  paramilitary Mobile Force Unit),
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,046,413; fit for military service 1,043,674
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 1.6% of GDP (1989 est.)


@Malaysia, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Vietnam and
  Indonesia
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  329,750 sq km
land area:
  328,550 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 2,669 km, 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 depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the
  South China Sea
exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
  Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; State of Sabah
  claimed by the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchase the Malaysian
  salient that divides Brunei into two parts; two islands in dispute
  with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia
Climate:
  tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October
  to February) monsoons
Terrain:
  coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Natural resources:
  tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
arable land:
  3%
permanent crops:
  10%
meadows and pastures:
  0%
forest and woodland:
  63%
other:
  24%
Irrigated land:
  3,420 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  air and water pollution; deforestation
natural hazards:
  subject to flooding
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
  Timber; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
  of the Sea
Note:
  strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China
  Sea

@Malaysia, People

Population:
  19,283,157 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.28% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.45 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  5.67 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  25.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  69.15 years
male:
  66.26 years
female:
  72.18 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.51 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Malaysian(s)
adjective:
  Malaysian
Ethnic divisions:
  Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian 9%
Religions:
Peninsular Malaysia:
  Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu (Indians)
Sabah:
  Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%
Sarawak:
  tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%,
  Christian 16%, other 5%
Languages:
Peninsular Malaysia:
  Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil
Sabah:
  English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and Hakka
  dialects predominate)
Sarawak:
  English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages
  *** No data for this item ***
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  78%
male:
  86%
female:
  70%
Labor force:
  7.258 million (1991 est.)

@Malaysia, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  none
conventional short form:
  Malaysia
former:
  Malayan Union
Digraph:
  MY
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
note:
  Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the
  paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular
  Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where
  governors are appointed by
  Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers of state governments are
  limited by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds
  20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense,
  internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government;
  Sarawak - self-governing state, holds 27 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 2 federal
  territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah
  persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri
  Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak,
  Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
Independence:
  31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
  National 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 JA'AFAR ibni Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994);
  Deputy Paramount Ruler SALAHUDDIN ibni Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26
  April 1994)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy
  Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December 1993)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the Paramount Ruler from members of parliament
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Parlimen)
Senate (Dewan Negara):
  consists of a 58-member body, 32 appointed by the paramount ruler and
  16 elected by the state legislatures
House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat):
  elections last held 21 October 1990 (next to be held by August 1995);
  results - National Front 52%, other 48%; seats - (180 total) National
  Front 127, DAP 20, PAS 7, independents 4, other 22; note - within the
  National Front, UMNO got 71 seats and MCA 18 seats
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Peninsular Malaysia:
  National Front, a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by
  United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin
  Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik; Gerakan
  Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), S.
  Samy VELLU
Sabah:
  National Front, Tan Sri SAKARAN, Sabah Chief Minister; United Sabah
  National Organizaton (USNO), leader NA
Sarawak:
  coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party Pesaka
  Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud;
  Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai;
  Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti Bansa
  Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition parties are
  Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian Islamic
  Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN,
  UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU,
  WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Abdul MAJID bin Mohamed
chancery:
  2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador John S. WOLF
embassy:
  376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address:
  P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; APO AP 96535-5000
telephone:
  [60] (3) 248-9011
FAX:
  [60] (3) 242-2207
Flag:
  fourteen 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

@Malaysia, Economy

Overview:
  The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a soundly
  managed public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 8%-9% average
  growth in 1987-93. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction
  in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Despite sluggish growth in
  the major world economies in 1992-93, demand for Malaysian goods
  remained strong, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums
  in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential
  of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and
  monetary policies.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $141 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  8% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $7,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
  $19.6 billion
expenditures:
  $18 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.4 billion (1994
  est.)
Exports:
  $46.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood
  and wood products, rubber, textiles
partners:
  Singapore 23%, US 15%, Japan 13%, UK 4%, Germany 4%, Thailand 4%
  (1991)
Imports:
  $40.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, petroleum products
partners:
  Japan 26%, Singapore 21%, US 16%, Taiwan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 3%,
  Australia 3% (1991)
External debt:
  $18.4 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 13% (1992); accounts for 43% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  8,000,000 kW
production:
  30 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  1,610 kWh (1992)
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
Agriculture:
  accounts for 17% of GDP
Peninsular Malaysia:
  natural rubber, palm oil, rice
Sabah:
  mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut, rice
Sarawak:
  rubber, timber, pepper; deficit of rice in all areas
Illicit drugs:
  transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western
  Europe, and the Third World despite severe penalties for drug
  trafficking
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.7
  million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million
Currency:
  1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Exchange rates:
  ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.7123 (January 1994), 2.5741 (1993), 2.5474
  (1992), 2.7501 (1991), 1.7048 (1990), 2.7088 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Malaysia, Communications

Railroads:
Peninsular Malaysia:
  1,665 km 1.04-meter gauge; 13 km double track, government owned
Sabah:
  136 km 1.000-meter gauge
Sarawak:
  none
Highways:
total:
  29,026 km (Peninsular Malaysia 23,600 km, Sabah 3,782 km, Sarawak
  1,644 km)
paved:
  NA (Peninsular Malaysia 19,352 km mostly bituminous treated)
unpaved:
  NA (Peninsular Malaysia 4,248 km)
Inland waterways:
Peninsular Malaysia:
  3,209 km
Sabah:
  1,569 km
Sarawak:
  2,518 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Ports:
  Tanjong Kidurong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port
  Kelang, Sandakan, Tawau
Merchant marine:
  183 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,935,210 GRT/2,913,808 DWT,
  bulk 29, cargo 69, chemical tanker 6, container 26, liquefied gas 6,
  livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 39, passenger-cargo 1,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 2
Airports:
total:
  113
usable:
  104
with permanent-surface runways:
  33
with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  18
Telecommunications:
  good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by
  microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay
  network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service
  good; good coverage by radio and television broadcasts; 994,860
  telephones (1984); broadcast stations - 28 AM, 3 FM, 33 TV; submarine
  cables extend to India and Sarawak; SEACOM submarine cable links to
  Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT, 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 domestic

@Malaysia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal
  Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,942,387; fit for military service 3,001,972; reach
  military age (21) annually 182,850 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 3% of GDP (1994 est.)


@Maldives, Geography

Location:
  Southern Asia, in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of India
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  300 sq km
land area:
  300 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  644 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
  35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone
  coincides with maritime boundary with India
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
  rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:
  flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
arable land:
  10%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  3%
forest and woodland:
  3%
other:
  84%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies
natural hazards:
  low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
international agreements:
  party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
  Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note:
  1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls; archipelago of strategic
  location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

@Maldives, People

Population:
  252,077 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.61% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.59 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  53.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  64.67 years
male:
  63.24 years
female:
  66.17 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.26 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Maldivian(s)
adjective:
  Maldivian
Ethnic divisions:
  Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim
Languages:
  Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic), English
  spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
total population:
  92%
male:
  92%
female:
  92%
Labor force:
  66,000 (est.)
by occupation:
  fishing industry 25%

@Maldives, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Maldives
conventional short form:
  Maldives
Digraph:
  MV
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Male
Administrative divisions:
  19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu
  Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani,
  Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Independence:
  26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
  4 June 1968
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 and head of government:
  President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); election last
  held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - President Maumoon
  Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote
cabinet:
  Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Citizens' Council (Majlis):
  elections last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7 December
  1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected)
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Political parties and leaders:
  no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for
  the past eight centuries
Member of:
  AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
  SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  Maldives has no embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission in New
  York; Permanent Representative to the UN Ahmed ZAKI
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes
  periodic visits there
consular agency:
  Midhath Hilmy, Male
telephone:
  2581
Flag:
  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

@Maldives, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping. Agriculture is
  limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only
  10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing
  25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is
  also an important source of government revenue. During the 1980s
  tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of
  the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real GDP
  is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during
  the period 1974-90.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $140 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $620 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NEGL%
Budget:
revenues:
  $95 million (excluding foreign transfers)
expenditures:
  $143 million, including capital expenditures of $71 million (1993
  est.)
Exports:
  $56.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  fish, clothing
partners:
  US, UK, Sri Lanka
Imports:
  $173.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
partners:
  Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India
External debt:
  $148 million (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 24% (1990); accounts for 6% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  5,000 kW
production:
  11 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  50 kWh (1990)
Industries:
  fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some
  coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts
Agriculture:
  accounts for almost 25% of GDP (including fishing); fishing more
  important than farming; limited production of coconuts, corn, sweet
  potatoes; most staple foods must be imported; fish catch of 67,000
  tons (1990 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $125
  million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million
Currency:
  1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
Exchange rates:
  rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.105 (January 1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569
  (1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Maldives, Communications

Highways:
total:
  NA
paved:
  NA
unpaved:
  NA (Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city)
Ports:
  Male, Gan
Merchant marine:
  14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,848 GRT/58,496 DWT, cargo 12,
  container 1, oil tanker 1
Airports:
total:
  2
usable:
  2
with permanent-surface runways:
  2
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  minimal domestic and international facilities; 2,804 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

@Maldives, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 55,369; fit for military service 30,919
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP


@Mali, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, between Mauritania and Niger
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  1.24 million sq km
land area:
  1.22 million sq km
comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 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
International disputes:
  the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was
  submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983
  and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides
  agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary
  demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
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
Natural resources:
  gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore,
  manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Land use:
arable land:
  2%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  25%
forest and woodland:
  7%
other:
  66%
Irrigated land:
  50 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of
  safe drinking water; poaching
natural hazards:
  hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring
  droughts
international agreements:
  party to - Law of the Sea, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
  landlocked

@Mali, People

Population:
  9,112,950 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.78% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  51.79 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  20.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  106.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  45.91 years
male:
  44.29 years
female:
  47.57 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Malian(s)
adjective:
  Malian
Ethnic divisions:
  Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), 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:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
  17%
male:
  26%
female:
  9%
Labor force:
  2.666 million (1986 est.)
by occupation:
  agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)
note:
  50% of population of working age (1985)

@Mali, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Mali
conventional short form:
  Mali
local long form:
  Republique de Mali
local short form:
  Mali
former:
  French Sudan
Digraph:
  ML
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:
  Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:
  new constitution adopted in constitutional referendum in 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:
  21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992); election last held
  in April 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); Alpha KONARE was elected in
  runoff race against Montaga TALL
head of government:
  Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
National Assembly:
  elections last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 116) Adema 76, CNID 9,
  US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West
  Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
  Association for Democracy (Adema), Alpha Oumar KONARE; National
  Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese
  Union/African Democratic Rally (US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA;
  Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa;
  Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for
  Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Balla COULIBALY; Rally for
  Democracy and Labor (RDT); Union of Democratic Forces for Progress
  (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa
  TRAORE; Malian Union for Democracy and Development (UMDD)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Siragatou Ibrahim CISSE
chancery:
  2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 939-8950
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador William H. DAMERON III
embassy:
  Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako
mailing address:
  B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone:
  [223] 225470
FAX:
  [223] 228059
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;
  uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

@Mali, Economy

Overview:
  Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% of
  its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely
  confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the
  population live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged
  in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on
  processing farm commodities. In consultation with international
  lending agencies, the government has adopted a structural adjustment
  program for 1992-95, aiming at GDP annual growth of 4.6%, inflation of
  no more than 2.5% on average, and a substantial reduction in the
  external current account deficit.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - 5.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -6.1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $650 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $376 million
expenditures:
  $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $330 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  cotton, livestock, gold
partners:
  mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports:
  $682 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials,
  petroleum, textiles
partners:
  mostly franc zone and Western Europe
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1.4% (1992 est.); accounts for 13.0% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  260,000 kW
production:
  750 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  90 kWh (1991)
Industries:
  small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate,
  gold, fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small subsistence
  farms; cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports;
  other crops - millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock -
  cattle, sheep, goats
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.02
  billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million; Communist
  countries (1970-89), $190 million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05
  (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
  (1990), 319.01 (1989)
note:
  beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per
  French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Mali, Communications

Railroads:
  642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail system through
  Kayes
Highways:
total:
  15,700 km
paved:
  1,670 km
unpaved:
  gravel, improved earth 3,670 km; unimproved earth 10,360 km
Inland waterways:
  1,815 km navigable
Airports:
total:
  33
usable:
  27
with permanent-surface runways:
  8
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  11
Telecommunications:
  domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service with
  radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations; expansion of
  radio relay in progress; 11,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM,
  2 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Mali, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police
  (Surete Nationale)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,803,301; fit for military service 1,027,780
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $41 million, 2% of GDP (1989)


@Malta, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, in the central Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of
  Sicily (Italy), 290 km north of Libya
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  320 sq km
land area:
  320 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  140 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
continental shelf:
  200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
  25 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
  mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Natural resources:
  limestone, salt
Land use:
arable land:
  38%
permanent crops:
  3%
meadows and pastures:
  0%
forest and woodland:
  0%
other:
  59%
Irrigated land:
  10 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
  fresh water very scarce; increasing reliance on desalination
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
Note:
  the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands
  (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good
  harbors

@Malta, People

Population:
  366,767 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.79% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.56 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  76.77 years
male:
  74.53 years
female:
  79.18 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Maltese
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
  Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
total population:
  84%
male:
  86%
female:
  82%
Labor force:
  127,200
by occupation:
  government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%,
  training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

@Malta, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Malta
conventional short form:
  Malta
Digraph:
  MT
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Valletta
Administrative divisions:
  none (administration directly from Valletta)
Independence:
  21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
  1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974
Legal system:
  based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987);
  Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
House of Representatives:
  elections last held on 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February
  1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP
  36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to the party with the
  largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total
  69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
  Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP),
  Alfred SANT
Member of:
  C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Albert BORG OLIVIER DE PUGET
chancery:
  2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 3612
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s):
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William A. MOFFITT (new ambassador
  nominated, but not confirmed)
embassy:
  2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta
mailing address:
  P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone:
  [356] 235960
FAX:
  [356] 243229
Flag:
  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

@Malta, Economy

Overview:
  Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location,
  and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its
  food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic
  energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on
  foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest
  contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of
  GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors
  and the state-owned Malta drydocks which employs about 4,300 people.
  In 1992, about 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP
  at $6,600 places Malta in the middle-income range of the world's
  nations.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $6,600 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.64% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  4% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
  $1.2 billion
expenditures:
  $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $182 million (FY94
  est.)
Exports:
  $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed
  matter
partners:
  Italy 30%, Germany 22%, UK 11%
Imports:
  $1.93 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
  food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
partners:
  Italy 30%, UK 16%, Germany 13%, US 4%
External debt:
  $118 million (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.4% (1992); accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  328,000 kW
production:
  1.11 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  3,000 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction, food
  manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco
Agriculture:
  accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992); overall, 20%
  self-sufficient; main products - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat,
  barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry,
  eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork
  products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder,
  fruits, other basic foodstuffs
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $336
  million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million; Communist
  countries (1970-88), $48 million
Currency:
  1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3951 (January 1994), 0.3821 (1993),
  0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990), 0.3483 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

@Malta, Communications

Highways:
total:
  1,291 km
paved:
  asphalt 1,179 km
unpaved:
  gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km
Ports:
  Valletta, Marsaxlokk
Merchant marine:
  897 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,959,195 GRT/24,038,587 DWT,
  barge carrier 3, bulk 259, cargo 296, chemical tanker 25, combination
  bulk 28, combination ore/oil 18, container 26, liquefied gas 2,
  multifunction large load carrier 3, oil tanker 157, passenger 6,
  passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 20, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker
  5, vehicle carrier 9
note:
  a flag of convenience registry; China owns 11 ships, Russia owns 42
  ships, Cuba owns 10, Vietnam owns 6, Croatia owns 63, Romania owns 4
Airports:
total:
  1
usable:
  1
with permanent-surface runways:
  1
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  automatic system satisfies normal requirements; 153,000 telephones;
  excellent service by broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, and 2 TV;
  submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands;
  international service by 1 submarine cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

@Malta, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 98,241; fit for military service 78,071
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $21.9 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)


@Man, Isle of

Header

Affiliation:
  (British crown dependency)

@Man, Isle of, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, in the Irish Sea, between Ireland and Great Britain
Map references:
  Europe
Area:
total area:
  588 sq km
land area:
  588 sq km
comparative area:
  nearly 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  113 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
  hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Natural resources:
  lead, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
  NA%
permanent crops:
  NA%
meadows and pastures:
  NA%
forest and woodland:
  NA%
other:
  NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  NA
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  NA
Note:
  one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird
  sanctuary

@Man, Isle of, People

Population:
  72,017 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.04% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.69 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  12.58 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  9.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  76.25 years
male:
  73.51 years
female:
  79.2 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.8 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Manxman, Manxwoman
adjective:
  Manx
Ethnic divisions:
  Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions:
  Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of
  Friends
Languages:
  English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy:
total population:
  NA%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  25,864 (1981)
by occupation:
  NA

@Man, Isle of, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  none
conventional short form:
  Isle of Man
Digraph:
  IM
Type:
  British crown dependency
Capital:
  Douglas
Administrative divisions:
  none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
  none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
  Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution:
  1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system:
  English law and local statute
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
  by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshal Sir Laurence JONES (since NA 1990)
head of government:
  President of the Legislative Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA
  1990)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Tynwald
Legislative Council:
  consists of a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and
  Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of
  Keys
House of Keys:
  elections last held in 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results -
  percent of vote NA; seats - (24 total) independents 24
Judicial branch:
  Court of Tynwald
Political parties and leaders:
  there is no party system and members sit as independents
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (British crown dependency)
Flag:
  red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the
  three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to
  have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a
  two-sided emblem is used

@Man, Isle of, Economy

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 GNP.
  Banking now contributes about 45% to GNP. Trade is mostly with the UK.
  The Isle of Man enjoys free access to European Union markets.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $490 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $7,500 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  1% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $130.4 million
expenditures:
  $114.4 million, including capital expenditures of $18.1 million (1985
  est.)
Exports:
  $NA
commodities:
  tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, meat
partners:
  UK
Imports:
  $NA
commodities:
  timber, fertilizers, fish
partners:
  UK
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  61,000 kW
production:
  190 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  2,965 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  an important offshore financial center; financial services, light
  manufacturing, tourism
Agriculture:
  cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Economic aid:
  $NA
Currency:
  1 Manx pound (#M) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Manx pounds (#M) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993),
  0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); the Manx
  pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

@Man, Isle of, Communications

Railroads:
  60 km; 36 km electric track, 24 km steam track
Highways:
total:
  640 km
paved:
  NA
unpaved:
  NA
Ports:
  Douglas, Ramsey, Peel
Merchant marine:
  67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,359,951 GRT/2,316,628 DWT,
  bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, container 5, liquefied gas 7,
  oil tanker 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9, vehicle carrier 3
note:
  a captive register of the United Kingdom, although not all ships on
  the register are British owned
Airports:
total:
  1
usable:
  1
with permanent-surface runways:
  1
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  24,435 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV

@Man, Isle of, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK


@Marshall Islands, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of
  the way between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  181.3 sq km
land area:
  181.3 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than Washington, DC
note:
  includes the atolls of Bikini, Eniwetak, and Kwajalein
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  370.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims US territory of Wake Island
Climate:
  wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain:
  low coral limestone and sand islands
Natural resources:
  phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land:
  0%
permanent crops:
  60%
meadows and pastures:
  0%
forest and woodland:
  0%
other:
  40%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  inadequate supplies of safe drinking water
natural hazards:
  occasionally subject to typhoons
international agreements:
  party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution
Note:
  two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini
  and Eniwetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous
  World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

@Marshall Islands, People

Population:
  54,031 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.86% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  7.68 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  49.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  63.13 years
male:
  61.6 years
female:
  64.74 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Marshallese
Ethnic divisions:
  Micronesian
Religions:
  Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages:
  English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major
  Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
  93%
male:
  100%
female:
  88%
Labor force:
  4,800 (1986)
by occupation:
  NA


@Marshall Islands, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form:
  Marshall Islands
former:
  Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Digraph:
  RM
Type:
  constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact
  of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Capital:
  Majuro
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
  Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 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 and head of government:
  President Amata KABUA (since 1979); election last held 6 January 1992
  (next to be held NA; results - President Amata KABUA was reelected)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; president selects from the parliament
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Parliament (Nitijela):
  elections last held 18 November 1991 (next to be held November 1995);
  results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  no formal parties; President KABUA is chief political (and
  traditional) leader
Member of:
  AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
  INTERPOL, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Wilfred I. KENDALL
chancery:
  2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  Honolulu and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador David C. FIELDS
embassy:
  NA address, Majuro
mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
Flag:
  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

@Marshall Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural
  production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important
  commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few
  cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry
  is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist
  industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about
  10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural resources, and
  imports far exceed exports. In 1987 the US Government provided grants
  of $40 million out of the Marshallese budget of $55 million.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $63 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1992 est)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (1992 est)
Unemployment rate:
  16% (1991 est)
Budget:
revenues:
  $55 million
expenditures:
  $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)
Exports:
  $3.9 million (f.o.b., 1992 est)
commodities:
  coconut oil, fish, live animals, trichus shells
partners:
  US, Japan, Australia
Imports:
  $62.9 million (c.i.f., 1992 est)
commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and tobacco, fuels
partners:
  US, Japan, Australia
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  42,000 kW
production:
  80 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  1,840 kWh (1990)
Industries:
  copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and pearls;
  offshore banking (embryonic)
Agriculture:
  coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits, pigs, chickens
Economic aid:
recipient:
  under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US is to
  provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
Currency:
  1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

@Marshall Islands, Communications

Highways:
total:
  NA
note:
  paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-,
  coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports:
  Majuro
Merchant marine:
  40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,255,348 GRT/4,351,997 DWT,
  bulk carrier 23, cargo 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, oil
  tanker 13
note:
  a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
  16
usable:
  16
with permanent-surface runways:
  4
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  telephone network - 570 lines (Majuro) and 186 (Ebeye); telex
  services; islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for
  government purposes); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV, 1
  shortwave; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; US Government
  satellite communications system on Kwajalein

@Marshall Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US


@Martinique

Header
Affiliation:
  (overseas department of France)

@Martinique, Geography

Location:
  Caribbean, in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
total area:
  1,100 sq km
land area:
  1,060 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  290 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
  mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Natural resources:
  coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use:
arable land:
  10%
permanent crops:
  8%
meadows and pastures:
  30%
forest and woodland:
  26%
other:
  26%
Irrigated land:
  60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  NA
natural hazards:
  subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in
  an average of one major natural disaster every five years
international agreements:
  NA

@Martinique, People

Population:
  392,362 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.2% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.96 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  5.95 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  78.01 years
male:
  74.88 years
female:
  81.2 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.92 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Martiniquais
Ethnic divisions:
  African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%, Caucasian 5%, East
  Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages:
  French, Creole patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
  93%
male:
  92%
female:
  93%
Labor force:
  100,000
by occupation:
  service industry 31.7%, construction and public works 29.4%,
  agriculture 13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%

@Martinique, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Department of Martinique
conventional short form:
  Martinique
local long form:
  Departement de la Martinique
local short form:
  Martinique
Digraph:
  MB
Type:
  overseas department of France
Capital:
  Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
  none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 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 Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
  Prefect Michel MORIN (since NA); President of the General Council
  Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council
  Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Assembly
General Council:
  elections last held in 25 September and 8 October 1988 (next to be
  held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total)
  number of seats by party NA; note - a leftist coalition obtained a
  one-seat margin
Regional Assembly:
  elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) RPR-UDF 16,
  MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2
French Senate:
  elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1
French National Assembly:
  elections last held on NA June 1993 (next to be held June 1998);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) RPR 3, FSM 1
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  Rally for the Republic (RPR), Stephen BAGOE; Union for a Martinique of
  Progress (UMP); Martinique Progressive Party (PPM), Aime CESAIRE and
  Camille DARSIERES; Socialist Federation of Martinique (FSM), Jean
  CRUSOL; Martinique Communist Party (PCM); Martinique Patriots (PM);
  Union for French Democracy (UDF), Jean MARAN; Martinique Independence
  Movement (MIM), Alfred MARIE-JEANNE
Other political or pressure groups:
  Proletarian Action Group (GAP); Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist
  Revolution Group (GRS); Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance (ARC);
  Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc PULVAR; Frantz Fanon
  Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste
  (PMS)
Member of:
  FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation:
  the post closed in August 1993 (overseas department of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

@Martinique, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light
  industry. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and the small
  industrial sector for 10%. 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 has become more important than agricultural exports as a
  source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed
  in the service sector and in administration. Banana workers launched
  protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and fears of
  greater competition in the European market from other producers.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.3 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $9,500 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.9% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  32.1% (1990)
Budget:
revenues:
  $268 million
expenditures:
  $268 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $201.5 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
  refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
partners:
  France 57.1%, Guadeloupe 31.5%, French Guiana 6.2%
Imports:
  $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
  petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials,
  vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
partners:
  France 62.2%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  113,100 kW
production:
  588 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  1,580 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Agriculture:
  including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 10% of GDP;
  principal crops - pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables,
  sugarcane for rum; dependent on imported food, particularly meat and
  vegetables
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and
  Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $10.1 billion
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9305 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993),
  5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Martinique, Communications

Highways:
total:
  1,680 km
paved:
  1,300 km
unpaved:
  gravel, earth 380 km
Ports:
  Fort-de-France
Airports:
total:
  2
usable:
  2
with permanent-surface runways:
  1
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  domestic facilities are adequate; 68,900 telephones; interisland
  microwave radio relay links to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia;
  broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  earth stations

@Martinique, Defense Forces

Branches:
  French Forces, Gendarmerie
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France


@Mauritania, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between Western
  Sahara and Senegal
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  1,030,700 sq km
land area:
  1,030,400 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 5,074 km, Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western
  Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:
  754 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  boundary with Senegal
Climate:
  desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
  mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Natural resources:
  iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use:
arable land:
  1%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  38%
forest and woodland:
  5%
other:
  56%
Irrigated land:
  120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are
  contributing to desertification; water scarcity away from the Senegal
  which is the only perennial river
natural hazards:
  hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and
  April
international agreements:
  party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Note:
  most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the
  southern part of the country

@Mauritania, People

Population:
  2,192,777 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.16% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  47.65 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  16.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  85.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  48.06 years
male:
  45.23 years
female:
  51.01 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Mauritanian(s)
adjective:
  Mauritanian
Ethnic divisions:
  mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions:
  Muslim 100%
Languages:
  Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)
Literacy:
  age 10 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  34%
male:
  47%
female:
  21%
Labor force:
  465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
by occupation:
  agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government
  10%
note:
  53% of population of working age (1985)

@Mauritania, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form:
  Mauritania
local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form:
  Muritaniyah
Digraph:
  MR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Nouakchott
Administrative divisions:
  12 regions (regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna,
  Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el
  Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
note:
  there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
Independence:
  28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:
  12 July 1991
Legal system:
  three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state
  security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
  President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984);
  election last held January 1992 (next to be held January 1998);
  results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  bicameral legislature
Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh):
  elections last held 15 April 1994 (one-third of the seats up for
  re-election in 1996)
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani):
  elections last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held March 1997)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
  legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics
  continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and
  Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould
  Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces - New Era (UFD/NE), headed
  by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed
  Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed
  Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida
  BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU;
  Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI
  BADI
Other political or pressure groups:
  Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC,
  CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mohamed Fall Ould AININA
chancery:
  2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Gordon S. BROWN
embassy:
  address NA, Nouakchott
mailing address:
  B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone:
  [222] (2) 526-60 or 526-63
FAX:
  [222] (2) 515-92
Flag:
  green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal
  crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star,
  and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

@Mauritania, Economy

Overview:
  A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and
  livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many
  subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts
  in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore,
  which account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world
  demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The
  nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the
  world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of
  revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in
  1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have
  resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has
  begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation
  with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.2 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,050 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11.5% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $280 million
expenditures:
  $346 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1989
  est.)
Exports:
  $432 million (f.o.b., 1992 est)
commodities:
  iron ore, fish and fish products
partners:
  Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg
Imports:
  $413 million (c.i.f., 1992 est)
commodities:
  foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods
partners:
  Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy
External debt:
  $1.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  190,000 kW
production:
  135 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  70 kWh (1991)
Industries:
  fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Agriculture:
  accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence
  farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river
  valley; crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish products
  number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3
  billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million; Communist
  countries (1970-89), $277 million; Arab Development Bank (1991), $20
  million
Currency:
  1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates:
  ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 124.480 (December 1993), 87.082 (1992),
  81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Mauritania, Communications

Railroads:
  690 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, single track, owned and operated
  by government mining company
Highways:
total:
  7,525 km
paved:
  1,685 km
unpaved:
  gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km; unimproved earth
  4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)
Inland waterways:
  mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports:
  Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290 GRT/1,840 DWT
Airports:
total:
  28
usable:
  28
with permanent-surface runways:
  9
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  17
Telecommunications:
  poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay
  links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made);
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

@Mauritania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National
  Police, Presidential Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 467,677; fit for military service 228,385
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 4.2% of GDP (1989)


@Mauritius, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 900 km east of
  Madagascar
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  1,860 sq km
land area:
  1,850 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
  includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and
  Rodrigues
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  177 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island
  of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory;
  claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Climate:
  tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to
  November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
  small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling
  central plateau
Natural resources:
  arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
  54%
permanent crops:
  4%
meadows and pastures:
  4%
forest and woodland:
  31%
other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  170 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  water pollution
natural hazards:
  subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
  by reefs
international agreements:
  party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;
  signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

@Mauritius, People

Population:
  1,116,923 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.92% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.28 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  6.41 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  70.54 years
male:
  66.62 years
female:
  74.63 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.22 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Mauritian(s)
adjective:
  Mauritian
Ethnic divisions:
  Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions:
  Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%),
  Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages:
  English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
  80%
male:
  85%
female:
  75%
Labor force:
  335,000
by occupation:
  government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%, manufacturing
  22%, other 22%
note:
  43% of population of working age (1985)

@Mauritius, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form:
  Mauritius
Digraph:
  MP
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Port Louis
Administrative divisions:
  9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,
  Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines
  Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
  12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
  12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system with elements of English common law
  in certain areas
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992); Vice President
  Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June 1982); Deputy Prime
  Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September 1990)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of
  the prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Legislative Assembly:
  elections last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be held by 15
  September 1996); results - MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%; seats - (70
  total, 62 elected) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2);
  MLP/PMSD 3
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
government coalition:
  Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH; Mauritian Militant
  Movement (MMM), Prem NABABSING (less 12 legislators under the
  leadership of Paul BERENGER, now voting with the opposition);
  Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR;
  Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO
opposition:
  Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN; Socialist Workers
  Front, Sylvio MICHEL; Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), X.
  DUVAL; MMM-Berenger Faction, Paul BERENGER
Other political or pressure groups:
  various labor unions
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Anund NEEWOOR
chancery:
  Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 1492
FAX:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER
embassy:
  4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address:
  use Embassy street address
telephone:
  [230] 208-9763 through 208-9767
FAX:
  [230] 208-9534
Flag:
  four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

@Mauritius, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and
  tourism. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area
  and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's development
  strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to exports),
  agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in
  1992 was impressive, with 6% real growth and low unemployment.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.6 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $7,800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  2.4% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $557 million
expenditures:
  $607 million, including capital expenditures of $111 million (1990
  est.)
Exports:
  $1.32 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%
partners:
  EC and US have preferential treatment, EU 77%, US 15%
Imports:
  $1.63 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%,
  petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%
partners:
  EC, US, South Africa, Japan
External debt:
  $991 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  235,000 kW
production:
  630 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  570 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel,
  chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical
  machinery, tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in sugarcane;
  other products - tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses, cattle, goats,
  fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin
  consumption and transshipment are growing problems
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million; Western
  (non-US) countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communist countries
  (1970-89), $54 million
Currency:
  1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 18.696 (January 1994), 17.648
  (1993), 15.563 (1992), 15.652 (1991), 14.839 (1990), 15.250 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

@Mauritius, Communications

Highways:
total:
  1,800 km
paved:
  1,640 km
unpaved:
  earth 160 km
Ports:
  Port Louis
Merchant marine:
  14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 162,387 GRT/260,552 DWT, bulk 6,
  cargo 7, liquefied gas 1
Airports:
total:
  5
usable:
  4
with permanent-surface runways:
  2
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  small system with good service utilizing primarily microwave radio
  relay; new microwave link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to
  several countries; over 48,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM,
  no FM, 4 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Mauritius, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Police Force, including the paramilitary Special Mobile Force
  (SMF), Special Support Units (SSU), and National Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 316,975; fit for military service 161,634
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $5 million, 0.2% of GDP (FY89)


@Mayotte

Header
Affiliation:
  (territorial collectivity of France)

@Mayotte, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the northern Mozambique Channel about halfway
  between Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
total area:
  375 sq km
land area:
  375 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  185.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Comoros
Climate:
  tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon
  (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain:
  generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
arable land:
  NA%
permanent crops:
  NA%
meadows and pastures:
  NA%
forest and woodland:
  NA%
other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  NA
natural hazards:
  subject to cyclones during rainy season
international agreements:
  NA
Note:
  part of Comoro Archipelago

@Mayotte, People

Population:
  93,468 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.8% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  48.84 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  10.84 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  57.81 years
male:
  55.63 years
female:
  60.06 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.77 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Mahoran
Ethnic divisions:
  NA
Religions:
  Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages:
  Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy:
total population:
  NA%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

@Mayotte, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form:
  Mayotte
Digraph:
  MF
Type:
  territorial collectivity of France
Capital:
  Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday:
  Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French law
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
  Prefect Jean-Jacques DERACQ (since NA); President of the General
  Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1976)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
General Council (Conseil General):
  elections last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 12, RPR 5
French Senate:
  elections last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September
  1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MPM 1
French National Assembly:
  elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 1998);
  results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats - (1 total) UDF-CDS 1
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders:
  Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the
  Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for
  the Republic (RPR), Mansour KAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy
  (UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center of Social Democrats (CDS),
Member of:
  FZ
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

@Mayotte, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector,
  including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not
  self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food
  requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development
  of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance.
  Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of
  tourism.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $54 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $NA
expenditures:
  $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)
Exports:
  $4 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
  ylang-ylang, vanilla
partners:
  France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%
Imports:
  $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
  building materials, transportation equipment, rice, clothing, flour
partners:
  France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  NA
production:
  NA
consumption per capita:
  NA
Industries:
  newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Agriculture:
  most important sector; provides all export earnings; crops - vanilla,
  ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food needs
Economic aid:
recipient:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $402 million
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993),
  5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Mayotte, Communications

Highways:
total:
  42 km
paved:
  bituminous 18 km
unpaved:
  24 km
Ports:
  Dzaoudzi
Airports:
total:
  1
usable:
  1
with permanent-surface runways:
  1
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  small system administered by French Department of Posts and
  Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency radio
  communications for links to Comoros and international communications;
  450 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

@Mayotte, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France