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← The 1999 CIA World Factbook

Introduction

Part 13 of 20 · United States. Central Intelligence Agency · Public domain text

About this edition

Source: Project Gutenberg e-text #27676, public domain in the United States · text not rewritten or summarized · How RedLectern is built

 

Contents (63)
  1. Opening about 1 h 49 min
  2. Introduction about 9 min
  3. Introduction about 17 min
  4. Introduction about 8 min
  5. Introduction about 9 min
  6. Introduction about 37 min
  7. Introduction about 9 min
  8. Introduction about 33 min
  9. Introduction about 8 min
  10. Introduction about 41 min
  11. Introduction about 22 min
  12. Introduction about 21 min
  13. Introduction about 20 min
  14. Introduction about 7 min
  15. Introduction about 16 min
  16. Introduction about 19 min
  17. Introduction about 9 min
  18. Introduction about 23 min
  19. Introduction about 7 min
  20. Introduction about 23 min
  21. Introduction about 19 min
  22. Introduction about 9 min
  23. Introduction about 33 min
  24. Introduction about 23 min
  25. Introduction about 8 min
  26. Introduction about 8 min
  27. Introduction about 27 min
  28. Introduction about 8 min
  29. Introduction about 36 min
  30. Introduction about 5 min
  31. Introduction about 9 min
  32. Introduction about 1 h 32 min
  33. Introduction about 12 min
  34. Introduction about 8 min
  35. Introduction about 9 min
  36. Introduction about 19 min
  37. Introduction about 18 min
  38. Introduction about 9 min
  39. Introduction about 8 min
  40. Introduction about 9 min
  41. Introduction about 43 min
  42. Introduction about 24 min
  43. Introduction about 8 min
  44. Introduction about 16 min
  45. Introduction about 15 min
  46. Introduction about 8 min
  47. Introduction about 16 min
  48. Introduction about 4 h 17 min
  49. Introduction about 1 h 59 min
  50. Introduction about 13 min
  51. Introduction about 1 h 5 min
  52. Introduction about 15 min
  53. Introduction about 13 min
  54. Introduction about 16 min
  55. Introduction about 24 min
  56. Introduction about 45 min
  57. Introduction about 8 min
  58. Introduction about 16 min
  59. Introduction about 8 min
  60. Introduction about 1 h 45 min
  61. Introduction about 11 min
  62. Introduction about 1 h 2 min
  63. Introduction about 2 h 38 min
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Introduction

Background: The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000 factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG). Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19 July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September 1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertainty about the security situation have slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of the war-torn country. For two centuries the US has had uniquely close ties to Liberia and today is a major aid donor.

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 111,370 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,050 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries: total: 1,585 km border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline: 579 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 59% forests and woodland: 18% other: 19% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment--current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment--international agreements: party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

People

Population: 2,923,725 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 656,101; female 649,389) 15-64 years: 52% (male 775,429; female 738,904) 65 years and over: 3% (male 50,126; female 53,776) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.92% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 41.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 18.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: evidence from UNHCR indicates Liberians are being repatriated

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 100.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.88 years male: 57.2 years female: 62.64 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves)

Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

Languages: English 20% (official), about 20 tribal languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.3% male: 53.9% female: 22.4% (1995 est.) note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school system

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia

Data code: LI

Government type: republic

Capital: Monrovia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe

Independence: 26 July 1847

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution: 6 January 1986

Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2001) election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote--Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2001); House of Representatives--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2001) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note--the Alliance of Political Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the LUP

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: TAYLOR]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rachel DIGGS chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Donald PETTERSON embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Economy

Economy--overview: A civil war in 1989-97 has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some returned during 1997. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depends on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 36% services: 34%

Population below poverty line: 80%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 70%

Unemployment rate: 70%

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate: 0%

Electricity--production: 480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee

Exports--partners: Belgium, Norway, Ukraine, Singapore (1997)

Imports: $3.65 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs

Imports--partners: South Korea, Japan, Italy, Singapore (1997)

Debt--external: $2 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $122.8 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992); market rate floats against the US dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: fewer than 25,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 note: two of the FM radio stations are limited to a small area

Radios: 675,000 (1995 est.); note--10,000 windup radios were distributed in the country prior to the 1997 election

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are four low-power repeaters; the station is located in Monrovia) (1997)

Televisions: 56,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 480 km (328 km single track); note--three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported for scrap standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: NA km 1.067-m gauge

Highways: total: 10,037 km (there is major deterioration on all highways due to lack of maintenance since the civil war began) paved: 603 km unpaved: 9,434 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia

Merchant marine: total: 1,651 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,804,012 GRT/96,650,752 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 4, bulk 408, cargo 106, chemical tanker 176, combination bulk 25, combination ore/oil 50, container 193, liquefied gas tanker 89, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 413, passenger 37, refrigerated cargo 69, roll-on/roll-off cargo 19, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 45 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54 countries among which are Germany 186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece 144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32, Singapore 39, and Monaco 38 (1998 est.)

Airports: 45 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 667,032 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 356,825 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.4 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets

======================================================================

@Libya -----

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries: total: 4,383 km border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline: 1,770 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line--32 degrees 30 minutes north

Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment--current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment--international agreements: party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

People

Population: 4,992,838 (July 1999 est.) note: includes 161,251 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 930,661; female 891,046) 15-64 years: 60% (male 1,545,958; female 1,437,120) 65 years and over: 4% (male 93,726; female 94,327) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 27.33 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 3.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 28.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.73 years male: 73.81 years female: 77.74 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.2% male: 87.9% female: 63% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah local short form: none

Data code: LY

Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital: Tripoli

Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular--baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan note: the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977

Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note--holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998) cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of government; percent of General People's Congress vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Libya does not have an embassy in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980

Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Economy

Economy--overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Low oil prices in 1998 cut back revenue sharply, and GDP growth fell by 1%. In this statist society, import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP; it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 do not have a major impact on the economy although they have increased transaction and transportation costs.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$38 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 55% services: 40% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24.2% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1 million

Labor force--by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%

Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $3.6 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 17 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 17 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; beef, eggs

Exports: $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas

Exports--partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, Egypt

Imports: $6.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods

Imports--partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe

Debt--external: $4 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $8.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1--0.3799 (November 1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994); official rate: 0.45 (December 1998)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 411,000 (1999 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunications system is being modernized; cellular telephone system became operational in 1996 domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998 est.)

Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 12 (in addition, there is one low-power repeater) (1997)

Televisions: 550,000 (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways: note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported

Highways: total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: none

Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km

Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah

Merchant marine: total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 588,928 GRT/989,662 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1998 est.)

Airports: 143 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 60 over 3,047 m: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 83 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 1,372,261 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 816,186 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 62,098 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria

======================================================================

@Liechtenstein -------------

Geography

Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources: hydroelectric potential

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 35% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People

Population: 32,057 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 3,076; female 2,949) 15-64 years: 70% (male 11,209; female 11,247) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,484; female 2,092) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.08% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.11 years male: 75.64 years female: 80.69 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)

Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1981 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein

Data code: LS

Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Vaduz

Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular--Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)

National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution: 5 October 1921

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald

International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy

Economy--overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes--the maximum tax rate is 18%--and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$730 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

Labor force--by occupation: industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1997)

Budget: revenues: $455 million expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1995)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)

Exports--commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery

Exports--partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)

Imports: $917.3 million (1996)

Imports--commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports--partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)

Debt--external: $0 (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: none

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1--1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 22,857 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesen note: linked to Swiss networks

Radios: 12,134 (1996)

Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions: 11,785 (1996)

Transportation

Railways: total: 18.5 km; note--owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: none

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims 1,600 sq km of property in the Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power

======================================================================

@Lithuania ---------

Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 65,200 sq km land: 65,200 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: total: 1,273 km border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline: 99 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Natural resources: peat

Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 31% other: 15% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

Population: 3,584,966 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 365,149; female 350,070) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,156,161; female 1,239,145) 65 years and over: 13% (male 160,963; female 313,478) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.4% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.96 years male: 62.91 years female: 75.31 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%

Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism

Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: LH

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Vilnius

Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular--rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Statehood 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 Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998) head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote--Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--TS 69, LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Economy

Economy--overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 5.1%, and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997 and 4.5% in 1998. Foreign direct investment and the privatization program maintained their momentum in 1998. However, the current account deficit has hovered around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995--the result of greater demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports. Reducing this deficit is the immediate economic challenge for 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,900 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.8 million

Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)

Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber

Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 14.51 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 9.65% hydro: 3.03% nuclear: 87.32% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 9.58 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 5.23 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 300 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish

Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral products 16%, textiles 15%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs 8% (1997)

Exports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 11%, Belarus 10%, Latvia 9%, Ukraine 9% (1997)

Imports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral products 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 19%, Poland, Denmark, Finland (1997)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $228.5 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas

Exchange rates: litai per US$1--4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.08 million (1998)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs oversee Lithuania's telecommunications; the national operator is Lietuvos Telomas; Internet is available domestic: local--three cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM standards provide services nationwide; 80% of customers are on the two GSM networks; 157,000 cellular customers; intercity--Lithuania is close to completing its fiber-optic backbone consisting of two small rings inside a larger ring international: Lithuania has international fiber-optic connectivity to Latvia, Poland, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden

Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1

Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3

Televisions: NA; note--93% of the population have TV, 30% have cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)

Transportation

Railways: total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Highways: total: 68,161 km paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda

Merchant marine: total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,616 GRT/353,683 DWT ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 96 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 71 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 906,687 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 713,436 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 26,168 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $181 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); 1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia

======================================================================

@Luxembourg ----------

Geography

Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Burgplatz 559 m

Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 21% other: 34%

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (including Belgium (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 429,080 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 39,701; female 37,998) 15-64 years: 67% (male 146,336; female 140,717) 65 years and over: 15% (male 26,201; female 38,127) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.88% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.35 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 7.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.65 years male: 74.58 years female: 80.83 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Languages: Luxembourgian, German, French, English

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg

Data code: LU

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Luxembourg

Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence: 1839 (from the Netherlands)

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 the monarch, born 16 April 1955) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch, responsible to the Chamber of Deputies elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the monarch but are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by 13 June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5 note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de Justice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch; Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party or

Political pressure groups and leaders: 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

International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marie MURRAY embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Economy--overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, 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. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$13.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$32,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 22% services: 77% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)

Labor force: 226,500 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $5.46 billion expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum

Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.158 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 90.12% hydro: 9.88% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 5.381 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 800 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 5.8 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products

Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products

Exports--partners: Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%

Imports: $9.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)

Imports--commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports--partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%, Netherlands 4%

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $65 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note--centimes no longer in use

Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1--34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994); note--the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 279,736 (1997)

Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)

Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 275 km standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1995)

Highways: total: 5,137 km paved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways) unpaved: 51 km (1996 est.) note: one source lists roads 2,863 km; expressways 115 km

Waterways: 37 km; Moselle

Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km

Ports and harbors: Mertert

Merchant marine: total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,045 GRT/1,480,023 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas tanker 13, oil tanker 6, passenger 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, vehicle carrier 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, National Gendarmerie

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 108,285 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 88,813 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 2,452 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $124 million (FY97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.8% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Macau -----

Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total: 21 sq km land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: not specified

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain: generally flat

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal) signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland

People

Population: 437,312 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 54,456; female 50,912) 15-64 years: 69% (male 142,575; female 158,132) 65 years and over: 7% (male 12,547; female 18,690) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.86% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 3.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 9.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.88 years male: 78.79 years female: 85.13 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau

Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%

Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)

Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% (1981 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau

Data code: MC

Dependency status: Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; note--scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999

Government type: NA

Capital: Macau

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular--concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)

National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20 December 1999

Legal system: Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March 1996) head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991) cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members--five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members elections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguese president after consultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APPEM 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progresso note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations are used instead

Political pressure groups and leaders: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration

International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description: the flag of Portugal is used

Economy

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 probably represents over 40% of GDP. 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. Macau is scheduled to revert to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.1% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 40% services: 59% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1997)

Labor force: 277,676 (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: industry 28%, restaurants and hotels 28%, other services 44%

Unemployment rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $1.3 billion expenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.522 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 3 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 400 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, vegetables

Exports: $2.14 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement, footwear, machinery

Exports--partners: US 45%, EU 24%, Hong Kong 8%, China 6% (1997)

Imports: $2.075 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods, fuels, lubricants

Imports--partners: China 29%, Hong Kong 25%, EU 12.4%, Japan 9% (1997)

Debt--external: $0 (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1--7.74 (1998), 7.99 (1997), 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note--linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 200,000 (1997 est.)

Telephone system: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: NA international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 135,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts) (1997)

Televisions: 34,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Macau

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces, Police Force

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 121,355 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 66,744 (1999 est.)

Military--note: defense is currently the responsibility of Portugal, but will become the responsibility of China on 20 December 1999

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of ------------------------------------------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 25,333 sq km land: 24,856 sq km water: 477 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries: total: 748 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m

Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 39% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: high seismic risks

Environment--current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

People

Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.) note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491) 15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923) 65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.05 years male: 70.93 years female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 2%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name: conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: none local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija abbreviation: FYROM

Data code: MK

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital: Skopje

Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular--opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available

Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: 8 September

Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note--cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote--Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats--85 members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VMRO 49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or

International organization participation: BIS (pending member), CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)

Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy

Economy--overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,050 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 20.4% industry: 38.6% services: 41% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)

Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note--many employed workers are, in fact, furloughees

Budget: revenues: $1.06 billion expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107 million (1996 est.)

Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 19.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machinery and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%

Exports--partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Italy

Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12%

Imports--partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria

Debt--external: $1.06 billion (June 1997)

Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $100 million (1996 est.)

Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni

Exchange rates: denars per US$1--52.156 (January 1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 125,000

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 922 km standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)

Highways: total: 10,591 km paved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: none, lake transport only

Pipelines: 0 km

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 539,329 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 17,291 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $71 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for regional autonomy

Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe

======================================================================

@Madagascar ----------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 587,040 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4,828 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic cyclones

Environment--current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

People

Population: 14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209) 65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.24 years male: 52.01 years female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry--Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% (1990 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic

Data code: MA

Government type: republic

Capital: Antananarivo

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note--the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms elections: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 34

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)

Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo RAZANAMASY]

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy

Economy--overview: Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 32% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 13% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1997)

Labor force: 7 million (1995)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $477 million expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264 million (1996 est.)

Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1993 est.)

Electricity--production: 595 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 41.18% hydro: 58.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 595 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Exports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)

Exports--partners: France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%, Reunion 5.7% (1996)

Imports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)

Imports--partners: France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%, Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)

Debt--external: $4.4 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $298.5 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 34,000 (1994)

Telephone system: system is above average for Africa domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 2.74 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 36 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 280,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

Highways: total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)

Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Merchant marine: total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

Airports: 133 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces--includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 3,415,726 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 144,779 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $29 million (1994)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1994)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

======================================================================

@Malawi ------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m

Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 10,000,416 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 2,265,526; female 2,246,135) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,580,125; female 2,637,464) 65 years and over: 3% (male 112,813; female 158,353) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 39.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 23.84 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 132.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.3 years male: 36.49 years female: 36.11 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.4% male: 71.9% female: 41.8% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi former: Nyasaland

Data code: MI

Government type: multiparty democracy

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); Republic Day 6 July (1966)

Constitution: 18 May 1995

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999) election results: Bakili MULUZI elected president; percent of vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (177 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note--because of defections and byelections, the distribution of seats in the National Assembly had changed at the end of the 1996 as follows: UDF 84, MCP 47, AFORD 34, independents 8, and vacant 4 note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years, provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Ellen SHIPPY embassy: address NA, in new development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Economy

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 45% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental problems of deforestation and erosion.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$940 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 30% services: 25% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line: 54% (1990-91 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 83.4% (1995)

Labor force: 3.5 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 86%, wage earners 14% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $530 million expenditures: $674 million, including capital expenditures of $129 million (1993)

Industries: tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (1995)

Electricity--production: 800 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 2.5% hydro: 97.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 800 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats

Exports: $405 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports--commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products

Exports--partners: US, South Africa, Germany, Japan

Imports: $475 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Imports--commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports--partners: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Japan, US, UK, Germany

Debt--external: $2.3 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $416.5 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala

Exchange rates: Malawian kwachas (MK) per US$1--43.5426 (January 1999), 31.0727 (1998), 16.4442 (1997), 15.3085 (1996), 15.2837 (1995), 8.7364 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 43,000 (1985 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0

Radios: 1.011 million (1995)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997 est.)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: total: 789 km narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways: total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km

Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota

Airports: 45 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 23 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 2,314,509 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,186,341 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $17 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.8% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

======================================================================

@Malaysia --------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 68% other: 17% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,941 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: flooding, landslides

Environment--current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People

Population: 21,376,066 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 3,879,012; female 3,680,895) 15-64 years: 61% (male 6,478,910; female 6,482,909) 65 years and over: 4% (male 369,639; female 484,701) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.08% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 26.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: does not include illegal immigrants--large numbers from Indonesia and smaller numbers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Burma, China, and India

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.67 years male: 67.62 years female: 73.9 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups: Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%, Indian 7%, others 9%

Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism; note--in addition, Shamanism is practiced on East Malaysia

Languages: Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malalalam, Panjabi, Thai; note--in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.5% male: 89.1% female: 78.1% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union

Data code: MY

Government type: constitutional monarchy note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states--hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah--holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak--holds 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* note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable

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 TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 8 January 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 4 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister election results: TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman elected paramount ruler; Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected deputy paramount ruler

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (192 seats; members elected by popular vote directly weighted toward the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives--last held 24-25 April 1995 (next to be held by April 2000) election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--National Front 63%, other 37%; seats by party--National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Spirit of '46 6; note--subsequent to the election there was a change in the distribution of seats, the current distribution is--National Front 168, DAP 8, PAS 8, PBS 5, independents 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: Peninsular Malaysia: National Front (a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization or UMNO Sarawak: National Front, composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra note: subsequent to the election, the following parties were president] and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Economy

Economy--overview: After a decade of 8% average GDP growth, the Malaysian economy--severely hit by the regional financial crisis--declined 7% in 1998. Malaysia will likely remain in recession for the first half of 1999; official statistics continue to show anemic exports, and some private financial analysts forecast a further drop in GDP of 1% in 1999. Prime Minister MAHATHIR has imposed capital controls to protect the local currency while cutting interest rates to stimulate the economy. Kuala Lumpur also announced an expansionary budget for 1999 to combat rising unemployment. Malaysia continues to seek funding from domestic and international sources to help finance its budget deficit and recapitalize its weakened banking sector.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$215.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 46% services: 41% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 15.5% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.9% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1998)

Labor force: 8.398 million (1996 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 25%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1996 est.)

Budget: revenues: $22.6 billion expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (1996 est.)

Industries: Peninsular Malaysia--rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah--logging, petroleum production; Sarawak--agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate: 14.4% (1995)

Electricity--production: 48 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 83.33% hydro: 16.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 47.977 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 174 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 151 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: Peninsular Malaysia?rubber, palm oil, rice; Sabah--subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak--rubber, pepper; timber

Exports: $74.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles

Exports--partners: US 21%, Singapore 20%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1995)

Imports: $59.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food

Imports--partners: Japan 27%, US 16%, Singapore 12%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)

Debt--external: $39.8 billion (1998)

Economic aid--recipient: $125 million (1995)

Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen

Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1--3.8000 (January 1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2,550,957 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: international service good domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 8.08 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 27 (of which 26 are government-owned and one is independent and has 15 high-power repeater stations to relay its programs) (1997)

Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 1,798 km narrow gauge: 1,798 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (1998 est.)

Highways: total: 94,500 km paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km

Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau

Merchant marine: total: 378 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,059,272 GRT/7,428,623 DWT ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 128, chemical tanker 30, container 58, liquefied gas tanker 19, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 61, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)

Airports: 115 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 83 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 74 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts

Military manpower--military age: 21 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 5,526,555 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,349,066 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 183,928 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.1 billion (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Philippines have not fully revoked claim to Sabah State; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia

Illicit drugs: transit point for some illicit drugs going to Western markets; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

======================================================================

@Maldives --------

Geography

Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area: total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 644 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 3% other: 84% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Environment--current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography--note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People

Population: 300,220 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 72,414; female 68,764) 15-64 years: 50% (male 76,446; female 73,275) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,944; female 4,377) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.37% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 39.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.63 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.29 years male: 66.53 years female: 70.15 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.73 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African

Religions: Sunni Muslim

Languages: Maldivian Divehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Data code: MV

Government type: republic

Capital: Male

Administrative divisions: 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution: 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: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note--need not be members of Majlis elections: president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998) election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of Majlis vote--Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%

Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council or Majlis (48 seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 40

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not banned, none exist

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

Flag description: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. About 350,000 tourists visited the islands in 1997. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 15% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,840 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 15% services: 63% (1994 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.3% (1996)

Labor force: 56,435 (1990 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%

Unemployment rate: NEGL%

Budget: revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants) expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1994 est.)

Electricity--production: 60 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 60 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Exports: $59 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: fish, clothing

Exports--partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

Imports: $302 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Imports--commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products

Imports--partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand

Debt--external: $179 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari

Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1--11.770 (1995-January 1999), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 8,523 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities domestic: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 28,284 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 7,309 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km; note--Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)

Ports and harbors: Gan, Male

Merchant marine: total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 75,585 GRT/115,590 DWT ships by type: cargo 18, container 1, oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force)

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 66,554 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 37,086 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Mali ----

Geography

Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1.24 million sq km land: 1.22 million sq km water: 20,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total: 7,243 km border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 6% other: 67% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 10,429,124 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 2,482,301; female 2,460,894) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,447,712; female 2,708,978) 65 years and over: 4% (male 155,178; female 174,061) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.01% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 49.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 18.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 119.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.5 years male: 46.09 years female: 48.96 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.96 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian

Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 31% male: 39.4% female: 23.1% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan

Data code: ML

Government type: republic

Capital: Bamako

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular--region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)

Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held May 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote--Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in two rounds in 2002); note--much of the opposition boycotted the election election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ADEMA 130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA TRAORE]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa

Political pressure groups and leaders: United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Economy--overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% 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 is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export. In 1997, the government continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996-98, and the government anticipates that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years. Annual growth thus may fall in the 5% range in 1999-2000, and inflation held to 5% or less.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$790 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 17% services: 34% (1995)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and fishing 80% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $730 million expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320 million (1997 est.)

Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1995 est.)

Electricity--production: 288 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 21.88% hydro: 78.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 288 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports: $590 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: cotton 50%, gold, livestock (1998 est.)

Exports--partners: Thailand 20%, Italy 20%, China 9%, Brazil, franc zone (1997)

Imports: $600 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, construction materials, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports--partners: Cote d'Ivoire 19%, France 17%, other franc zone and EU countries (1997)

Debt--external: $3.1 billion (1998)

Economic aid--recipient: $596.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--567.81 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 11,000 (1982 est.)

Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1

Radios: 430,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes) narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)

Highways: total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 1,815 km navigable

Ports and harbors: Koulikoro

Airports: 28 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 2,128,375 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,218,732 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $49 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Malta -----

Geography

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 320 sq km land: 320 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: 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 the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources: limestone, salt

Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 59% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

People

Population: 381,603 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810) 15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390) 65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.49% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 11.02 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.76 years male: 75.43 years female: 80.23 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%

Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)

Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta

Data code: MT

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Valletta

Administrative divisions: none (administered 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 Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8 September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following House of Representatives elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note--additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 69 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party--PN 35, MLP 30

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or PN [Edward

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony DARMANIN chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta

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

Economy

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. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 148,085 (September 1996)

Labor force--by occupation: public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 5% (1997)

Budget: revenues: $1.32 billion expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactures (1996)

Exports--partners: France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy 6% (1997)

Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

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

Imports--partners: Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US 8% (1997)

Debt--external: $130 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 189,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 300,000 (1996 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 1,582 km paved: 1,471 km unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)

Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine: total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956 GRT/40,706,665 DWT ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 18 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

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

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 99,067 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $65.5 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

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

======================================================================

@Man, Isle of ------------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 588 sq km land: 588 sq km water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 113 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 620 m

Natural resources: lead, iron ore

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 32% other: 0%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

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

People

Population: 75,686 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 6,906; female 6,597) 15-64 years: 65% (male 24,655; female 24,604) 65 years and over: 17% (male 5,156; female 7,768) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 6.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 2.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.79 years male: 74.28 years female: 81.47 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Manxman, Manxwoman adjective: Manx

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

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

Languages: English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man

Data code: IM

Dependency status: British crown dependency

Government type: NA

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 His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since NA 1995) head of government: President of the Tynwald and the Legislative Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; president of theTwnwald and the Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the Legislative Council; percent of legislative vote--NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (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) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Keys--last held 21 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: House of Keys--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--independents 24

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

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

International organization participation: none

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

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

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

Economy

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

GDP: purchasing power parity--$985 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 16% services: 82% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 33,577 (1996)

Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, retail distribution 9%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%

Unemployment rate: 1% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $437.7 million expenditures: $432.5 million, including capital expenditures of $102.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

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

Exports: $NA

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

Exports--partners: UK

Imports: $NA

Imports--commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports--partners: UK

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Manx pound (LM) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994)); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 46,000 (1996)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives broadcasts from the UK) (1997)

Televisions: 24,450 (1996)

Transportation

Railways: total: 52 km (27 km electrified)

Highways: total: 640 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 320 km

Ports and harbors: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey

Merchant marine: total: 148 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,161,154 GRT/6,880,170 DWT ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 7, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 14, oil tanker 43, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, vehicle carrier 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 8 ships, Denmark 1, Sweden 1, Belgium 1, and Netherlands 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Marshall Islands ----------------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

Area--comparative: about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 370.4 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

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

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: 60% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 40%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons

Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

People

Population: 65,507 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 16,622; female 15,957) 15-64 years: 48% (male 16,106; female 15,386) 65 years and over: 2% (male 677; female 759) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.86% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 45.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 43.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.81 years male: 63.21 years female: 66.5 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups: Micronesian

Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)

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

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 100% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Data code: RM

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

Capital: Majuro

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

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

National holiday: 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: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 14 January 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); note--Imata KABUA elected to succeed and complete the term of the late President Amata KABUA election results: Imata KABUA elected president; percent of Parliament vote--63%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent

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

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379

Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner--orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

Economy

Economy--overview: US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid, equal to about 70% of GDP. Negotiations will get underway in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties have caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$91 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 13% services: 72% (1995)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues: $80.1 million expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 57 million kWh (1994)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: 57 million kWh (1994)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1994)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1994)

Agriculture--products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Exports: $17.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports--commodities: fish, coconut oil, fish, trochus shells

Exports--partners: US, Japan, Australia

Imports: $71.8 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia, NZ

Debt--external: $125 million (FY96/97 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?approximately $65 million annually from the US

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 2,000 (1997 est.)

Telephone system: telex services domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which one is an independent station and two are US military stations) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks

Ports and harbors: Majuro

Merchant marine: total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,572,915 GRT/11,208,214 DWT ships by type: bulk 56, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada 1, China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)

Airports: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims US territory of Wake Atoll

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@Martinique ----------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 61 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 1,100 sq km land: 1,060 sq km water: 40 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 350 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 17% forests and woodland: 44% other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 411,539 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 47,933; female 46,957) 15-64 years: 67% (male 136,058; female 138,935) 65 years and over: 10% (male 17,530; female 24,126) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.03% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.27 years male: 76.47 years female: 82.13 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural) adjective: Martiniquais

Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Languages: French, Creole patois

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 92% female: 93% (1982 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Department of Martinique conventional short form: Martinique local long form: Departement de la Martinique local short form: Martinique

Data code: MB

Dependency status: overseas department of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Fort-de-France

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

National holiday: 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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998) head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council--last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Assembly--last held on NA March 1998 (next to be held by March 2004) election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; note--the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PS 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR

Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for League of Workers and Peasants; Association for the Protection of

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of France)

Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.24 billion (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,700 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)

Labor force: 160,000

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)

Budget: revenues: $775 million expenditures: $2.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $118 million (1996)

Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 855 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 855 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane

Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples

Exports--partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)

Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods

Imports--partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)

Debt--external: $180 million (1994)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual aid from France

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 209,672 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate domestic: NA international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 74,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are nine repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 2,724 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1994)

Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

======================================================================

@Mauritania ----------

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries: total: 5,074 km border countries: 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 to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland: 4% other: 58% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People

Population: 2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225) 15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951) 65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 44.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 76.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.48 years male: 47.39 years female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Religions: Muslim 100%

Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official), French

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah

Data code: MR

Government type: republic

Capital: Nouakchott

Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular--region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution: 12 July 1991

Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 16 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90% of the vote

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000); National Assembly--last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and 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 or

Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union MOHAMED, secretary general]

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott

Flag description: 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

Economy

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. Short-term growth prospects are uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,890 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 31% services: 43% (1996)

Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1996)

Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)

Budget: revenues: $329 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)

Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 80% hydro: 20% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 150 million kWh (1996

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep; fish products

Exports: $562 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold

Exports--partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%

Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods

Imports--partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US 3%

Debt--external: $2.5 billion (1995)

Economic aid--recipient: $227.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made) domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)

Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 50,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 704 km (single track); note--owned and operated by government mining company standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways: total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 26 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $30 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Mauritius ---------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references: World

Area: total: 1,860 sq km land: 1,850 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

Area--comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 177 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use: arable land: 49% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 22% other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment--current issues: water pollution

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population: 1,182,212 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 156,616; female 153,698) 15-64 years: 68% (male 398,557; female 402,674) 65 years and over: 6% (male 28,586; female 42,081) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.18% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 67.21 years female: 74.96 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian

Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 87.1% female: 78.8% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius

Data code: MP

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port Louis

Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, 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) and Vice President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats--62 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%, other 15%; seats by party--MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1, Hizbullah 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: RAMGOOLAM] Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD

Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450

Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Economy

Economy--overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-98 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 29% services: 63% (1996)

Population below poverty line: 10.6% (1992 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1997)

Labor force: 514,000 (1995)

Labor force--by occupation: construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1996 est.)

Budget: revenues: $824 million (FY94/95) expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $198 million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1992)

Electricity--production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: clothing and textiles 55%, sugar 24% (1995)

Exports--partners: UK 34.4%, France 19.5%, US 13.0%, Germany 5.6%, Italy 4.0% (1996)

Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: manufactured goods 37%, capital equipment 19%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% (1995)

Imports--partners: South Africa 12.0%, France 11.1%, India 8.9%, UK 6.5%, Germany 4.7%, (1996)

Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $5.2 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1--24.099 (January 1999), 22.803 (1998), 20.561 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 107,000 (1993)

Telephone system: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 399,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are 11 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 242,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 1,860 km paved: 1,732 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 128 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Port Louis

Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,846 GRT/236,308 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, combination bulk 2, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast Guard)

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 339,218 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 171,705 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $11.2 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.4% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims the Chagos Archipelago in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems

======================================================================

@Mayotte -------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 375 sq km land: 375 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: 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

Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: part of Comoro Archipelago

People

Population: 149,336 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 34,838; female 34,798) 15-64 years: 52% (male 42,073; female 35,068) 65 years and over: 1% (male 1,257; female 1,302) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 46.12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 12.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 69.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.02 years male: 57.61 years female: 62.51 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran

Ethnic groups: NA

Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte

Data code: MF

Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Mamoutzou

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)

National holiday: National Day, 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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1977) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 23 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; note--only nine of the 19 seats were subjected to voting in March 1997; after the election, seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, independents 5, PS 1 note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MPM 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a special election on NA May 2002); results--percent of vote by party--UDF/FD 51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party--UDF/FD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM BEOUTIS]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti JEAN-BAPTISTE]

International organization participation: FZ

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy

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, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$85 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$600 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: 38% (1991 est.)

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra

Exports: $3.64 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra

Exports--partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion

Imports: $131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Imports--commodities: building materials, machinery and transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour

Imports--partners: France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 20%

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $107.7 million (1995); note?extensive French financial assistance

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 450

Telephone system: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros and other international connections

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 30,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)

Televisions: 3,500 (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km

Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Comoros

======================================================================

@Mexico ------

Geography

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references: North America

Area: total: 1,972,550 sq km land: 1,923,040 sq km water: 49,510 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total: 4,538 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km

Coastline: 9,330 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: varies from tropical to desert

Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 39% forests and woodland: 26% other: 22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 61,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts

Environment--current issues: natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: strategic location on southern border of US

People

Population: 100,294,036 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 17,987,500; female 17,289,875) 15-64 years: 61% (male 29,610,813; female 31,216,342) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,873,986; female 2,315,520) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.73% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 24.99 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.83 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 24.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72 years male: 68.98 years female: 75.17 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican

Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%

Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.6% male: 91.8% female: 87.4% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico

Data code: MX

Government type: federal republic operating under a centralized government

Capital: Mexico

Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular--estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Constitution: 5 February 1917

Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Executive branch: chief of state: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of the Senate elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held in July or August 2000) election results: Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon elected president; percent of vote--Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.05%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; half are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and half are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote, also for three-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats; Chamber of Deputies--last held 6 July 1997 (the next legislative elections will coincide with the presidential election in July or August 2000) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRI 77, PAN 33, PRD 16, PVEM 1, PT 1; note--the distribution of seats as of May 1998 is as follows--PRI 77, PAN 31, PRD 15, PT 1, independents 4; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--PRI 39%, PAN 27%, PRD 26%; seats by party--PRI 239, PRD 125, PAN 121, PVEM 8, PT 7; note--the distribution of seats as of May 1998 is as follows--PRI 237, PRD 127, PAN 120, PT 7, PVEM 6, independents 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders: recognized parties--Institutional

Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church; Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; Revolutionary Workers Party or PRT; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants or CROC; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or CROM; Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX; National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA; Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Union of Workers or UNT

International organization participation: APEC, BCIE, BIS, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus REYES HEROLES Gonzalez Garza chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffery DAVIDOW embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087 consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to fewer than 200 in 1998. The ZEDILLO administration is privatizing and expanding competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, private consumption became the leading driver of growth, which was accompanied by increased employment and higher wages. The government expects the economy to slow in 1999 because of low commodity prices, tighter international liquidity, and slacker demand for exports. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income distribution is very unequal, with the top 20% of income earners accounting for 55% of income. Trade with the US and Canada has nearly doubled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is pursuing additional trade agreements with most countries in Latin America and with the EU to lessen its dependence on the US.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$815.3 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,300 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 26% services: 68% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 27% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 36.6% 1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.6% (1998)

Labor force: 37.5 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: services 28.8%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 21.8%, commerce 17.1%, manufacturing 16.1%, construction 5.2%, public administration and national defense 4.4%, transportation and communications 4.1%

Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1998) urban; plus considerable underemployment

Budget: revenues: $117 billion expenditures: $123 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 154.395 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 71.46% hydro: 20.16% nuclear: 4.85% other: 3.53% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 154.448 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 1.263 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 1.316 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Exports: $117.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)

Exports--commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics

Exports--partners: US 87.5%, Canada 1.3%, Japan 0.8%, Spain 0.6%, Chile 0.6%, Brazil 0.5% (1998 est.)

Imports: $111.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)

Imports--commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

Imports--partners: US 74.2%, Japan 3.7%, Germany 3.7%, Canada 1.8%, South Korea 1.5%, Italy 1.3%, France 1.2% (1998 est.)

Debt--external: $154 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $1.166 billion (1995)

Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1--10.1104 (January 1999), 9.1360 (1998), 7.9141 (1997), 7.5994(1996), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened to competition January 1997 domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in November 1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections

Radio broadcast stations: AM 824 (1999 est.), FM 500 (1998 est.), shortwave 19 (1999 est.)

Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 236 (not including repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 31,048 km standard gauge: 30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified) narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)

Highways: total: 252,000 km paved: 94,248 km (including 6,740 km of expressways) unpaved: 157,752 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals

Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km

Ports and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz

Merchant marine: total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,004 GRT/1,236,475 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 28, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1,805 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 232 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 78 under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1,573 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 468 under 914 m: 1,040 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army and Air Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 25,675,266 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 18,675,524 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 1,085,042 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6 billion (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.3% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 1998--5,500 hectares; potential production--60 metric tons) and cannabis cultivation in 1998--4,600 hectares; government eradication efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamines

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@Micronesia, Federated States of -------------------------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

Area--comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6,112 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m

Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People

Population: 131,500 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 27.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 33.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.48 years male: 66.52 years female: 70.48 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) abbreviation: FSM

Data code: FM

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital: Palikir

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap

Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Constitution: 10 May 1979

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note--because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position of vice president for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999) election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote--NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four--one elected from each of state--to serve four-year terms and 10--elected from single-member districts delineated by population--to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held 3 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy

Economy--overview: Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$220 million (1996 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,760 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1996 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)

Budget: revenues: $58 million expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7 million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Exports: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports--commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports--partners: Japan, US, Guam

Imports: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports--commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia

Debt--external: $129 million

Economic aid--recipient: $77.4 million (1995); note?under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 960

Telephone system: domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Midway Islands --------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 6.2 sq km land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island

Area--comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain: low, nearly level

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 4 m

Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving

People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands

Data code: MQ

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Legal system: NA

Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Transportation

Highways: total: 32 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Pipelines: 7.8 km

Ports and harbors: Sand Island

Airports: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Moldova -------

Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area: total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m

Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum

Land use: arable land: 53% permanent crops: 14% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 13% other: 7% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 3,110 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Environment--current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 4,460,838 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 555,096; female 535,625) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,408,334; female 1,529,542) 65 years and over: 10% (male 160,317; female 271,924) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 14.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 43.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.39 years male: 59.76 years female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians in the Transdniester region

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991) note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldovans

Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 99% female: 94% (1989 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: none former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

Data code: MD

Government type: republic

Capital: Chisinau

Administrative divisions: 40 raions (singular--raion) and 4 municipalities*; Anenii Noi, Balti*, Basarabeasca, Bender*, Briceni, Cahul, Cainari, Calarasi, Camenca, Cantemir, Causeni, Ceadir-Lunga, Chisinau*, Cimislia, Comrat, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Grigoriopol, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Ribnita, Riscani, Singerei, Slobozia, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Tiraspol*, Ungheni, Vulcanesti note: in accordance with the Law on Territorial Administrative Reform, the 40 raions have been reorganized into 9 counties (judets), one municipality*, and 2 territorial units**: Baltsi, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubossary district (Transnistria)**, Edinets, Gagauzia**, Lapushna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni; the status of the Dubossary district is still under negotiation

Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991

Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January 1997) and four deputy prime ministers cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; names of deputy prime ministers are submitted by the prime minister for acceptance by the president election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was elected president; percent of vote--LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997 and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held spring 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP 18%, PFD 9%; seats by party--PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11 note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; The Democratic Convention or CDM (includes the Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCD and the Party of chairman]; Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova or PMDP

Political pressure groups and leaders: The Ecology Movement of president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party);

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ceslav CIOBANU chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Villem PERINA embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address--American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080

Flag description: same color scheme as Romania--three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow

Economy

Economy--overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. In 1998, the economic troubles of Russia, with whom Moldova conducts 55% of its trade, was a major cause of the 8.6% drop in GDP. In 1999, the IMF resumed payment on Moldova's Extended Fund Facility, which had been suspended since 1997. The IMF intends to grant $135 million in 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$10 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -8.6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 29% services: 41% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.7 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40.2%, industry 14.3%, other 45.5% (1998)

Unemployment rate: 2% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (September 1998)

Budget: revenues: $536 million expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 8.325 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 96.1% hydro: 3.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 6.825 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 1.6 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Exports: $633 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery

Exports--partners: Russia 58%, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, US, Germany, Italy (1997)

Imports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, chemical products, metals, metal products, foodstuffs, automobiles, other consumer durables

Imports--partners: Russia 26%, Ukraine 20%, Belarus, Romania, Germany, Italy (1997)

Debt--external: more than $1.2 billion (February 1999)

Economic aid--recipient: $100.8 million (1995); note?$547 million from the IMF and World Bank (1992-99)

Currency: the Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993

Exchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period)--8.3226 (December 1998), 8.3395 (1998), 4.6605 (1997), 4.6500 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994); period average--4.6758 (January 1998), 4.6236 (1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 600,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Information, Computers, and Telecommunications controls telecommunications; the carrier is Modtelecom domestic: local--Chisinau has a fiber-optic loop and one cellular GSM provider; the waiting list for telephones is long; local service outside Chisinau is poor; intercity--Moldova's two fiber-optic segments form a synchronous digital hierarchy ring through Romania's system; an analog backbone system runs from south to north in Moldova international: two fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Romania; worldwide service can be available to Moldova through this infrastructure; additional analog lines are to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave NA (1999)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 national station, 3 private stations, 15 small local stations outside Chisinau (1998)

Televisions: 93 televisions/100 people (1996)

Transportation

Railways: total: 1,328 km broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)

Highways: total: 12,300 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved: 1,562 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 424 km (1994)

Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 26 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 1,151,674 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 908,347 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 38,666 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.3 million (FY99)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: separatist Transdniester region, comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs

Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe and possibly the United States

======================================================================

@Monaco ------

Geography

Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km

Coastline: 4.1 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

People

Population: 32,149 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 2,723; female 2,645) 15-64 years: 64% (male 10,014; female 10,530) 65 years and over: 19% (male 2,302; female 3,935) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.31% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.7 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.58 years male: 75 years female: 82.35 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco

Data code: MN

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Monaco

Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular--quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence: 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday: National Day, 19 November

Constitution: 17 December 1962

Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14 March 1958) head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3 February 1997) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative branch: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 and 8 February 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--National and Democratic Union 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council

Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union or

International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Economy

Economy--overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$800 million (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,000 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 30,540 (January 1994)

Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1994)

Budget: revenues: $518 million expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: none

Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 53,180 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 33,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)

Televisions: 24,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 1.7 km standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Monaco

Merchant marine: none

Airports: linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Mongolia --------

Geography

Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area: total: 1.565 million sq km land: 1.565 million sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries: total: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m

Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 80% forests and woodland: 9% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland fires

Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal and the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification; mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People

Population: 2,617,379 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 480,087; female 464,609) 15-64 years: 60% (male 787,222; female 787,405) 65 years and over: 4% (male 42,219; female 55,837) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.45% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.97 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 64.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.81 years male: 59.71 years female: 64.02 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups: Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of communist regime

Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 88.6% female: 77.2% (1988 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia

Data code: MG

Government type: republic

Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular--aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular--hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China)

National holiday: National Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution: 12 February 1992

Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Janlavyn NARANTSATSRALT (since 9 December 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation with the president elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 18 May 1997 (next to be held summer 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI elected president; percent of vote--Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 60.8%, Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) 29.8%, Jambyn GOMBOJAV (MUTP) 6.6%; following five months of political deadlock which left Mongolia without a working government, Janlavyn NARANTSATSRALT was elected prime minister on 9 December 1998 by a vote in the State Great Hural of 36 to 21, with nine abstentions and 10 absentees

Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP 1%; seats by party--DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP 25, MCP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the State Great Hural

Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary chairman], Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP

International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse F. LA PORTA embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002

Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo"--a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Economy

Economy--overview: The government has embraced free-market economics, freezing spending, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade. Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land, however, have constrained economic development. Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. In past years, extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP, but disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. The Mongolian leadership has been soliciting support from foreign donors and economic growth picked up in 1997 and 1998 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,250 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 35% services: 34% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 36.3% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998)

Labor force: 1.115 million (mid-1993 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: primarily herding/agricultural

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998)

Budget: revenues: $260 million (1998) expenditures: $330 million (1998)

Industries: copper, construction materials, mining (particularly coal); food and beverage, processing of animal products

Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 2.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 2.681 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 381 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Exports: $316.8 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports--partners: China 30.1%, Switzerland 21.5%, Russia 12.1%, South Korea 9.7%, US 8.1% (1998)

Imports: $472.4 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports--partners: Russia 30.6%, China 13.3%, Japan 11.7%, South Korea 7.5%, US 6.9% (1998)

Debt--external: $500 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $250 million (1998 est.)

Currency: 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1--902 (January 1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (1996), 448.61 (1995), 412.72 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 93,600 (1998)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 220,000

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 18 provincial repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 120,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 1,928 km broad gauge: 1,928 km 1.524-m gauge (1994)

Highways: total: 46,470 km paved: 3,730 km unpaved: 42,740 km (1997 est.) note: much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough cross-country tracks

Waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 34 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 702,141 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 457,270 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 28,613 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20.3 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Montserrat ----------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 100 sq km land: 100 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak 914 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 40% other: 30% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)

Environment--current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 12,853 (July 1999 est.) note: demographic figures include an estimated 8,000 refugees who left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.21% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.56 years male: 73.79 years female: 77.37 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups: black, white

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Languages: English

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

Data code: MH

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)

Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Legal system: English common law and statutory law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997) head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August 1997) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister; note--as a result of the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party or NPP

International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Economy

Economy--overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-98. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the air and sea ports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Construction was the dominant activity in 1997 and 1998. GDP probably declined again in 1998. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$36 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -18.5% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services: 81% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)

Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note--later substantially lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity

Labor force--by occupation: community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)

Budget: revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)

Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Exports: $8.2 million (1997)

Exports--commodities: electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle

Exports--partners: US, Ireland

Imports: $26.1 million (1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Imports--partners: NA

Debt--external: $8.9 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $9.8 million (1995); note?about $100 million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK

Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 3,000

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 6,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 269 km paved: 203 km unpaved: 66 km (1995)

Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Police Force

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Morocco -------

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries: total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline: 1,835 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 47% forests and woodland: 20% other: 11% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

Population: 29,661,636 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 5,409,322; female 5,208,742) 15-64 years: 60% (male 8,773,625; female 8,922,976) 65 years and over: 4% (male 619,164; female 727,807) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.84% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 25.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 50.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.87 years male: 66.85 years female: 70.99 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan

Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 43.7% male: 56.6% female: 31% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib

Data code: MO

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Rabat

Administrative divisions: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available

Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)

Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961) head of government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14 March 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors--last held 5 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2000); Chamber of Representatives--last held 14 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2002) election results: Chamber of Counselors--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3, UNMT 2, other 3; Chamber of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP 32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: ARCHANE] labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only):

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 3, APO AE 09718 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy

Economy--overview: Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries--restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within manageable bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and state enterprises are slowly being privatized. Drought conditions in 1997 depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 2.2% contraction in real GDP. Favorable rainfalls in the fall of 1997 have led to 6.8% real GDP growth in 1998. Growth is forecast to be about 4.0% in 1999. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU; and improving education and attracting foreign investment to improve living standards and job propects for Morocco's youthful population.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$107 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 33% services: 53% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 13.1% (1990-91 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2%-3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 11 million (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

Unemployment rate: 19% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $8.4 billion expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 11.5 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 95.65% hydro: 4.35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 12.52 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Exports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)

Exports--partners: EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya 3.4% (1996 est.)

Imports: $10 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: semiprocessed goods 26%, capital goods 25%, food and beverages 18%, fuel and lubricants 15%, consumer goods 12%, raw materials 4% (1995 est.)

Imports--partners: EU 57%, US 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.3%, Brazil 2.8% (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $20.9 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $565.6 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--9.320 (January 1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994)

Fiscal year: July 1-June 30

Communications

Telephones: 1,312,596 (1999 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 22, FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)

Radios: 5.1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 26 (in addition, there are 35 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.21 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)

Highways: total: 60,626 km paved: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,070 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned); natural gas 241 km

Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine: total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,869 GRT/263,033 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 6, container 3, oil tanker 3, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 69 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 7,735,597 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,888,595 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 320,040 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.3611 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco--the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

======================================================================

@Mozambique ----------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 801,590 sq km land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: total: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Coastline: 2,470 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical to subtropical

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 18% other: 22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones

Environment--current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population: 19,124,335 (July 1999 est.) note: the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,542,800; other estimates range as low as 16.9 million

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 4,236,545; female 4,325,586) 15-64 years: 53% (male 4,941,048; female 5,181,282) 65 years and over: 2% (male 182,857; female 257,017) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.54% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 42.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 17.31 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 117.56 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.89 years male: 44.73 years female: 47.09 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 57.7% female: 23.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique

Data code: MZ

Government type: republic

Capital: Maputo

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution: 30 November 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note--before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president; percent of vote--Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--Frelimo 44.33%, Renamo 33.78%, DU 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party--Frelimo 129, Renamo 112, DU 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president and judges elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance secretary]; note--the DU may have broken up into the three parties that composed it--Liberal and Democratic Party of Mozambique, National Democratic Party, and National Party of Mozambique

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

Economy

Economy--overview: Before the peace accord of October 1992, Mozambique's economy was devastated by a protracted civil war and socialist mismanagement. In 1994, it ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world. Since then, Mozambique has undertaken a series of economic reforms. Almost all aspects of the economy have been liberalized to some extent. More than 900 state enterprises have been privatized. Pending are tax and much needed commercial code reform, as well as greater private sector involvement in the transportation, telecommunications, and energy sectors. Since 1996, inflation has been low and foreign exchange rates stable. Albeit from a small base, Mozambique achieved one of the highest growth rates in the world in 1997-98. Still, the country depends on foreign assistance to balance the budget and to pay for a trade imbalance in which imports outnumber exports by three to one. The medium-term outlook for the country looks bright, as trade and transportation links to South Africa and the rest of the region are expected to improve and sizable foreign investments materialize. Among these investments are metal production (aluminum, steel), natural gas, power generation, agriculture (cotton, sugar), fishing, timber, and transportation services. Additional exports in these areas should bring in needed foreign exchange.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$16.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 11% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$900 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 13% services: 52% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 9.5%, services 5.5%, wage earners working abroad 5% (1993 est)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget: revenues: $402 million expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 39% (1997)

Electricity--production: 426 million kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source: NA%

Electricity--consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 685.6 million kWh (1997)

Agriculture--products: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry

Exports: $295 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus (1997)

Exports--partners: Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US 10%, Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)

Imports: $965 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum (1997)

Imports--partners: South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $5.7 billion (December 1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $1.115 billion (1995)

Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1--12,394.0 (January 1999), 11,874.6 (1998), 11.543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995), 6,038.6 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 70,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire lines, and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 700,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 44,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)

Highways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes

Pipelines: crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km note: not operating

Ports and harbors: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane

Merchant marine: total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT (1998 est.)

Airports: 174 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 152 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 96 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 4,385,483 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,526,447 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $72 million (FY97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.7% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: Southern African transit hub for South American cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets; producer of hashish and methaqualone

======================================================================

@Namibia -------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries: total: 3,824 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline: 1,572 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 22% other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought

Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population: 1,648,270 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 366,030; female 358,105) 15-64 years: 52% (male 424,879; female 435,116) 65 years and over: 4% (male 26,787; female 37,353) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 19.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.26 years male: 41.64 years female: 40.87 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4% note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%), native religions 10% to 20%

Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38% male: 45% female: 31% (1960 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia

Data code: WA

Government type: republic

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote--76%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council--last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly--last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: National Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--SWAPO 73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by party--SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1 note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's KATJIUONGUA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr. embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is three times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1996 est.)

Labor force: 500,000

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 49%, industry and commerce 25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)

Budget: revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)

Electricity--production: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 1.11 billion kWh (1996) note: imports electricity from South Africa

Agriculture--products: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Exports: $1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Exports--partners: UK 38%, South Africa 24%, Spain 12%, Japan 7% (1996 est.)

Imports: $1.48 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports--partners: South Africa 87%, Germany, US, Japan (1995 est.)

Debt--external: $315 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $127 million (1998)

Currency: 1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1--5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 89,722 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire international: NA note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0

Radios: 195,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which five are main stations and three are low-power stations; there are also about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 27,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)

Highways: total: 64,799 km paved: 7,841 km unpaved: 56,958 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 135 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 113 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 70 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 380,528 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 228,225 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $90 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested

======================================================================

@Nauru -----

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 21 sq km land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 30 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Natural resources: phosphates

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years--mainly by a UK, Australia, and New Zealand consortium--has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

People

Population: 10,605 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: 0 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality: noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%

Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)

Languages: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island

Data code: NR

Government type: republic

Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, New Zealand-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution: 29 January 1968

Legal system: acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 17 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Bernard DOWIYOGO elected president; percent of Parliament vote--NA note: former President Kinza CLODUMAR was deposed in a no-confidence vote

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 8 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: loose multi-party system; Nauru

International organization participation: AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Nauru does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Economy

Economy--overview: Revenues come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World. Few other resources exist, thus most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition. The government also has been borrowing heavily from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has called a freezing of wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$100 million (1993 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1993 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.6% (1993)

Labor force--by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget: revenues: $23.4 million expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)

Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 32 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 32 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coconuts

Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991)

Exports--commodities: phosphates

Exports--partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991)

Imports--commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports--partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan

Debt--external: $33.3 million

Economic aid--recipient: $2.5 million (1995); note?$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 2,000 (1989 est.)

Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone communications provided via Australian facilities domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 4,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: total: 3.9 km; note--used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Highways: total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Nauru

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, Australia is responsible for defense of the island

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Navassa Island --------------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 5.2 sq km land: 5.2 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 8 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: marine, tropical

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Natural resources: guano

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 0% other: 90%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

People

Population: uninhabited note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Data code: BQ

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse located on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Legal system: NA

Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Haiti

======================================================================

@Nepal -----

Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area: total: 140,800 sq km land: 136,800 sq km water: 4,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 42% other: 26% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

Environment--current issues: the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health risks)

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

People

Population: 24,302,653 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 5,182,829; female 4,869,895) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,856,905; female 6,571,916) 65 years and over: 4% (male 407,797; female 413,311) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.51% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 73.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.42 years male: 58.47 years female: 58.36 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese

Ethnic groups: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas

Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note: only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Languages: Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 27.5% male: 40.9% female: 14% (1995 est.)

People--note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal

Data code: NP

Government type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991

Capital: Kathmandu

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)

Constitution: 9 November 1990

Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 15 April 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives--last held 15 November 1994 (next to be held 3 May 1999) election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats by party-- CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3, independents 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United Madhar KUMAR, general secretary]; Nepali Congress Party or NCP general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called party chair]

Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador THAPA Bekh Bahadur chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

Economy

Economy--overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly half of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 41% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past three years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political instability--five different governments over the past few years--has hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$26.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 22% services: 37% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 10 million (1996 est.) note: severe lack of skilled labor

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3%

Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1996)

Budget: revenues: $536 million expenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate: 14.7% (FY94/95 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.032 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 3.1% hydro: 96.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.013 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 89 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 70 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Exports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1997), but does not include unrecorded border trade with India

Exports--commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Exports--partners: India, US, Germany, UK

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%

Imports--partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

Debt--external: $2.4 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $411 million (FY97/98)

Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1--67.675 (January 1999), 65.976 (1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996), 51.890 (1995), 49.398 (1994)

Fiscal year: 16 July--15 July

Communications

Telephones: 115,911 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service domestic: NA international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 690,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (1998 est.)

Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 101 km; note--all in Kosi close to Indian border narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

Highways: total: 7,700 km paved: 3,196 km unpaved: 4,504 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 45 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 5,924,732 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,079,569 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 281,658 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $44 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: with Bhutan over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

======================================================================

@Netherlands -----------

Geography

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 41,532 sq km land: 33,889 sq km water: 7,643 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 8% other: 39% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)

Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded

Environment--current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People

Population: 15,807,641 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 1,475,606; female 1,410,088) 15-64 years: 68% (male 5,482,193; female 5,288,948) 65 years and over: 14% (male 875,847; female 1,274,959) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.47% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 11.36 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.15 years male: 75.28 years female: 81.17 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch

Ethnic groups: Dutch 94%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 6% (1988)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Languages: Dutch

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland

Data code: NL

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular--provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April

Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998) and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch note: there is a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councillors consulted by the executive on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: First Chamber--last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 25 May 1999); Second Chamber--last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May 2002) election results: First Chamber--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VVD 23, CDA 19, PvdA 14, D'66 7, other 12; Second Chamber--percent of vote by party--PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%, D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party--PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66 14, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are nominated for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA

Political pressure groups and leaders: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council or IKV

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

Economy

Economy--overview: This prosperous and open economy is based on private enterprise with the government's presence felt in many aspects of the economy. Industrial activity features food processing, petroleum refining, and metalworking. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. As a result, the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending since the 1980s helped the Dutch achieve sustained economic growth combined with falling unemployment and moderate inflation. The economy achieved a strong 3.7% growth in 1998; a dip in the business cycle probably will cause the economy to decelerate to slightly over 2% growth in 1999. Unemployment in 1999 is expected to be less than 5% of the labor force, and inflation probably will decline. The Dutch joined the first wave of 11 EU countries launching the euro system on 1 January 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$348.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 27.5% services: 69.3% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998)

Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $163 billion expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1998)

Electricity--production: 83.3 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 94.51% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.95% other: 0.44% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 90.366 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 700 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Exports: $160 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, food and tobacco

Exports--partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%, France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1997)

Imports: $142 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels, consumer goods

Imports--partners: EU 61% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 10%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1997)

Debt--external: $0

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $2.9 billion (1997)

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note--on 1 January 2002 to be replaced by the euro

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1--1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 8.431 million (1998 est.); 3.4 million cellular telephone subscribers (1998 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; system of multi-conductor cables gradually being supplemented/replaced by a glass-fiber based telecommunication infrastructure; Mobile GSM-based mobile telephony density rapidly growing; third generation Universal Mobile Telecommunications System expected for introduction by the year 2001 domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39), shortwave 0

Radios: 14 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 15 (in addition, there are five low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 7.6 million (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 2,813 km standard gauge: 2,813 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1996)

Highways: total: 127,000 km paved: 114,427 km (including 2,360 km of expressways) unpaved: 12,573 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km

Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht

Merchant marine: total: 510 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,632,477 GRT/4,097,328 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 303, chemical tanker 42, combination bulk 1, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 17, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 9, oil tanker 24, passenger 8, refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 4 note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry of Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)

Airports: 28 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 4,117,376 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,595,693 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 95,368 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.604 billion (FY97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs

======================================================================

@Netherlands Antilles --------------------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea--one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is east of the Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 960 sq km land: 960 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

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

Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km

Coastline: 364 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 90% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 207,827 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 27,160; female 26,149) 15-64 years: 67% (male 65,781; female 73,054) 65 years and over: 7% (male 6,538; female 9,145) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.01% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 17.11 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.25 years male: 72.19 years female: 76.41 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Netherlands Antillean(s) adjective: Netherlands Antillean

Ethnic groups: mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1981 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Data code: NT

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954

Government type: parliamentary

Capital: Willemstad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended

Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders: Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA ROLLOCKS] note: political parties are indigenous to each island

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS consulate(s) general: J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

Flag description: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -1.8% (1997)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,500 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1997)

Labor force: 89,000

Labor force--by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)

Budget: revenues: $710.8 million expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Exports: $268.2 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: petroleum products 98% (1993)

Exports--partners: US 28.6%, Honduras 6.4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6%, Italy 4.9%, Guatemala 4.5%, Costa Rica 4% (1996)

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures (1993)

Imports--partners: Venezuela 34%, US 16.4%, Mexico 15.5%, Netherlands 5%, Italy 3.5%, Brazil 2.8% (1996)

Debt--external: $1.35 billion (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?the Netherlands provided a $97 million aid package in 1996

Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1--1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there is a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km (1992 est.)

Ports and harbors: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Merchant marine: total: 95 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 811,782 GRT/1,045,989 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 19, oil tanker 4, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries: Belgium owns 9 ships, Germany 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-47: 53,285 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 29,888 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 1,457 (1999 est.)

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe

======================================================================

@New Caledonia -------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 19,060 sq km land: 18,575 sq km water: 485 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,254 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 12% forests and woodland: 39% other: 49% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 197,361 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 29,610; female 28,485) 15-64 years: 65% (male 64,552; female 63,229) 65 years and over: 6% (male 5,443; female 6,042) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 20.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.35 years male: 72.1 years female: 78.77 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 92% female: 90% (1976 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie

Data code: NC

Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1956

Government type: NA

Capital: Noumea

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note--a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995) head of government: President of the Territorial Congress Simon LOUECKHOTE (since NA 1998) cabinet: Consultative Committee elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Congress elected by the members of the congress

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 9, UNI 5, DEPCA 2, FN 2, RCF 2, and other 2 note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melanesian Union or POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites or Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy--overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and tourism are key to the health of the economy. Performance in 1998 was hampered by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,400 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 25% services: 72% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1996 est.)

Labor force: 70,044 (1988)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 16%, services 60%, mining 4% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)

Budget: revenues: $755.6 million expenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Industries: nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 69.87% hydro: 30.13% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: vegetables; beef, other livestock products

Exports: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore

Exports--partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%, Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)

Imports: $845 million (c.i.f., 1996)

Imports--commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels, minerals

Imports--partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, New Zealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $446.3 million (1995); note?about $50 million yearly support from France for government operations

Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994); note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 5,562 km paved: 975 km unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)

Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 27 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 7 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by France and Vanuatu

======================================================================

@New Zealand -----------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area--comparative: about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15,134 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment--international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geography--note: about 80% of the population lives in cities

People

Population: 3,662,265 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 430,105; female 409,302) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,202,762; female 1,195,006) 65 years and over: 12% (male 184,048; female 241,042) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 14.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.82 years male: 74.55 years female: 81.27 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Maori

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ

Data code: NZ

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Wellington

Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted

Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt CREECH (since NA August 1998); note--the coalition government of the National Party and the New Zealand First Party was dissolved on 18 August 1998 cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives--commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%, NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%; seats by party--NP 44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1

Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: National Party or NP [Jenny coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party)

International organization participation: ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Economy

Economy--overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. The slump in demand in Asian markets largely explains the slight drop in GDP in 1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$61.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.2% (1998)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 25% services: 66% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998)

Labor force: 1.86 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: services 65.1%, industry 25.1%, agriculture 9.8% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 7.6% (1998)

Budget: revenues: $24.9 billion expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 18.72% hydro: 75.67% nuclear: 0% other: 5.61% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Exports: $12.9 billion (1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures, dairy products, wood

Exports--partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 10%, UK 6% (1997)

Imports: $13 billion (1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics

Imports--partners: Australia 27%, US 19%, Japan 12%, UK 6% (1997)

Debt--external: $53.2 billion (March 1998)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)

Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.85 (February 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 1.7 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.215 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 41 (in addition, there are 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.53 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)

Highways: total: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation

Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km

Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Merchant marine: total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,687 GRT/183,372 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Airports: 111 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 43 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 943,624 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 793,814 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 26,046 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $562 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.05% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

======================================================================

@Nicaragua ---------

Geography

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York

Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline: 910 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone continental shelf: natural prolongation territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 27% other: 17% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

People

Population: 4,717,132 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356) 65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 40.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.08 years male: 64.7 years female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Languages: Spanish (official) note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 65.7% male: 64.6% female: 66.6% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua

Data code: NU

Government type: republic

Capital: Managua

Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular--departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular--region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 January 1987

Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years party]--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) remaining 4.33%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Alliance (ruling party--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party--Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC Saavedra]

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers Central or CST; Farm Workers Association or ATC; Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD; National Union of Employees or UNE; National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO; and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS; Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A; Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic forecasts for the foreseeable future--Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane. Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in 1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million. Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 24% services: 44% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 50.3% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.5 million

Labor force--by occupation: services 54%, agriculture 31%, industry 15% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14%; underemployment 36% (1997 est.)

Budget: revenues: $389 million expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 48.95% hydro: 21.02% nuclear: 0% other: 30.03% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Exports: $704 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas

Exports--partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada

Imports: $1.45 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products

Imports--partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

Debt--external: $6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $839.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1--11.14 (December 1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 66,810 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System domestic: wire and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3

Radios: 1.037 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 260,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Highways: total: 16,382 km paved: 1,818 km unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Pipelines: crude oil 56 km

Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 184 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 1,108,146 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 681,495 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 53,508 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $26 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

======================================================================

@Niger -----

Geography

Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total: 5,697 km border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m

Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 2% other: 88% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts

Environment--current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 9,962,242 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,445,536; female 2,346,844) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,421,971; female 2,518,248) 65 years and over: 2% (male 121,253; female 108,390) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.95% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 52.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 22.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 112.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.96 years male: 42.22 years female: 41.7 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 7.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates

Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 13.6% male: 20.9% female: 6.6% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: Republique du Niger local short form: Niger

Data code: NG

Government type: republic

Capital: Niamey

Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular--departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January 1996); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January 1996); note--Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was appointed prime minister by the president but does not exercise any executive authority and is only the implementor of the president's programs; the president is both chief of state and head of government note: President Ibrahim BARE was assasinated on the 9 April 1999 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last held 7-8 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--Ibrahim BARE Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996 election results: percent of vote--Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%, Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%

Legislative branch: two-chamber National Assembly; one chamber with 83 seats (members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); selection process for second chamber not established elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UNIRD 59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3, MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2

Judicial branch: State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and TALBA, chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa NA]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank. Short-term prospects depend largely on upcoming negotiations on debt relief and extended aid.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$970 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 18% services: 42% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1998)

Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $370 million (including $160 million from foreign sources) expenditures: $370 million, including capital expenditures of $186 million (1998 est.)

Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 170 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 365 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 195 million kWh (1996) note: imports electricity from Nigeria

Agriculture--products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Exports: $269 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: uranium ore 50%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions (1996 est.)

Exports--partners: Greece 21%, Canada 18%, France 12%, Nigeria 7% (1996 est.)

Imports: $295 million (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports--partners: France 17%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, US 5%, Belgium-Luxembourg 4%, Nigeria (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $222 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 14,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 620,000 (1995 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 105,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 27 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 2,117,868 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,143,355 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 102,762 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger; delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria

======================================================================

@Nigeria -------

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 923,770 sq km land: 910,770 sq km water: 13,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: total: 4,047 km border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm

Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 12% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population: 113,828,587 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 25,613,974; female 25,397,166) 15-64 years: 52% (male 30,272,539; female 29,197,611) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,678,732; female 1,668,565) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.92% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 41.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 69.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.3 years male: 52.55 years female: 54.06 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups: Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria

Data code: NI

Government type: republic transitioning from military to civilian rule

Capital: Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja

Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe note: the government has announced the creation of six additional states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara as part of the process of transition to a civilian government

Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Constitution: 1979 constitution still partially in force

Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since 9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until 29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be inaugurated head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since 9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until 29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be inaugurated cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: the president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next election to be held NA 2003) election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with NA% of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); House of Representatives--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4; House of Representives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDP 206, APP 74, AD 68, others 12 note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new civilian government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is expected to be inaugurated on 29 May 1999

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee

Political parties and leaders: political parties, suppressed by the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998; three parties were registered by the Provisional Ruling Council for participation in local, state and national elections; All People's

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C (suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Economy

Economy--overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides 30% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The government's resistance to initiating greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on a staff-monitored program and debt relief. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Growth in 1999 may become negative because of continued low oil prices and persistent inefficiencies in the system.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$106.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$960 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 42% services: 25% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 34.1% (1992-93 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 31.4% (1992-93)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 42.844 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%

Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)

Budget: revenues: $13.9 billion (1998 est.) expenditures: $13.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1998 est.)

Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1996)

Electricity--production: 13.78 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 60.94% hydro: 39.06% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 13.74 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 50 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Exports: $9.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports--partners: US 35%, Spain 11%, Italy 6%, France 6% (1997 est.)

Imports: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery, chemicals, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food and animals

Imports--partners: US 14%, UK 11%, Germany 10%, France 8%, Netherlands 5% (1997 est.)

Debt--external: $32 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $39.2 million (1995)

Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo

Exchange rates: nairas (N) per US$1--21.886 (December 1998), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 405,100 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications satellite system with 20 earth stations international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations: AM 82, FM 32, shortwave 10 (1998 est.)

Radios: 17.2 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (government-controlled)

Televisions: 6.1 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways: total: 3,557 km narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995) note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway

Highways: total: 51,000 km paved: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,000 km (1998 est.) note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the result of the failure of the railroad system), much of the road system is barely useable

Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks

Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural gas 500 km

Ports and harbors: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri

Merchant marine: total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 371,499 GRT/631,425 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 20, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 72 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 25,967,281 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 14,890,337 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 1,201,738 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $236 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently before the International Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

Illicit drugs: facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets

======================================================================

@Niue ----

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 19% other: 50% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons

Environment--current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant

Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: one of world's largest coral islands

People

Population: 2,103 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.5% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)

Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church) 75%--a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English

Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue

Data code: NE

Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital: Alofi

Administrative divisions: none; note--there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are elected and serve three-year terms

Independence: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system: English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993) head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March 1993) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 9, independents 11

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party or NPP

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars--a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid and remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export products. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by grants from New Zealand which are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 million (1993 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1993 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992)

Labor force: 450 (1992 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $5.5 million expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)

Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 3 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 3 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)

Exports--commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports--partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)

Imports--commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports--partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Samoa, Australia, US

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $8.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 276 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)

Radios: 1,000

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 312 (1991 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 234 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 234 km

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Police Force

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Norfolk Island --------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 32 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: NA% other: 75% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 1,905 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -0.71% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians

Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Data code: NF

Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport and Territories

Government type: NA

Capital: Kingston

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since 4 August 1997) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister George Charles Smith (since 30 April 1997) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the Administrator elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000) election results: George Charles Smith elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)

Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 1,395 (1991 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

Industries: tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)

Exports--commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports--partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)

Imports--commodities: NA

Imports--partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 2,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station; in addition, there are two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Televisions: 1,500 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km

Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Northern Mariana Islands ------------------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,482 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: 0% other: 60%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Environment--current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People

Population: 69,398 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 8,459; female 8,197) 15-64 years: 74% (male 24,651; female 26,949) 65 years and over: 2% (male 550; female 592) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 2.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 20.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.36 years male: 72.19 years female: 78.72 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA

Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Data code: CQ

Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital: Saipan

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978

Legal system: based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way race; percent of vote--Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate--last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of Representatives--last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Republicans 8, Democrats 1; House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Republicans 13, Democrats 5 note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party--Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Benigno R.

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC

Flag description: blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing chief source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1 billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$524 million (1996 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,300 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)

Labor force--by occupation: managerial 20.5%, technical, sales 16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%, operators, fabricators 26.9%

Unemployment rate: 14% (residents)

Budget: revenues: $221 million expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7 million (1996)

Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Exports: $1 billion (1998)

Exports--commodities: garments

Exports--partners: US

Imports: $NA

Imports--commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports--partners: US, Japan

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $21.1 million (1995)

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3

Radios: 15,460 (1995 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable stations on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions: 15,460 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Norway ------

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