The 2009 CIA World Factbook (part 9 of 25)

Military expenditures:

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues ::Marshall Islands

Disputes - international:

claims US territory of Wake Island

page last updated on November 2, 2009

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

@Mauritania (Africa)

Introduction ::Mauritania

Background:

Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Meanwhile, the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and White and Black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Geography ::Mauritania

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 country comparison to the world: 29 land: 1,030,700 sq km

water: 0 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m

highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0.2%

permanent crops: 0.01%

other: 99.79% (2005)

Irrigated land:

490 sq km (2002)

Total renewable water resources:

11.4 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.7 cu km/yr (9%/3%/88%)

per capita: 554 cu m/yr (2000)

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; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

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 ::Mauritania

Population:

3,129,486 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41% (male 643,436/female 638,793)

15-64 years: 55.7% (male 818,778/female 923,046)

65 years and over: 3.4% (male 44,836/female 60,597) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.2 years

male: 18.3 years

female: 20 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.399% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Birth rate:

34.11 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Death rate:

9.16 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Net migration rate:

-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Urbanization:

urban population: 41% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 63.42 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 35 male: 68.65 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 58.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 60.37 years country comparison to the world: 182 male: 58.22 years

female: 62.59 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.45 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Mauritanian(s)

adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups:

mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

Religions:

Muslim 100%

Languages:

Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 51.2%

male: 59.5%

female: 43.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years

male: 8 years

female: 8 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Government ::Mauritania

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

Government type:

military junta

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 18 07 N, 16 02 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Islamic law and French civil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009) note - AZIZ, who deposed democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and installed himself as President of Military High Council of State on 6 August 2008, was elected president in an election held 18 July 2009

head of government: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed LAGHDAF (since 14 August 2008)

cabinet: Council of Ministers

elections: following the August 2008 coup, the Military High Council of State pledged to hold a new presidential election which was subsequently scheduled and held on 18 July 2009; under Mauritania's constitution, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 18 July 2009 (next to be held by 2014)

election results: percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ 52.6%, Messaoud Ould BOULKHEIR 16.3%, Ahmed Ould DADDAH 13.7%, Other 17.4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 53 members elected by municipal leaders and 3 members elected by Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held 21 January and 4 February 2007 (next to be held in 2009); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011); note - it is unclear when the Senate elections originally scheduled for 2009 will be held

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime) 37, CFCD (coalition of political parties) 15, representatives of the diaspora 3, undecided 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Mithaq 51 (independents 37, PRDR 7, UDP 3, RDU 3, Alternative (El-Badil) 1), CFCD 41 (RFD 16, UFP 9, APP 6, Centrist Reformists 4, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, PUDS 1), RNDLE 1, UCD 1, FP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alternative or El-Badil [Mohamed Yahdhi Ould MOCTAR HACEN]; Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists) [Mohamed Jamil MANSOUR]; Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change or CFCD (coalition of political parties including APP, Centrist Reformists (independent moderate Islamists), HATEM-PMUC, PUDS, RD, RFD, UFP); Democratic Renewal or RD [Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]; Mithaq (coalition of independents and parties associated with the former regime including Alternative or El-Badil, PRDR, UDP, RDU); National Pact for Democracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL (independents supporting President Abdellahi) [Yahya Ould Ahmed Ould WAGHEF]; National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; National Rally for Reform and Development or Tawassoul (moderate Islamists) [Mohamed Jemil Ould MANSOUR]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Boullah Ould MOGUEYA]; Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Center or UCD [Cheikh Sid'Ahmed Ould BABA]; Union of the Forces for Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD];

Political pressure groups and leaders:

General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]

other: Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; Islamists

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima DIA

chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 through 5701

FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark M. BOULWARE

embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye, Rue 42-100 (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott

mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott

telephone: [222] 525-2660 through 2663

FAX: [222] 525-1592

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 ::Mauritania

Economy - overview:

Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and 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 nearly 40% of total exports. 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. Before 2000, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of its foreign debt has since been forgiven. In December 2007 donors pledged $2.1 billion at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement in 2006 and Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but IMF and World Bank suspended their programs in Mauritania following the August 2008 coup; following the July 2009 Presidential elections, the IMF and World Bank agreed to meet with the Goverment to discuss a resumption. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to materialize. The Government continues to emphasize reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and privatization of the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.323 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $6.109 billion (2007 est.)

$6.048 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.161 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 1% (2007 est.)

11.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $2,000 (2007 est.)

$2,100 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.5%

industry: 46.7%

services: 40.7% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

1.318 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 133

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 50%

industry: 10%

services: 40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 20% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%

highest 10%: 29.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2000) country comparison to the world: 70 37.3 (1995)

Budget:

revenues: $770 million

expenditures: $770 million (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 27 12% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep

Industries:

fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper; gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity - production:

415.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - consumption:

386.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

12,830 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Oil - consumption:

21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Oil - exports:

30,620 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Oil - imports:

20,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Current account balance:

-$184 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Exports:

$1.395 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 141

Exports - commodities:

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum

Exports - partners:

China 41.4%, France 10.2%, Spain 7%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands 5.4%, Belgium 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4% (2008)

Imports:

$1.475 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 161

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 16.7%, China 8.8%, Netherlands 6.4%, Spain 6%, Belgium 5.4%, US 5.1%, Brazil 4.5% (2008)

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)

Communications ::Mauritania

Telephones - main lines in use:

76,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 152

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.092 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 120

Telephone system:

general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations; mobile-cellular services expanding rapidly

domestic: Mauritel, the national telecommunications company, was privatized in 2001 but remains the monopoly provider of fixed-line services; fixed-line teledensity 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of 60 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals

international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Internet country code:

.mr

Internet hosts:

15 (2009) country comparison to the world: 217

Internet users:

45,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 173

Transportation ::Mauritania

Airports:

27 (2009) country comparison to the world: 125

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 18

1,524 to 2,437 m: 8

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Railways:

728 km

standard gauge: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 11,066 km country comparison to the world: 135 paved: 2,966 km

unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Waterways:

some navigation possible on Senegal River

Ports and terminals:

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Military ::Mauritania

Military branches:

Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Mauritanian Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Islamic Air Force of Mauritania (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 740,675

females age 16-49: 744,709 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 450,289

females age 16-49: 544,598 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 34,546

female: 35,272 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 14

Transnational Issues ::Mauritania

Disputes - international:

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Mauritius (Africa)

Introduction ::Mauritius

Background:

Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather, declining sugar prices, and declining textile and apparel production, have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.

Geography ::Mauritius

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,040 sq km country comparison to the world: 180 land: 2,030 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:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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: 49.02%

permanent crops: 2.94%

other: 48.04% (2005)

Irrigated land:

220 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

2.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.61 cu km/yr (25%/14%/60%)

per capita: 488 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:

water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons, driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species

People ::Mauritius

Population:

1,284,264 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.5% (male 147,136/female 142,121)

15-64 years: 70.4% (male 449,176/female 455,057)

65 years and over: 7.1% (male 36,309/female 54,465) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.9 years

male: 31 years

female: 32.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.776% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Birth rate:

14.41 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Death rate:

6.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Net migration rate:

-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Urbanization:

urban population: 42% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 145 male: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74 years country comparison to the world: 93 male: 70.53 years

female: 77.65 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.81 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Nationality:

noun: Mauritian(s)

adjective: Mauritian

Ethnic groups:

Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions:

Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 84.4%

male: 88.4%

female: 80.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 13 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 110

Government ::Mauritius

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius

conventional short form: Mauritius

local long form: Republic of Mauritius

local short form: Mauritius

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 the 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003); Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)

head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5 July 2005)

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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly

election results: Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 members elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2010)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS 38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance Sociale or AS [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM] (governing coalition - includes MLD, MMSM, MR, MSD, PMXD); Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or MMSM [Madan DULLOO]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mouvement Republicain or MR [Jayarama VALAYDEN]; Parti Mauricien Xavier Duval or PMXD [Xavier Luc DUVAL]; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: various labor unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Keerteecoomar RUHEE

chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 through 1492

FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cesar CABRERA

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, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450

telephone: [230] 202-4400

FAX: [230] 208-9534

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Economy ::Mauritius

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, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and communications technology, and hospitality and property development. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.43 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $14.65 billion (2007 est.)

$13.89 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.738 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 5.5% (2007 est.)

5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $11,600 (2007 est.)

$11,100 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.6%

industry: 24.9%

services: 70.5% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

584,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 9%, construction and industry 30%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 22%, finance 6%, other services 25% (2007)

Unemployment rate:

7.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 8.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 37 (1987 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Budget:

revenues: $1.871 billion

expenditures: $2.163 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2008 est.)

Public debt:

56.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 29.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 8.8% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

21.54% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 14 21.87% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.68 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 74 $1.673 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$6.914 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 58 $6.759 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9.323 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 72 $8.582 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$3.443 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $5.666 billion (31 December 2007)

$3.598 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Electricity - production:

2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - consumption:

2.158 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - consumption:

23,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - imports:

22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 150

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Current account balance:

-$972.8 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 -$408.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.231 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses, fish

Exports - partners:

UK 30.8%, France 15.1%, US 8.6%, Italy 6.5%, Belgium 5.3%, UAE 5.1%, Madagascar 4.1% (2008)

Imports:

$4.399 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $3.656 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

India 21.1%, France 11.8%, South Africa 9.9%, China 8.2% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.785 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $1.822 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.077 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $2.149 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 27.973 (2008 est.), 31.798 (2007), 31.656 (2006), 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004)

Communications ::Mauritius

Telephones - main lines in use:

364,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 103

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.033 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 142

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system with good service

domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005; fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2008 reaching 80 per 100 persons

international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:

.mu

Internet hosts:

22,813 (2009) country comparison to the world: 99

Internet users:

380,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 114

Transportation ::Mauritius

Airports:

5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 181

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 2,028 km country comparison to the world: 173 paved: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 country comparison to the world: 141 by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Port Louis

Military ::Mauritius

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 341,018 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 277,690

females age 16-49: 282,211 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 10,901

female: 10,796 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.3% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Transnational Issues ::Mauritius

Disputes - international:

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Illicit drugs:

consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Mayotte (Africa)

Introduction ::Mayotte

Background:

Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence.

Geography ::Mayotte

Location:

Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

12 50 S, 45 10 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 374 sq km country comparison to the world: 204 land: 374 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 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%

other: NA%

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

cyclones during rainy season

Environment - current issues:

Geography - note:

part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)

People ::Mayotte

Population:

223,765 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.3% (male 50,985/female 50,413)

15-64 years: 52.9% (male 63,395/female 54,882)

65 years and over: 1.8% (male 2,085/female 2,005) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.2 years

male: 18.1 years

female: 16.4 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.317% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Birth rate:

39.26 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Death rate:

7.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Net migration rate:

1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female

total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.29 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 41 male: 61.89 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 50.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.91 years country comparison to the world: 175 male: 60.65 years

female: 65.24 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.5 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)

adjective: Mahoran

Ethnic groups:

Religions:

Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%

Languages:

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population

Literacy:

Education expenditures:

Government ::Mayotte

Country name:

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte

conventional short form: Mayotte

Dependency status:

departmental collectivity of France

Government type:

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 12 46 S, 45 13 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Independence:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009)

head of government: President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA (since March 2008)

cabinet: NA

elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term; next election to be held in 2010

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)

elections: last held 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 8, Diverse Right 4, independents 4, Citizens and Republic Movement 1, Democratic Movement 1, Diverse Left 1; note - political parties are the same as parties in France

note: Mayotte elects two members of the French Senate; elections last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC-UDF 1, UMP 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of French Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

InOC, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:

unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant)

note: the flag of France used for official occasions

Economy ::Mayotte

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$953.6 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,900 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force:

44,560 (2002) country comparison to the world: 184

Unemployment rate:

25.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 173

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $420 million

expenditures: $394 million (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 13

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra, fish, livestock

Industries:

newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

139.2 million kWh (2005) country comparison to the world: 184

Exports:

$6.5 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 212

Exports - commodities:

ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

Imports:

$341 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 190

Imports - commodities:

food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Mayotte

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 205

Telephones - mobile cellular:

48,100 (2005) country comparison to the world: 195

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications

domestic: NA

international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2001)

Internet country code:

.yt

Internet hosts:

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 229

Transportation ::Mayotte

Airports:

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 220

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Ports and terminals:

Dzaoudzi

Military ::Mayotte

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 35,849

females age 16-49: 34,456 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,517

female: 2,511 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of French forces is stationed on the island

Transnational Issues ::Mayotte

Disputes - international:

claimed by Comoros

page last updated on October 28, 2009

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

@Mexico (North America)

Introduction ::Mexico

Background:

The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation had been making an impressive recovery until the global financial crisis hit in late 2008. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate - Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) - defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON. In January 2009, Mexico assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2009-10 term.

Geography ::Mexico

Location:

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States

Geographic coordinates:

23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 1,964,375 sq km country comparison to the world: 15 land: 1,943,945 sq km

water: 20,430 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,353 km

border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km

Coastline:

9,330 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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: 12.66%

permanent crops: 1.28%

other: 86.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:

63,200 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

457.2 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 78.22 cu km/yr (17%/5%/77%)

per capita: 731 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts

Environment - current issues:

scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; 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; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion

note: the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation national security issues

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize), one of the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated in Mexico

People ::Mexico

Population:

111,211,789 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.1% (male 16,544,223/female 15,861,141)

15-64 years: 64.6% (male 34,734,571/female 37,129,793)

65 years and over: 6.2% (male 3,130,518/female 3,811,543) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.3 years

male: 25.3 years

female: 27.3 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.13% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Birth rate:

19.71 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Death rate:

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Net migration rate:

-3.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Urbanization:

urban population: 77% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.42 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 113 male: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.06 years country comparison to the world: 71 male: 73.25 years

female: 79 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.34 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

200,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: dengue fever

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Mexican(s)

adjective: Mexican

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91%

male: 92.4%

female: 89.6% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 14 years

female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 49

Government ::Mexico

Country name:

conventional long form: United Mexican States

conventional short form: Mexico

local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos

local short form: Mexico

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

note: Mexico is divided into three time zones

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 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by 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 Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1 December 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1 December 2006)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of attorney general requires consent of the Senate

elections: president elected by popular vote for a single six-year term; election last held on 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012)

election results: Felipe CALDERON elected president; percent of vote - Felipe CALDERON 35.89%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR 35.31%, Roberto MADRAZO 22.26%, other 6.54%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 seats 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 elected by popular vote; remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote; to serve three-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2006 for all of the seats (next to be held 1 July 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 2 July 2006 (next to be held 5 July 2009)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 26, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 5, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAN 207, PRD 127, PRI 106, PVEM 17, CD 17, PT 11, other 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion (justices or ministros are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders:

Convergence for Democracy or CD [Luis MALDONADO Venegas]; Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Beatriz PAREDES]; Labor Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]; Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [German MARTINEZ Cazares]; New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA [Jorge Antonio KAHWAGI Macari]; Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Leonel COTA Montano]; Social Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (Partido Alternativa Socialdemocrata y Campesina) or Alternativa [Alberto BEGNE Guerra]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Broad Progressive Front or FAP; Businessmen's Coordinating Council or CCE; Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; National Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE; National Syndicate of Education Workers or SNTE; National Union of Workers or UNT; Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation:

APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CDB, CE (observer), CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, G-20, G-3, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo SARUKHAN Casamitjana

chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600

FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, Saint Paul (Minnesota), San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas City (Missouri), Laredo (Texas), Las Vegas, Little Rock (Arkansas), McAllen (Texas), New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma (Arizona)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA, Jr.

embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal

mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000

telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000

FAX: [52] (55) 5511-9980

consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana

consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band

Economy ::Mexico

Economy - overview:

Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has nearly tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. In 2007, during its first year in office, the Felipe CALDERON administration was able to garner support from the opposition to successfully pass a pension and a fiscal reform. The administration continues to face many economic challenges including the need to upgrade infrastructure, modernize labor laws, and allow private investment in the energy sector. CALDERON has stated that his top economic priorities remain reducing poverty and creating jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.567 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.547 trillion (2007 est.)

$1.498 trillion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.088 trillion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 3.3% (2007 est.)

5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $14,200 (2007 est.)

$13,900 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.8%

industry: 35.2%

services: 61% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

45.32 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 15.1%

industry: 25.7%

services: 59% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 3.7% (2007 est.)

note: underemployment is perhaps 25%

Population below poverty line:

13.8% using food-based definition of poverty; asset based poverty amounted to more than 40% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.8%

highest 10%: 37.9% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.9 (2006) country comparison to the world: 32 53.1 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Budget:

revenues: $257.1 billion

expenditures: $258.1 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

35.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 23.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.71% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 7.56% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$92.34 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 13 $103.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$147.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 $168.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$287 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 25 $349.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$232.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 24 $397.7 billion (31 December 2007)

$348.3 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Industries:

food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - production:

245 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - consumption:

200.9 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - exports:

1.288 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

584 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

3.186 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Oil - consumption:

2.128 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Oil - exports:

1.986 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Oil - imports:

479,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Oil - proved reserves:

10.5 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - production:

52.15 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - consumption:

66.88 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas - exports:

1.136 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas - imports:

12.61 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - proved reserves:

372.7 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Current account balance:

-$15.81 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 -$8.331 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$291.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $271.9 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:

US 80.2%, Canada 2.4%, Germany 1.7% (2008)

Imports:

$308.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $281.9 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

Imports - partners:

US 49%, China 11.2%, Japan 5.3%, South Korea 4.4%, Germany 4.1% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$95.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $87.19 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$200.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 31 $193.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$289.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $267.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$45.39 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $44.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 11.016 (2008 est.), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004)

Communications ::Mexico

Telephones - main lines in use:

20.539 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 14

Telephones - mobile cellular:

75.304 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 12

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers far outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable

domestic: low telephone density with about 19 fixed lines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmex remains dominant; legal challenges to Telmex's alleged anti-competitive behavior in the mobile and fixed-line markets culminated in a World Trade Organization ruling in 2004 against Mexico prompting some strengthening of the powers granted Mexico's telecom regulator; mobile cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100 persons

international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)

Television broadcast stations:

236 (plus repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:

.mx

Internet hosts:

12.716 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 8

Internet users:

23.26 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 16

Transportation ::Mexico

Airports:

1,744 (2009) country comparison to the world: 3

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 246

over 3,047 m: 12

2,438 to 3,047 m: 29

1,524 to 2,437 m: 85

914 to 1,523 m: 82

under 914 m: 38 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,498

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 65

914 to 1,523 m: 426

under 914 m: 1,005 (2009)

Heliports:

1 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km; oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)

Railways:

total: 17,516 km country comparison to the world: 16 standard gauge: 17,516 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 356,945 km country comparison to the world: 19 paved: 178,473 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways)

unpaved: 178,472 km (2006)

Waterways:

2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals) (2008) country comparison to the world: 34

Merchant marine:

total: 55 country comparison to the world: 67 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 23, roll on/roll off 3

foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 1)

registered in other countries: 20 (Brazil 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Spain 3, Venezuela 5, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Veracruz

Military ::Mexico

Military branches:

Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, Sedena): Army (Ejercito, includes Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM)); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air Force (FAN) and naval infantry) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy and Air Force service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 27,774,688

females age 16-49: 29,376,791 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 22,541,654

females age 16-49: 25,149,027 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,109,981

female: 1,072,094 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Transnational Issues ::Mexico

Disputes - international:

abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 5,500-10,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2007 rose to 6,900 hectares yielding a potential production of 18 metric tons of pure heroin, or 50 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation increased to 8,900 hectares in 2007 and yielded a potential production of 15,800 metric tons; government conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in the world; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market (2007)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Micronesia, Federated States of (Australia-Oceania)

Introduction ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Background:

In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Geography ::Micronesia, Federated States of

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 country comparison to the world: 191 land: 702 sq km

water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)

note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

6,112 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 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 Chuuk

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Natural resources:

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use:

arable land: 5.71%

permanent crops: 45.71%

other: 48.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

overfishing, climate change, pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Population:

107,434 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.8% (male 19,010/female 18,411)

15-64 years: 62.3% (male 33,286/female 33,629)

65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,317/female 1,781) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 22 years

male: 21.5 years

female: 22.5 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.238% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

Birth rate:

23.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Death rate:

4.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Net migration rate:

-21.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Urbanization:

urban population: 22% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 82 male: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 23.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.94 years country comparison to the world: 134 male: 69.06 years

female: 72.93 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.89 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Micronesian(s)

adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Ethnic groups:

Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%

Languages:

English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 89%

male: 91%

female: 88% (1980 est.)

Education expenditures:

7.3% of GDP (2000) country comparison to the world: 18

Government ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Country name:

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form: none

local long form: Federated States of Micronesia

local short form: none

former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts

abbreviation: FSM

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E

time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Independence:

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution:

10 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)

cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments

elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2007 (next to be held May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed

election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote)

elections: last held 3 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2011)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

no formal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE

chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391

consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam K. HUGHES

embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia

mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941

telephone: [691] 320-2187

FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description:

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy ::Micronesia, Federated States of

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 remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$238.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 214 $277 million (2002 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP (official exchange rate):

$238.1 million (2008)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $2,300 (2005 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28.9%

industry: 15.2%

services: 55.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

16,360 (2008) country comparison to the world: 204

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.9%

industry: 34.4%

services: 64.7%

note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)

Unemployment rate:

22% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Population below poverty line:

26.7% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $166 million ($69 million less grants)

expenditures: $152.7 million (FY07 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 20

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.38% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 53 14.03% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$22.45 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$72.49 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$NA (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish; Kosraen citrus

Industries:

tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

192 million kWh (2002) country comparison to the world: 177

Electricity - consumption:

178.6 million kWh (2002) country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Current account balance:

-$34.3 million (FY05 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Exports:

$14 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Exports - commodities:

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut

Imports:

$132.7 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 205

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Debt - external:

$60.8 million (FY05 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 206

Telephones - mobile cellular:

34,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 200

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system

domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (cable TV also available) (2004)

Internet country code:

.fm

Internet hosts:

1,050 (2009) country comparison to the world: 159

Internet users:

16,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 194

Transportation ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Airports:

6 (2009) country comparison to the world: 170

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 240 km country comparison to the world: 204 paved: 42 km

unpaved: 198 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 country comparison to the world: 137 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Tomil Harbor

Military ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Military branches:

no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of the US (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 21,845

females age 16-49: 23,401 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,273

female: 1,212 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major consumer of cannabis

page last updated on November 3, 2009

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

@Moldova (Europe)

Introduction ::Moldova

Background:

Part of Romania during the interwar period, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

Geography ::Moldova

Location:

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates:

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 33,851 sq km country comparison to the world: 139 land: 32,891 sq km

water: 960 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 1,390 km

border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 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: Dniester River 2 m

highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Natural resources:

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 54.52%

permanent crops: 8.81%

other: 36.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

11.7 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)

per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

landslides

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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

People ::Moldova

Population:

4,320,748 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.9% (male 353,495/female 334,592)

15-64 years: 73.3% (male 1,536,263/female 1,629,882)

65 years and over: 10.8% (male 172,070/female 294,446) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.6 years

male: 32.7 years

female: 36.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.079% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Birth rate:

11.12 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Death rate:

10.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Net migration rate:

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Urbanization:

urban population: 42% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: -1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female

total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.13 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 137 male: 14.57 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.8 years country comparison to the world: 136 male: 67.1 years

female: 74.71 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.27 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

8,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Nationality:

noun: Moldovan(s)

adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups:

Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)

note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

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: 99.1%

male: 99.7%

female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

7.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 17

Government ::Moldova

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Moldova

conventional short form: Moldova

local long form: Republica Moldova

local short form: Moldova

former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

note: pronounced kee-shee-now

geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)

raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni

municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau

autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia

territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)

Independence:

27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 29 July 1994; effective 27 August 1994; note - replaced 1979 Soviet constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Acting President Mihai GHIMPU (since 11 September 2009)

note: Vladimir VORONIN, president since 4 April 2001, resigned on 11 September 2009; Mihai GHIMPU, the Parliamentary Speaker, replaced him until new elections can be held

head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25 September 2009); Deputy Prime Minister Iurie LEANCA (since 25 September 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament

elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next to have been held 5 April 2009); note - prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 17 September 2009; cabinet received a vote of confidence 25 September 2009

election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vladimir FILAT designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 53 of 101

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 29 July 2009 (next to be held in 2013); note - this was the second parliamentary election in less than four months; the earlier parliament (elected 5 April 2009) could not agree on a presidential candidate

election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 44.7%, PLDM 16.6%, PL 14.7%, PD 12.5%, AMN 7.4%; seats by party - PCRM 48, PLDM 18, PL 15, PD 13, AMN 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)

Political parties and leaders:

Centrist Union or UCM [Vasile TARLEV]; Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; Liberal Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA

chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130

FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Asif CHAUDHRY

embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300

FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

Flag description:

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; same color scheme as Romania

Economy ::Moldova

Economy - overview:

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It 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 almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over pricing, and again in January 2009, during a similar dispute. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006-07. However, in 2008 growth exceeded the 6% level Moldova had achieved in 2000-05, boosted by Russia's partial removal of the bans, solid fixed capital investment, and strong domestic demand driven by remittances from abroad. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls. Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates, but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy. The deteriorating global economic crisis did not seriously effect the Moldovan economy in 2008 due to its low exposure to the international financial system, but a global economic slowdown, particularly in the EU and Russia, could hurt the economy in 2009 as Moldova relies heavily on remittances from Moldovans abroad.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $10.07 billion (2007 est.)

$9.684 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.047 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 4% (2007 est.)

4.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $2,300 (2007 est.)

$2,200 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 19.4%

industry: 20%

services: 60.6% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

1.327 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40.6%

industry: 16%

services: 43.3% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

1.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Population below poverty line:

29.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%

highest 10%: 28.2% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.2 (2003) country comparison to the world: 95 40.6 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Budget:

revenues: $2.453 billion

expenditures: $2.513 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

22.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 12.3% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

21.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 18.83% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.116 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 85 $965 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.928 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $1.449 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.406 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 $1.896 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 $573.9 million (2004)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Industries:

sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

-1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - production:

3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - consumption:

4.37 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - exports:

240 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.931 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Oil - consumption:

17,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Oil - exports:

36.49 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Oil - imports:

14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Natural gas - consumption:

2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - imports:

2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Current account balance:

-$1.015 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 -$695.5 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.641 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.368 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:

Morocco 48.3%, Russia 15.2%, Romania 8.1%, Italy 5% (2008)

Imports:

$4.87 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $3.676 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners:

Ukraine 20.6%, Russia 19.5%, Romania 14.6%, Germany 8.1%, Italy 5.1%, Belarus 4.3% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.672 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $1.334 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.125 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 110 $3.326 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$1.813 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 94

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 10.326 (2008 est.), 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004)

Communications ::Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.115 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 73

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.423 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 117

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way

domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 85 per 100 persons

international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)

Television broadcast stations:

40 (2006)

Internet country code:

.md

Internet hosts:

367,150 (2009) country comparison to the world: 52

Internet users:

850,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 96

Transportation ::Moldova

Airports:

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 154

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 1,906 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 1,138 km country comparison to the world: 87 broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge

standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 12,666 km country comparison to the world: 130 paved: 12,117 km

unpaved: 549 km (2007)

Waterways:

424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008) country comparison to the world: 87

Merchant marine:

total: 39 country comparison to the world: 78 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned: 17 (Egypt 1, Romania 3, Russia 3, Syria 1, Turkey 3, Ukraine 5, Yemen 1) (2008)

Military ::Moldova

Military branches:

National Army: Land Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,161,924

females age 16-49: 1,187,771 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 877,665

females age 16-49: 987,356 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31,633

female: 30,214 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Transnational Issues ::Moldova

Disputes - international:

Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe; girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring countries for forced labor and begging; labor trafficking of men to work in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Russia is increasingly a problem

tier rating: Tier 3 - Moldova does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government failed to follow-up on allegations of officials complicit in trafficking cited in the 2007 Report, and it did not demonstrate proactive efforts to identify trafficking victims (2008)

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 US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Monaco (Europe)

Introduction ::Monaco

Background:

The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

Geography ::Monaco

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: 2 sq km country comparison to the world: 248 land: 2 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

exclusive economic zone: 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%

other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

People ::Monaco

Population:

32,965 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 2,466/female 2,349)

15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,184/female 10,395)

65 years and over: 23% (male 3,068/female 4,503) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 45.7 years

male: 43.6 years

female: 47.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.394% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Birth rate:

9.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Death rate:

12.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Net migration rate:

7.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 191 male: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.09 years country comparison to the world: 21 male: 76.3 years

female: 84.09 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups:

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Languages:

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 93

Government ::Monaco

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Monaco

conventional short form: Monaco

local long form: Principaute de Monaco

local short form: Monaco

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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 rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday:

National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)

Constitution:

17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002

Legal system:

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)

head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June 2005)

cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch

elections: the monarchy 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 (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Monaco Together

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and Representative to the UN Gilles NOGHES

chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: (202) 234-1530

FAX: (202) 552-5778

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning 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 ::Monaco

Economy - overview:

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a major banking center and 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. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$976.3 million (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 201 note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,000 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0%

industry: 4.9%

services: 95.1% (2005)

Labor force:

44,000 country comparison to the world: 185 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

0% (2005) country comparison to the world: 2

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $863 million

expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2000) country comparison to the world: 15

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Exports:

$716.3 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 158 note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Imports:

$916.1 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 172

note: 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:

$18 billion (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Monaco

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 175

Telephones - mobile cellular:

22,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 205

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers

domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeds 100%

international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1998)

Internet country code:

.mc

Internet hosts:

22,608 (2009) country comparison to the world: 100

Internet users:

22,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Transportation ::Monaco

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 215 paved: 50 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008) country comparison to the world: 61

Ports and terminals:

Monaco

Military ::Monaco

Military branches:

no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,687 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,495

females age 16-49: 5,406 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 190

female: 182 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues ::Monaco

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on October 28, 2009

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

@Mongolia (East & Southeast Asia)

Introduction ::Mongolia

Background:

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more Mongols live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPRP members.

Geography ::Mongolia

Location:

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 1,564,116 sq km country comparison to the world: 19 land: 1,553,556 sq km

water: 10,560 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 8,220 km

border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain:

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m

highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Natural resources:

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Land use:

arable land: 0.76%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 99.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:

840 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

34.8 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)

per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People ::Mongolia

Population:

3,041,142 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.1% (male 436,391/female 418,923)

15-64 years: 67.9% (male 1,031,819/female 1,033,806)

65 years and over: 4% (male 52,430/female 67,773) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.3 years

male: 24.9 years

female: 25.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.493% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Birth rate:

21.05 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Death rate:

6.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Net migration rate:

NA (2009 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 57% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 39.88 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 67 male: 42.99 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 36.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.65 years country comparison to the world: 154 male: 65.23 years

female: 70.19 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Nationality:

noun: Mongolian(s)

adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups:

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Religions:

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)

Languages:

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.8%

male: 98%

female: 97.5% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 73

Government ::Mongolia

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Mongolia

local long form: none

local short form: Mongol Uls

former: Outer Mongolia

Government type:

parliamentary

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E

time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence:

11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution:

13 January 1992

Legal system:

blend of Soviet and German systems that employ "continental" or "civil" code; case-precedent may be used to inform judges, but all decisions must refer to the law as written; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)

head of government: Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29 October 2009); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 20 September 2008); Vice Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6 December 2007)

cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament)

elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 24 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2013); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural

election results: in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.24%, Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 47.44%, others 1.32%

Legislative branch:

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms

elections: last held 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPRP 45, DP 27, others 4; note - 1 seat disputed and unfilled

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanjaa BAYAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: human rights groups; women's groups

International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazaryn BEKHBAT

chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117

FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON

embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171 Mongolia

mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar-13

telephone: [976] (11) 329-095

FAX: [976] (11) 320-776

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 ::Mongolia

Economy - overview:

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten account for a large part of industrial production and foreign direct investment. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. Until late 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 40% - the highest inflation rate in over a decade. In late 2008 falling commodity prices in this import-reliant country helped lower inflation but by that time, the country had begun to feel the effects of the global financial crisis. Falling prices for copper and other mineral exports have reduced government revenues and are forcing cuts in spending. The global credit crisis has stalled growth in key sectors, especially those that had been fueled by foreign investment. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives about 70% of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are sizable but have fallen due to the economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.499 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $8.714 billion (2007 est.)

$7.929 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.243 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 9.9% (2007 est.)

8.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $3,000 (2007 est.)

$2,700 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18.8%

industry: 38.5%

services: 42.7% (2008)

Labor force:

1.068 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 34%

industry: 5%

services: 61% (2008)

Unemployment rate:

2.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 31 3% (2007)

Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%

highest 10%: 24.9% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.8 (2002) country comparison to the world: 97 44 (1998)

Budget:

revenues: $1.71 billion

expenditures: $1.95 billion (2008)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

28% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 218 9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

14.78% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 44 9.87% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 17.54% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$521.2 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 93 $504.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.288 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 91 $1.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.743 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 $1.183 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$412 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 101 $612.2 million (31 December 2007)

$112.6 million (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Industries:

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - production:

3.979 billion kWh (2008) country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - consumption:

3.491 billion kWh (2008) country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - exports:

15.8 million kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports:

197.5 million kWh (2008)

Oil - production:

3,216 bbl/day (2008) country comparison to the world: 101

Oil - consumption:

15,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Oil - imports:

17,680 bbl/day (2008) country comparison to the world: 116

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Current account balance:

-$1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 -$23 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.539 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 127 $1.889 billion (2007)

Exports - commodities:

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal

Exports - partners:

China 74%, Canada 9.4%, Russia 3.3% (2008)

Imports:

$3.615 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 132 $2.117 billion (2007)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners:

Russia 34.1%, China 29.1%, South Korea 7.6%, Japan 7.4% (2008)

Debt - external:

$1.6 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 142 $1.438 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,267.51 (2008), 1,170 (2007), 1,165 (2006), 1,205 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004)

Communications ::Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:

165,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 129

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.796 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 126

Telephone system:

general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas

domestic: very low fixed-line density; there are multiple mobile cellular service providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services

international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 115 (includes 20 national radio broadcaster repeaters), shortwave 4 (2006)

Television broadcast stations:

68 (2008)

Internet country code:

.mn

Internet hosts:

524 (2009) country comparison to the world: 170

Internet users:

330,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 122

Transportation ::Mongolia

Airports:

45 (2009) country comparison to the world: 95

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 11

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 24

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports:

1 (2009)

Railways:

total: 1,810 km country comparison to the world: 76 broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 49,249 km country comparison to the world: 80 paved: 2,671 km

unpaved: 46,578 km (2008)

Waterways:

580 km country comparison to the world: 82 note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 77 country comparison to the world: 57 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 44, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned: 53 (China 1, Germany 4, Indonesia 1, North Korea 1, South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Russia 9, Singapore 9, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 23) (2008)

Military ::Mongolia

Military branches:

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 865,425

females age 16-49: 860,669 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 706,774

females age 16-49: 740,550 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 28,251

female: 27,344 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 116

Transnational Issues ::Mongolia

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Montenegro (Europe)

Introduction ::Montenegro

Background:

The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June 2006.

Geography ::Montenegro

Location:

Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Geographic coordinates:

42 30 N, 19 18 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 13,812 sq km country comparison to the world: 161 land: 13,452 sq km

water: 360 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 625 km

border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km, Croatia 25 km, Kosovo 79 km, Serbia 124 km

Coastline:

293.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: defined by treaty

Climate:

Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland

Terrain:

highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, hydroelectricity

Land use:

arable land: 13.7%

permanent crops: 1%

other: 85.3%

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location along the Adriatic coast

People ::Montenegro

Population:

672,180 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16% (male 52,645/female 54,846)

15-64 years: 70.3% (male 244,949/female 227,794)

65 years and over: 13.7% (male 37,217/female 54,729) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.7 years

male: 35.2 years

female: 38.4 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.851% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 232

Birth rate:

11.14 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Death rate:

8.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Urbanization:

urban population: 60% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: -0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Montenegrin(s)

adjective: Montenegrin

Ethnic groups:

Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other (Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)

Religions:

Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)

Languages:

Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian 5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)

Education expenditures:

Government ::Montenegro

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Montenegro

local long form: none

local short form: Crna Gora

former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Independence:

3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

National holiday:

National Day, 13 July (1878)

Constitution:

approved 19 October 2007 (by the Assembly)

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008)

head of government: Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 29 February 2008)

cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet

elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 April 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted by Assembly

election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip VUJANOVIC 51.89%, Andrija MANDIC 19.55%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.64%, Srdan MILIC 11.92%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote for four-year terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006)

elections: last held 29 March 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 51.94%, SNP 16.83%, NSD 9.22%, PZP 6.03%, other (including Albanian minority parties) 15.98%; seats by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 48, SNP 16, NSD 8, PZP 5, Albanian minority parties 4

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme Court (judges have life tenure)

Political parties and leaders:

Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for European Montenegro or DPS-SDP (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC] and Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]); Coalition SNP-NS-DSS (bloc) (includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan MILIC], People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], and Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [Mehmet BARDHIJ]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA]; Liberals and the Bosniak Party (bloc) [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] (includes Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] and Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]); Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; New Serb Democracy or NSD [Andrija MANDIC]; Serbian List (bloc) [Andrija MANDIC] (includes Party of Serb Radicals or SSR [Dusko SEKULIC], People's Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC], and Serbian People's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC]); Socialist People's Party of Montenegro or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]

International organization participation:

CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC

chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108

FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roderick W. MOORE

embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [382] 81 225 417

FAX: [382] 81 241 358

Flag description:

a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Economy ::Montenegro

Economy - overview:

Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, adopted the Deutchmark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. On 18 January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization and signed a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in October 2007. On December 15, 2008, Montenegro submitted an EU membership application. Unemployment and regional disparities in development are key political and economic problems. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector. The global financial crisis is likely to have a significant negative impact on the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.832 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $6.355 billion (2007 est.)

$5.804 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.848 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 9.5% (2007 est.)

8.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $9,300 (2007 est.)

$8,400 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force:

259,100 (2004) country comparison to the world: 162

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2%

industry: 30%

services: 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Population below poverty line:

7% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (2003) country comparison to the world: 115

Investment (gross fixed):

30.5% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Budget:

revenues: NA

expenditures: NA

Public debt:

38% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 59

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 43

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.24% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 92 9.09% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 $3.699 billion (31 December 2007)

$1.754 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible

Industries:

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Electricity - production:

2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - consumption:

18.6 million kWh (2005) country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - consumption:

bbl/day NA

Oil - exports:

313.6 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - imports:

6,093 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 152

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - consumption:

NA cu m

Current account balance:

-$1.102 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Exports:

$171.3 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 183

Imports:

$601.7 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 182

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$NA

Debt - external:

$650 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 160

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Montenegro

Telephones - main lines in use:

362,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 105

Telephones - mobile cellular:

735,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 147

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites

domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 3 providers with national coverage, is growing

international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system

Radio broadcast stations:

31 (station frequency types NA) (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (2004)

Internet country code:

.me

Internet hosts:

3,245 (2009) country comparison to the world: 141

Internet users:

294,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 128

Transportation ::Montenegro

Airports:

5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 182

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Railways:

total: 250 km country comparison to the world: 126 standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)

Roadways:

total: 7,368 km country comparison to the world: 146 paved: 4,742 km

unpaved: 2,626 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 6 country comparison to the world: 129 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1

registered in other countries: 3 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bar

Military ::Montenegro

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy, Air Force (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

compulsory national military service abolished August 2006

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 154,029

females age 16-49: 136,847 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 3,945

female: 3,907 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional armed forces

Transnational Issues ::Montenegro

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999

IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Montenegro is primarily a transit country for the trafficking of women and girls to Western Europe for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls from the Balkans and Eastern Europe are trafficked across Montenegro to Western European countries

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Montenegro is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; public attention to the issue of trafficking has diminished considerably in Montenegro in recent years (2008)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Montserrat (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Montserrat

Background:

English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

Geography ::Montserrat

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: 102 sq km country comparison to the world: 225 land: 102 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:

territorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 20%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 80% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Environment - current issues:

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geography - note:

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

People ::Montserrat

Population:

5,097 country comparison to the world: 228 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.6% (male 731/female 678)

15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,599/female 1,738)

65 years and over: 6.9% (male 232/female 119) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.5 years

male: 28.2 years

female: 28.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.392% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Birth rate:

12.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Death rate:

8.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Net migration rate:

Urbanization:

urban population: 14% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.95 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.08 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 122 male: 12.01 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 20.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.76 years country comparison to the world: 115 male: 74.74 years

female: 70.68 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 137

Government ::Montserrat

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Montserrat

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat

Administrative divisions:

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

effective 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 Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)

head of government: Chief Minister Rueben MEADE (since 10 September 2009)

cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, 3 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

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)

note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members

elections: last held 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3

note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council

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:

Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU

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 ::Montserrat

Economy - overview:

Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, 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. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29 million (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 224

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.2%

industry: 23.1%

services: 75.7% (1999 est.)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate:

6% (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $31.4 million

expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.6% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.89% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 81 10.4% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$16.71 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 $17.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$45.42 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 123 $43.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9.93 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 128 $5.537 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Industries:

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

22 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - consumption:

20.46 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - imports:

520.6 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Exports:

$700,000 (2001) country comparison to the world: 219

Exports - commodities:

electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle

Imports:

$17 million

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Debt - external:

$8.9 million (1997) country comparison to the world: 198

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

note: fixed rate since 1976

Communications ::Montserrat

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 218

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 214

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern and fully digitalized

domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems available

international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ms

Internet hosts:

688 (2009) country comparison to the world: 168

Internet users:

1,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 211

Transportation ::Montserrat

Airports:

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 207

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways:

note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the north end of the island (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Little Bay, Plymouth

Military ::Montserrat

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,126

females age 16-49: 1,226 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 36

female: 33 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues ::Montserrat

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

page last updated on November 4, 2009

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

@Morocco (Africa)

Introduction ::Morocco

Background:

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

Geography ::Morocco

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 country comparison to the world: 57 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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: 19%

permanent crops: 2%

other: 79% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,450 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

29 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)

per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People ::Morocco

Population:

34,859,364 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30% (male 5,333,396/female 5,131,886)

15-64 years: 64.7% (male 11,261,139/female 11,305,792)

65 years and over: 5.2% (male 781,089/female 1,046,062) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 25 years

male: 24.5 years

female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.479% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Birth rate:

20.96 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Death rate:

5.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Net migration rate:

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Urbanization:

urban population: 56% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 36.88 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 69 male: 40.35 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 33.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.8 years country comparison to the world: 125 male: 69.42 years

female: 74.3 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

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: 52.3%

male: 65.7%

female: 39.6% (2004 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years

male: 11 years

female: 9 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

Government ::Morocco

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco

conventional short form: Morocco

local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

local short form: Al Maghrib

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate

note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region which falls entirely within Western Sahara

Independence:

2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Constitution:

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996

note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral legislature

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Executive branch:

chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)

head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)

elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 8 September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39

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:

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR

chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979

FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert P. JACKSON

embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat

mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718

telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65

FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61

consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description:

red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Economy ::Morocco

Economy - overview:

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rose to 5.9% in 2008, with the economy recovering from a drought in 2007 that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$137.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $129.9 billion (2007 est.)

$125.9 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$88.88 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 3.2% (2007 est.)

7.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $4,200 (2007 est.)

$4,200 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.7%

industry: 30.1%

services: 54.1% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

11.29 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 44.6%

industry: 19.8%

services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 9.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

15% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7%

highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 39.5 (1999 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Budget:

revenues: $26.16 billion

expenditures: $27.93 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

55.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 70.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.32% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 132 3.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA%

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$67.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$16.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$71.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$65.75 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 52 $75.49 billion (31 December 2007)

$49.36 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Industries:

phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Electricity - production:

21.56 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - consumption:

20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.455 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

4,310 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - consumption:

187,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Oil - exports:

17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Oil - imports:

195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Oil - proved reserves:

750,000 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - production:

60 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - consumption:

560 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - imports:

500 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Current account balance:

-$5.836 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 -$224 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$20.17 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $15.15 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Exports - partners:

Spain 19.2%, France 17.6%, Brazil 7.1%, US 4.5%, Belgium 4.5%, Italy 4.3% (2008)

Imports:

$39.35 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $29.32 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners:

France 16.1%, Spain 13.5%, Italy 6.5%, China 6%, Germany 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Moldova 5% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$22.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $24.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$20.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$40.92 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$966 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $1.337 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 7.526 (2008 est.), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004)

Communications ::Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.991 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 50

Telephones - mobile cellular:

22.816 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 35

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 9 fixed lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 65 per 100 persons in 2008

domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay

international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; 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; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Internet country code:

.ma

Internet hosts:

276,521 (2009) country comparison to the world: 57

Internet users:

10.3 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 31

Transportation ::Morocco

Airports:

58 (2009) country comparison to the world: 81

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 32

over 3,047 m: 11

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 26

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 8 (2009)

Heliports:

1 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 1,907 km country comparison to the world: 74 standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 57,625 km country comparison to the world: 76 paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways)

unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 35 country comparison to the world: 81 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4

foreign-owned: 16 (France 14, Germany 2)

registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi

Military ::Morocco

Military branches:

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,152,580

females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,779,589

females age 16-49: 7,881,024 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 356,014

female: 343,520 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

5% of GDP (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Transnational Issues ::Morocco

Disputes - international:

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa

Illicit drugs:

one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Mozambique (Africa)

Introduction ::Mozambique

Background:

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990's. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. Mozambique has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the civil war largely due to post-conflict reconstruction.

Geography ::Mozambique

Location:

Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 799,380 sq km country comparison to the world: 35 land: 786,380 sq km

water: 13,000 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 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, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Land use:

arable land: 5.43%

permanent crops: 0.29%

other: 94.28% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,180 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

216 cu km (1992)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)

per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces

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; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

People ::Mozambique

Population:

21,669,278 country comparison to the world: 52 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.3% (male 4,829,272/female 4,773,209)

15-64 years: 52.8% (male 5,605,227/female 5,842,679)

65 years and over: 2.9% (male 257,119/female 361,772) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.4 years

male: 17 years

female: 17.8 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.791% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Birth rate:

37.98 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Death rate:

20.07 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Net migration rate:

NA (2009 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 37% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 105.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 7 male: 108.57 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 103 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 41.18 years country comparison to the world: 220 male: 41.83 years

female: 40.53 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.18 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

12.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.5 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

81,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Mozambican(s)

adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups:

African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions:

Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

Languages:

Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 47.8%

male: 63.5%

female: 32.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years

male: 9 years

female: 7 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 75

Government ::Mozambique

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique

conventional short form: Mozambique

local long form: Republica de Mocambique

local short form: Mocambique

former: Portuguese East Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)

head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004)

cabinet: Cabinet

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Armando GUEBUZA relected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 76.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 14.9%, Daviz SIMANGO 8.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held on 28 October 2009)

election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO 29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional judges are appointed by the president, and some are elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, Constitutional Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts

Political parties and leaders:

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Afonso DHLAKAMA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE

chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146

FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Todd C. CHAPMAN

embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo

mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo

telephone: [258] (21) 492797

FAX: [258] (21) 490114

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 ::Mozambique

Economy - overview:

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation was reduced to single digits during the late 1990s, and although it returned to double digits in 2000-06, in 2007 inflation had slowed to 8%, while GDP growth reached 7.5%. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of the population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date, has increased export earnings. At the end of 2007, and after years of negotiations, the government took over Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More power is needed for additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing that could further close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a Compact with Mozambique; the Compact entered into force in September 2008 and will continue for five years. Compact projects will focus on improving sanitation, roads, agriculture, and the business regulation environment in an effort to spur economic growth in the four northern provinces of the country.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.11 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $17.89 billion (2007 est.)

$16.66 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.897 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 7.4% (2007 est.)

8.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 215 $900 (2007 est.)

$800 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.5%

industry: 30.9%

services: 45.6% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

9.65 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 81%

industry: 6%

services: 13% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

21% (1997 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Population below poverty line:

70% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1%

highest 10%: 39.2% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.3 (2002) country comparison to the world: 34 39.6 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Budget:

revenues: $2.801 billion

expenditures: $3.28 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

21.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 22.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 8.2% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9.95% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 43 9.95% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18.31% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 17 19.52% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.406 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 79 $1.261 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.752 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 85 $1.467 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.315 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 103 $877.2 million (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry

Industries:

food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - production:

15.91 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - consumption:

10.16 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - exports:

11.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Oil - consumption:

16,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Oil - imports:

13,760 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas - production:

3.3 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas - consumption:

100 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - exports:

3.2 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - proved reserves:

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Current account balance:

-$975.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 -$785.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.653 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 $2.412 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 55.5%, South Africa 9.2%, Zimbabwe 2.1% (2008)

Imports:

$3.458 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $2.811 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

South Africa 27.4%, Netherlands 15.7%, China 4.3% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.578 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $1.445 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.826 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $4.189 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 24.125 (2008 est.), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004)

note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old meticais equal to 1 new meticais

Communications ::Mozambique

Telephones - main lines in use:

78,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 150

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.405 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 92

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system with an extremely low density of less than 1 fixed line per 100 persons

domestic: the telecommunications sector is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges; stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor, and from Nampula to Nacala

international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2008)

Internet country code:

.mz

Internet hosts:

21,388 (2009) country comparison to the world: 103

Internet users:

350,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 119

Transportation ::Mozambique

Airports:

105 (2009) country comparison to the world: 55

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 23

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: 5 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 82

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 33

under 914 m: 39 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 4,787 km country comparison to the world: 37 narrow gauge: 4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 30,400 km country comparison to the world: 96 paved: 5,685 km

unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)

Waterways:

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2008) country comparison to the world: 85

Merchant marine:

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 147 by type: cargo 2

foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military ::Mozambique

Military branches:

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

19-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,545,975 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,366,897

females age 16-49: 2,209,764 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 263,994

female: 265,058 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Transnational Issues ::Mozambique

Disputes - international:

none

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Mozambique is a source and, to a much lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the use of forced and bonded child laborers is a common practice in Mozambique's rural areas; women and girls are trafficked from rural to urban areas of Mozambique, as well as to South Africa, for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; young men and boys are trafficked to South Africa for farm work and mining

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second consecutive year, Mozambique is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; while the government conducted investigations into cases of human trafficking, there were no prosecutions or convictions of traffickers; government efforts to protect victims of trafficking continued to suffer from limited resources and a lack of political commitment (2008)

Illicit drugs:

southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Namibia (Africa)

Introduction ::Namibia

Background:

South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule.

Geography ::Namibia

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: 824,292 sq km country comparison to the world: 34 land: 823,290 sq km

water: 1,002 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 3,936 km

border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline:

1,572 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 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, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish

note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.99%

permanent crops: 0.01%

other: 99% (2005)

Irrigated land:

80 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

45.5 cu km (1991)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (24%/5%/71%)

per capita: 148 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

prolonged periods of drought

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

People ::Namibia

Population:

2,108,665 country comparison to the world: 143 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.9% (male 381,904/female 375,059)

15-64 years: 60.2% (male 641,995/female 627,146)

65 years and over: 3.9% (male 36,894/female 45,667) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 21 years

male: 20.9 years

female: 21.1 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.95% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Birth rate:

22.51 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Death rate:

13.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Net migration rate:

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Urbanization:

urban population: 37% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 45.51 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 55 male: 48.98 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 41.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.24 years country comparison to the world: 205 male: 51.61 years

female: 50.86 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.69 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

15.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

200,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria

water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Namibian(s)

adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups:

black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%

note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions:

Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 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 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 85%

male: 86.8%

female: 83.5% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 11 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 26

Government ::Namibia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Namibia

conventional short form: Namibia

local long form: Republic of Namibia

local short form: Namibia

former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)

head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)

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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)

election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

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 - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2009)

election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%, other 0.9%; seats by party - SWAPO 24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%, MAG 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1

note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI]; Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Hidipo HAMUTENYA]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hifikepunye POHAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Earthlife Namibia [Berthchen KOHRS] (environmentalist group); National Society for Human Rights or NSHR; The World Information Services of Energy or WISE (group against nuclear power)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO

chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540

FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador G. Dennise MATHIEU

embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek

mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek

telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500

FAX: [264] (61) 295-8603

Flag description:

a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green

Economy ::Namibia

Economy - overview:

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 8% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides one of the world's most unequal income distributions. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Increased payments from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence, but SACU payments will decline after 2008 as part of a new revenue sharing formula. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-07, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches and high costs for metal inputs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.28 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $12.9 billion (2007 est.)

$12.23 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.835 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 5.5% (2007 est.)

7.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $6,200 (2007 est.)

$6,000 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9%

industry: 37%

services: 54% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

686,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 47%

industry: 20%

services: 33% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Population below poverty line:

the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5%

highest 10%: 64.5% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

70.7 (2003) country comparison to the world: 1

Investment (gross fixed):

23.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Budget:

revenues: $2.661 billion

expenditures: $2.745 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

20% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 38.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 6.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 35 10.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.74% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 61 12.88% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.983 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 72 $2.149 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.158 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 93 $1.493 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.43 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 86 $4.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$618.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 100 $702 million (31 December 2007)

$541.8 million (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Industries:

meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate:

0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity - production:

1.65 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - consumption:

3.175 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity - exports:

40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.045 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Oil - consumption:

21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Oil - imports:

19,120 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - proved reserves:

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Current account balance:

$239.8 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $693.2 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$3.167 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $2.922 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Imports:

$3.849 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $3.102 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.293 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $896 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$807.3 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)

Communications ::Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use:

140,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 137

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.052 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 141

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 55 per 100 persons

domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area

international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2007)

Internet country code:

.na

Internet hosts:

17,840 (2009) country comparison to the world: 105

Internet users:

113,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 149

Transportation ::Namibia

Airports:

129 (2009) country comparison to the world: 44

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 13

914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 108

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 22

914 to 1,523 m: 73

under 914 m: 11 (2009)

Railways:

total: 2,629 km country comparison to the world: 64 narrow gauge: 2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 42,237 km country comparison to the world: 86 paved: 5,406 km

unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 155 by type: cargo 1

registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Military ::Namibia

Military branches:

Namibian Defense Force: Army, Navy, Air Wing (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 527,948 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 329,614

females age 16-49: 294,490 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 25,857

female: 25,505 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 36

Transnational Issues ::Namibia

Disputes - international:

concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 4,700 (Angola) (2007)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Nauru (Australia-Oceania)

Introduction ::Nauru

Background:

The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed by Germany in 1888. Its phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was occupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.

Geography ::Nauru

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 country comparison to the world: 238 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical with a monsoonal pattern; 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, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

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 ::Nauru

Population:

14,019 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.7% (male 2,482/female 2,384)

15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,362/female 4,495)

65 years and over: 2.1% (male 151/female 145) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.6 years

male: 21 years

female: 22.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.748% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Birth rate:

23.9 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Death rate:

6.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Net migration rate:

NA (2009 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.25 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 154 male: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.2 years country comparison to the world: 168 male: 60.58 years

female: 68.01 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.85 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Nauruan(s)

adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups:

Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%

Religions:

Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru Independent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)

Languages:

Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Literacy:

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years

male: 8 years

female: 9 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

Government ::Nauru

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Nauru

conventional short form: Nauru

local long form: Republic of Nauru

local short form: Nauru

former: Pleasant Island

Government type:

republic

Capital:

no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution:

29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968

Legal system:

acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007); note - President Ludwig SCOTTY defeated in a no confidence vote in parliament on 19 December 2007

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 19 December 2007 (next to be held in 2010)

election results: NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)

elections: last held 26 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18; note - President Marcus STEPHEN called a snap election to break a parliamentary stalemate blocking legislative action

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal); Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; note - loose multiparty system

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES

chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017

telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074

FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079

consulate(s): Agana (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 ::Nauru

Economy - overview:

Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exports of phosphates now significantly depleted. An Australian company in 2005 entered into an agreement intended to exploit remaining supplies. Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia its former occupier and later major source of support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Reserves of phosphates may only last until 2010 at current mining rates. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments. Nauru lost further revenue in 2008 with the closure of Australia's refugee processing center, making it almost totally dependent on food imports and foreign aid. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant is deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the government and economy afloat continues to climb. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force - by occupation:

note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)

Unemployment rate:

90% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $13.5 million

expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Agriculture - products:

coconuts

Industries:

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

31 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Electricity - consumption:

28.83 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Oil - imports:

1,026 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Exports:

$64,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

Exports - commodities:

phosphates

Imports:

$20 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

Imports - commodities:

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Debt - external:

$33.3 million country comparison to the world: 195

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)

Communications ::Nauru

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 225

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002) country comparison to the world: 217

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities

domestic: NA

international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Internet country code:

.nr

Internet hosts:

47 (2009) country comparison to the world: 209

Transportation ::Nauru

Airports:

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 228

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 24 km country comparison to the world: 217 paved: 24 km (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Nauru

Military ::Nauru

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,470 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,592

females age 16-49: 2,966 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 179

female: 174 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

Military - note:

Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues ::Nauru

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on October 28, 2009

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

@Navassa Island (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Navassa Island

Background:

This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.

Geography ::Navassa Island

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 5.4 sq km country comparison to the world: 244 land: 5.4 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

marine, tropical

Terrain:

raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m 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%

other: 100% (2005)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

Geography - note:

strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus

People ::Navassa Island

Population:

uninhabited

note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

Government ::Navassa Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Navassa Island

Dependency status:

unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996 the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy ::Navassa Island

Economy - overview:

Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters.

Transportation ::Navassa Island

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military ::Navassa Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues ::Navassa Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

page last updated on July 2, 2009

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

@Nepal (South Asia)

Introduction ::Nepal

Background:

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing ten-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president in July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008.

Geography ::Nepal

Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 147,181 sq km country comparison to the world: 93 land: 143,351 sq km

water: 3,830 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:

Tarai 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 8,850 m

Natural resources:

quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 16.07%

permanent crops: 0.85%

other: 83.08% (2005)

Irrigated land:

11,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

210.2 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)

per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively

People ::Nepal

Population:

28,563,377 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.6% (male 5,327,484/female 5,127,178)

15-64 years: 59.2% (male 8,094,494/female 8,812,675)

65 years and over: 4.2% (male 566,666/female 634,880) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.8 years

male: 19.8 years

female: 21.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.281% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Birth rate:

23.18 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Death rate:

6.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Net migration rate:

-3.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Urbanization:

urban population: 17% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 47.46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 54 male: 47.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 47.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.46 years country comparison to the world: 165 male: 64.3 years

female: 66.67 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.64 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

70,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)

adjective: Nepalese

Ethnic groups:

Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

note: only official Hindu state in the world

Languages:

Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)

note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 48.6%

male: 62.7%

female: 34.9% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years

male: 10 years

female: 8 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 133

Government ::Nepal

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

conventional short form: Nepal

local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal

local short form: Nepal

Government type:

federal democratic republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E

time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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:

Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April

Constitution:

15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note - in April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new constitution by May 2010

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: President Ram Baran YADAV (as of 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (as of 23 July 2008)

head of government: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL (as of 25 May 2009); Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar GACHHEDAR

cabinet: cabinet formed in August 2008 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, and several smaller parties

elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held 21 July 2008; date of next election NA

election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282

Legislative branch:

unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 seats decided by direct popular vote; 335 seats by proportional representation; 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers))

elections: last held 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)

election results: percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 19%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, Terai-Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhavana Party 5%, other 10%; seats by party - CPN-M 220, NC 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 52, Terai-Madhes Democratic Party 20, Sadbhawana Party 9, other smaller parties 61; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal (ML) [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal (Unified) [Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Ganesh SHAH]; Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN]; Madhesi People's Rights Forum [Upendra YADAV]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Pashupati Shumsher RANA] (also called Rastriya Prajatantra Party or RPP); Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Vinod DANGI]; Nepal Rastriya Party [Khushilal YADAV]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi) [Shyam Sundar GUPTA]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Bharat Prasad MAHATO]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra BAHADUR K.C.]; Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party (Mahato) [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch [Kamal CHHARAHANG]; Terai-Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]; United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups

International organization participation:

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kali POKHREL

chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550

FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL

embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200

FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272

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 ::Nepal

Economy - overview:

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Bumper crops, better security, improved transportation, and increased tourism pushed growth past 5% in 2008, after growth had hovered around 3% - barely above the rate of population growth - for the previous three years. The deteriorating world economy in 2009 will challenge tourism and remittance growth, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for 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 and landlocked geographic location, its civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$31.39 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $29.81 billion (2007 est.)

$28.86 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.28 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 3.3% (2007 est.)

3.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 $1,100 (2007 est.)

$1,100 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 32.5%

industry: 16.6%

services: 50.9% (FY07 est.)

Labor force:

14.6 million country comparison to the world: 39 note: severe lack of skilled labor (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 76%

industry: 6%

services: 18% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

46% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 42% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.9% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7%

highest 10%: 40.6% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 35 36.7 (1996)

Budget:

revenues: $1.7 billion

expenditures: $2.3 billion (FY08)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 6.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 72 6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2008)

Stock of money:

$2.106 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 69 $2.184 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.885 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 70 $4.745 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.556 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 80 $5.636 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 88 $4.909 billion (31 December 2007)

$1.805 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries:

tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate:

1.8% (FY08) country comparison to the world: 110

Electricity - production:

2.781 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - consumption:

2.243 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - exports:

140 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

213 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Oil - consumption:

18,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Oil - imports:

16,920 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Current account balance:

$241 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53 $58 million (2007)

Exports:

$868 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 153 $830 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, carpets, leather goods, jute goods, pulses, grain

Exports - partners:

India 59.2%, US 8.7%, Bangladesh 8.3%, Germany 4.3% (2008)

Imports:

$3.229 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 135 $2.398 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, machinery and equipment, electrical goods

Imports - partners:

India 55.4%, China 13.3%, Singapore 2% (2008)

Debt - external:

$3.285 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 118 $3.07 billion (March 2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 65.21 (2008), 70.35 (2007), 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004)

Communications ::Nepal

Telephones - main lines in use:

805,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 87

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.2 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 94

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 15 per 100 persons

international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 80, shortwave 4 (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

9 (plus 9 repeaters) (2008)

Internet country code:

.np

Internet hosts:

43,411 (2009) country comparison to the world: 87

Internet users:

499,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 108

Transportation ::Nepal

Airports:

47 (2009) country comparison to the world: 93

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 30 (2009)

Railways:

total: 59 km country comparison to the world: 130 narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 17,282 km country comparison to the world: 120 paved: 10,142 km

unpaved: 7,140 km (2007)

Military ::Nepal

Military branches:

Nepal Army (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,322,965

females age 16-49: 6,859,064 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,886,103

females age 16-49: 5,525,764 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 365,567

female: 352,643 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 104

Transnational Issues ::Nepal

Disputes - international:

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China)

IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Netherlands (Europe)

Introduction ::Netherlands

Background:

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography ::Netherlands

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates:

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 41,543 sq km country comparison to the world: 134 land: 33,893 sq km

water: 7,650 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: Zuidplaspolder -7 m

highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 21.96%

permanent crops: 0.77%

other: 77.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:

5,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

89.7 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)

per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

flooding

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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People ::Netherlands

Population:

16,715,999 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 1,485,873/female 1,416,999)

15-64 years: 67.7% (male 5,720,387/female 5,604,014)

65 years and over: 14.9% (male 1,070,496/female 1,418,230) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.4 years

male: 39.6 years

female: 41.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.412% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Birth rate:

10.4 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Death rate:

8.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Net migration rate:

2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Urbanization:

urban population: 82% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 198 male: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.4 years country comparison to the world: 30 male: 76.8 years

female: 82.14 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

18,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Nationality:

noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

adjective: Dutch

Ethnic groups:

Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands Antilles & Aruba 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Languages:

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years

male: 17 years

female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 58

Government ::Netherlands

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form: Netherlands

local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form: Nederland

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components

Administrative divisions:

12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

Dependent areas:

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence:

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

National holiday:

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

Constitution:

adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002

Legal system:

based on 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 (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch

head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002); Deputy Prime Ministers Wouter BOS (since 22 February 2007) and Andre ROUVOET (since 22 February 2007)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections: the monarchy 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; deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet 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 to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be held by early 2011)

election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11, Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%, other 6.6%; seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Pieter VAN GEEL]; Christian Union Party [Arie SLOB]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Mariette HAMER]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES]; Socialist Party [Agnes KANT]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Rene PAAS]; Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN]; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Ad VERHOEVEN]

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS

chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443

FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael GALLAGHER

embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715

telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209

FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688

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; the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

Economy ::Netherlands

Economy - overview:

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 3% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country has been one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the four largest investors in the US. The pace of job growth reached 10-year highs in 2007, but economic growth fell sharply in 2008 as fallout from the world financial crisis constricted demand and raised the specter of a recession in 2009.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$673.5 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $660.3 billion (2007 est.)

$637.4 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$877 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 3.6% (2007 est.)

3.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$40,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $39,900 (2007 est.)

$38,700 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.7%

industry: 25.5%

services: 72.9% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

7.715 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2%

industry: 18%

services: 80% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%

highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.9 (2007) country comparison to the world: 108 32.6 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Budget:

revenues: $405.9 billion

expenditures: $397.3 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

58.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 55.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 1.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 106 5% (31 December 2007)

note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.37% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 96 8.72% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

$NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.824 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 10 $1.684 trillion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$456.2 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 18 $956.5 billion (31 December 2007)

$779.6 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

2.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - production:

97.19 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity - consumption:

110.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Electricity - exports:

9.28 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

25.01 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

72,090 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Oil - consumption:

962,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Oil - exports:

1.647 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Oil - imports:

2.678 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production:

84.69 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Natural gas - consumption:

48.34 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - exports:

61.72 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 4

Natural gas - imports:

25.34 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Current account balance:

$41.93 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $59.51 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$531.7 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $461 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 25.5%, Belgium 13.8%, France 8.9%, UK 8.8%, Italy 5.2% (2008)

Imports:

$474.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $406.2 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

Germany 16.6%, China 10.1%, Belgium 8.7%, US 7.5%, UK 5.8%, Russia 5.4%, France 4.4% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$28.51 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $26.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.461 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 5 $2.59 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$644.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $724.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$843.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $876.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Netherlands

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.324 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 25

Telephones - mobile cellular:

19.927 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 39

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed and well maintained

domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) services

international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 567, shortwave 1 (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

342 (2008)

Internet country code:

.nl

Internet hosts:

12.388 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 9

Internet users:

14.273 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 26

Transportation ::Netherlands

Airports:

27 (2009) country comparison to the world: 124

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 20

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 4 (2009)

Heliports:

1 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 3,816 km; oil 365 km; refined products 716 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 2,811 km country comparison to the world: 57 standard gauge: 2,811 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 135,470 km (includes 2,582 km of expressways) (2007) country comparison to the world: 35

Waterways:

6,215 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2007) country comparison to the world: 22

Merchant marine:

total: 622 country comparison to the world: 18 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical tanker 44, container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23, specialized tanker 3

foreign-owned: 203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14, France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12, Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14)

registered in other countries: 178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2, Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1, Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Military ::Netherlands

Military branches:

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,950,825

females age 16-49: 3,850,800 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,224,790

females age 16-49: 3,143,096 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 105,194

female: 100,341 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Transnational Issues ::Netherlands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Netherlands Antilles (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Netherlands Antilles

Background:

Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion, called Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France.

Geography ::Netherlands Antilles

Location:

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates:

Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 W

Curacao: 12 10 N, 69 00 W

Saba: 17 38 N, 63 14 W

Sint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 W

Sint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 800 sq km country comparison to the world: 187 land: 800 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: 15 km

border countries: Saint Martin 15 km

Coastline:

364 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 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%

other: 90% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October; Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened

Environment - current issues:

Geography - note:

the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

People ::Netherlands Antilles

Population:

227,049 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 26,429/female 25,162)

15-64 years: 67.7% (male 74,183/female 79,434)

65 years and over: 9.6% (male 8,875/female 12,966) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.7 years

male: 31.9 years

female: 35.5 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.732% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Birth rate:

14.19 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Death rate:

6.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Net migration rate:

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Urbanization:

urban population: 93% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.09 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 156 male: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.65 years country comparison to the world: 65 male: 74.33 years

female: 79.09 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.97 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Dutch Antillean(s)

adjective: Dutch Antillean

Ethnic groups:

mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Languages:

Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.7%

male: 96.7%

female: 96.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2002)

Education expenditures:

Government ::Netherlands Antilles

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles

local long form: none

local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

former: Curacao and Dependencies

Dependency status:

an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type:

parliamentary

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

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 of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)

head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006)

cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)

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 27 January 2006 (next to be held by 2010)

note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP-St. M, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E

Legislative branch:

unicameral States or Staten (22 seats, Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB 2, DP-St. E 1, DP-St. M 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1

note: the government is a coalition of several parties

Judicial branch:

Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]

Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO]; Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]

Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]

Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St. Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]

Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party [Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St. Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party [Bienvenido RICHARDSON]

note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)

International organization participation:

Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON

consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao

mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066

FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489

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 ::Netherlands Antilles

Economy - overview:

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Most of the oil Netherlands Antilles imports for its refineries come from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides financial aid to support the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.8 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,000 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%

industry: 15%

services: 84% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

91,470 (2007) country comparison to the world: 177

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1%

industry: 20%

services: 79% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15.5% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $757.9 million

expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Central bank discount rate:

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8.33% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 9.21% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$997.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$2.927 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 23 $488.6 billion (2003)

Agriculture - products:

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

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:

1.22 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - consumption:

1.013 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Oil - consumption:

71,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Oil - exports:

224,600 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Oil - imports:

298,500 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Exports:

$3.71 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 119

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US 19%, Guatemala 10.6%, Dominican Republic 9.3%, Haiti 7.4%, Singapore 6.7%, Bahamas, The 5.9%, Italy 4.5%, Honduras 4.4%, Mexico 4.1% (2008)

Imports:

$15.74 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 79

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Venezuela 58.8%, US 19%, Brazil 5.9% (2008)

Debt - external:

$2.68 billion (2004) country comparison to the world: 130

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)

Communications ::Netherlands Antilles

Telephones - main lines in use:

88,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 147

Telephones - mobile cellular:

200,000 (2004) country comparison to the world: 171

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally adequate facilities

domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2003)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (there is also a cable service that supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and 4 Venezuelan channels) (2003)

Internet country code:

.an

Internet hosts:

71,671 (2009) country comparison to the world: 77

Transportation ::Netherlands Antilles

Airports:

5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 179

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 845

Merchant marine:

total: 147 country comparison to the world: 42 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 72, carrier 19, chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 3

foreign-owned: 123 (Belgium 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 21, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Hong Kong 2, Netherlands 38, Norway 3, Sweden 1, Turkey 10, US 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bopec Terminal, Willemstad

Military ::Netherlands Antilles

Military branches:

no regular military forces; National Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 55,365

females age 16-49: 57,060 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 46,461

females age 16-49: 47,325 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,920

female: 1,827 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues ::Netherlands Antilles

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center

page last updated on November 10, 2009

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

@New Caledonia (Australia-Oceania)

Introduction ::New Caledonia

Background:

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

Geography ::New Caledonia

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 18,575 sq km country comparison to the world: 155 land: 18,275 sq km

water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

2,254 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 0.32%

permanent crops: 0.22%

other: 99.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:

100 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

cyclones, most frequent from November to March

Environment - current issues:

erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geography - note:

consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls

People ::New Caledonia

Population:

227,436 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.8% (male 31,191/female 29,870)

15-64 years: 65.8% (male 75,189/female 74,552)

65 years and over: 7.3% (male 7,681/female 8,953) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.7 years

male: 28.2 years

female: 29.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.136% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Birth rate:

17.04 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Death rate:

5.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Net migration rate:

note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2009 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 65% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

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

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 168 male: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 6.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.98 years country comparison to the world: 85 male: 71.99 years

female: 78.12 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.18 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: New Caledonian(s)

adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups:

Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2% (1996 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages:

French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.2%

male: 96.8%

female: 95.5% (1996 census)

Government ::New Caledonia

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

Dependency status:

territorial collectivity of France since 1998

Government type:

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E

time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province Sud

Independence:

none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Commissioner Yves DASSONVILLE (since 9 November 2007)

head of government: President of the Government Philippe GOMES (since 5 June 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress

elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 7 August 2007 when Harold MARTIN was elected following the resignation of Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU as president on 24 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

Legislative branch:

elections: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 10 May 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 13, Caledonia Together 10, UC 8, UNI 8, AE 6, FLNKS 3, Labor Party 3, other 3

note: New Caledonia holds two seats in the French Senate; elections last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held not later than September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held on June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Caledonia Together [Philippe GOMES]; Caledonian Union or UC [Charles PIDJOT]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Labor Party or PT [Louis Kora UREGEI]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; Rally for Caledonia or RPC [Jacques LAFLEUR]; The Future Together or AE [Didier LEROUX]; The Rally or UMP [Pierre FROGIER]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy ::New Caledonia

Economy - overview:

New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.158 billion (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.3 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,000 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15%

industry: 8.8%

services: 76.2% (2003)

Labor force:

102,600 (2007) country comparison to the world: 176

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 20%

industry: 20%

services: 60% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

17.1% (2004) country comparison to the world: 159

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $996 million

expenditures: $1.072 billion (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

Industries:

nickel mining and smelting

Electricity - production:

1.825 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - consumption:

1.697 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Oil - exports:

645.3 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Oil - imports:

14,430 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Exports:

$1.341 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 145

Exports - commodities:

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Exports - partners:

France 18.9%, Japan 18.3%, Spain 7.3%, China 6.5%, Belgium 5.4%, Australia 4.6% (2008)

Imports:

$1.998 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 36.6%, Singapore 17.7%, Australia 11.5%, NZ 4.7% (2008)

Debt - external:

$79 million (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)

Communications ::New Caledonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

63,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 157

Telephones - mobile cellular:

196,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 172

Telephone system:

general assessment: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks

domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons

international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (plus 25 repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:

.nc

Internet hosts:

22,448 (2009) country comparison to the world: 101

Internet users:

85,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 159

Transportation ::New Caledonia

Airports:

25 (2009) country comparison to the world: 130

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 8 (2009)

Heliports:

8 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 5,622 km (2006) country comparison to the world: 151

Merchant marine:

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 146 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Noumea

Military ::New Caledonia

Military branches:

no regular military forces; French police and gendarmerie (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 57,738 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 48,288

females age 16-49: 48,959 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,160

female: 2,087 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues ::New Caledonia

Disputes - international:

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

page last updated on November 10, 2009

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

@New Zealand (Australia-Oceania)

Introduction ::New Zealand

Background:

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Geography ::New Zealand

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 267,710 sq km country comparison to the world: 75 land: 267,710 sq km

water: NA

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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain:

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 5.54%

permanent crops: 6.92%

other: 87.54% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

397 cu km (1995)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.11 cu km/yr (48%/9%/42%)

per capita: 524 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

People ::New Zealand

Population:

4,213,418 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.7% (male 447,174/female 424,522)

15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,404,143/female 1,399,530)

65 years and over: 12.8% (male 244,986/female 293,063) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.6 years

male: 35.8 years

female: 37.4 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.935% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Birth rate:

13.94 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Death rate:

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Net migration rate:

2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Urbanization:

urban population: 87% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 192 male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.36 years country comparison to the world: 18 male: 78.43 years

female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.1 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Nationality:

noun: New Zealander(s)

adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups:

European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 19 years

male: 19 years

female: 20 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 38

Government ::New Zealand

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: New Zealand

abbreviation: NZ

Government type:

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April

note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)

Administrative divisions:

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Dependent areas:

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence:

26 September 1907 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Constitution:

consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987

Legal system:

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; 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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006)

head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections: 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; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; serve three-year terms)

elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held not later than 27 November 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - NP 44.9%, NZLP 34%, Green Party 6.7%, NZ First 4%, ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.4%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats by party - NP 58, NZLP 43, Green Party 9, ACT New Zealand 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1

note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats increase to 122

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the governor general

Political parties and leaders:

ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS]; Maori Party [Tariana TURIA and Pita SHARPLES]; National Party or NP [John KEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Phil GOFF]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL

other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups

International organization participation:

ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON

chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800

FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227

consulate(s) general: New York, Santa Monica

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK

embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington

mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034

telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000

FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490

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

Government - note:

while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand

Economy ::New Zealand

Economy - overview:

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for nine consecutive years and reached $27,900 in 2008 in purchasing power parity terms. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08; international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the currency and housing market, however, aggravating the current account deficit. The economy fell into recession in 2008. In line with global peers, the central bank has cut interest rates aggressively; the new government is responding with plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$116.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $116.6 billion (2007 est.)

$113 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$128.4 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 3.2% (2007 est.)

1.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $28,200 (2007 est.)

$27,600 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.4%

industry: 25.7%

services: 69.9% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

2.25 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7%

industry: 19%

services: 74% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 3.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: %NA

highest 10%: %NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.2 (1997) country comparison to the world: 83

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Budget:

revenues: $54.41 billion

expenditures: $55.93 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

24.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 22.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 2.4% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 51 8.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 64 12.83% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$13.7 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 $17.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$99.91 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 $117.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$164.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $200.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 57 $47.45 billion (31 December 2007)

$44.94 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish

Industries:

food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate:

-2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity - production:

42.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - consumption:

39.24 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

65,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Oil - consumption:

154,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Oil - exports:

34,260 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Oil - imports:

147,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Oil - proved reserves:

60 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas - production:

4.275 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - consumption:

4.276 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - proved reserves:

33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Current account balance:

-$11.34 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 -$10.63 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$31.19 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $27.29 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners:

Australia 23.1%, US 10.1%, Japan 8.4%, China 5.8% (2008)

Imports:

$32.76 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $29.05 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners:

Australia 18.1%, China 13.2%, US 9.5%, Japan 8.3%, Singapore 4.7%, Malaysia 4.4%, Germany 4.3% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $17.25 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$59.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$72.92 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $70.94 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)

Communications ::New Zealand

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.75 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 62

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.62 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 91

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems

domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons

international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:

.nz

Internet hosts:

2.007 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 32

Internet users:

3.047 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 58

Transportation ::New Zealand

Airports:

120 (2009) country comparison to the world: 50

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 41

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 25

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 79

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 31

under 914 m: 45 (2009)

Pipelines:

condensate 331 km; gas 1,838 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 4,128 km country comparison to the world: 39 narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 93,576 km country comparison to the world: 49 paved: 61,564 km (includes 172 km of expressways)

unpaved: 32,012 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 13 country comparison to the world: 108 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1)

registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei

Military ::New Zealand

Military branches:

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,009,298

females age 16-49: 997,134 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 837,553

females age 16-49: 825,981 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31,461

female: 29,809 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Transnational Issues ::New Zealand

Disputes - international:

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

Illicit drugs:

significant consumer of amphetamines

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Nicaragua (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Nicaragua

Background:

The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, saw the Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return of former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. The 2008 municipal elections were characterized by widespread irregularities. Nicaragua's infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt, but democratic institutions face new challenges under the ORTEGA administration.

Geography ::Nicaragua

Location:

Central 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: 130,370 sq km country comparison to the world: 97 land: 119,990 sq km

water: 10,380 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New York state

Land boundaries:

total: 1,231 km

border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline:

910 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: natural prolongation

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: 14.81%

permanent crops: 1.82%

other: 83.37% (2005)

Irrigated land:

610 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

196.7 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)

per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People ::Nicaragua

Population:

5,891,199 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,013,866/female 976,430)

15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,847,756/female 1,857,264)

65 years and over: 3.3% (male 85,782/female 110,101) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.1 years

male: 21.7 years

female: 22.5 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.784% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Birth rate:

23.25 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Death rate:

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Net migration rate:

-1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Urbanization:

urban population: 57% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.02 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 88 male: 28.09 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 21.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.5 years country comparison to the world: 128 male: 69.35 years

female: 73.75 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.57 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Nicaraguan(s)

adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)

Languages:

Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)

note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 67.5%

male: 67.2%

female: 67.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 11 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 143

Government ::Nicaragua

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua

conventional short form: Nicaragua

local long form: Republica de Nicaragua

local short form: Nicaragua

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

9 January 1987; revised in 1995, 2000, and 2005

Legal system:

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term so long as it is not consecutive); election last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)

election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra elected president - 38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE 29%, Jose RIZO 26.21%, Edmundo JARQUIN 6.44%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 90 members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat for the runner-up in previous presidential election)

elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election), MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS); note - as of 1 January 2009: seats by party - FSLN 38, PLC 25, BDN 15, ALN 6, MRS 3, APRE 1, Independent 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative Party or PC [Azalia AVILES Salmeron]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Nicaraguan Democratic Bloc or BDN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Eliseo NUNEZ Sr.]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Enrique SAENZ Navarrete]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Workers Front or FNT (a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including: Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN); Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT (an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including: Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN (an independent labor union); Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP (a confederation of business groups)

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charges d'Affaires Alcides J. MONTIEL Barillas

chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, 6573

FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545

consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. CALLAHAN

embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua

mailing address: American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021

telephone: [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours)

FAX: [505] 252-7304

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 ::Nicaragua

Economy - overview:

Nicaragua has widespread underemployment and the second lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Textiles and apparel account for nearly 60% of Nicaragua's exports, but recent increases in the minimum wage will likely erode its comparative advantage in this industry. Nicaragua relies on international economic assistance to meet internal- and external-debt financing obligations. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in October 2007, the IMF approved a new poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF) program. However, severe budget shortfalls resulting from the suspension of large amounts of direct budget support from foreign donors concerned with recent political developments has caused a slowdown in PRGF disbursements. Similarly, private sector concerns surrounding ORTEGA's handling of economic issues have dampened investment. Economic growth has slowed in 2009, due to decreased export demand from the US and Central American markets, lower commodity prices for key agricultural exports, and low remittance growth - remittances are equivalent to almost 15% of GDP.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.83 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $16.31 billion (2007 est.)

$15.8 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.365 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 3.2% (2007 est.)

3.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $2,900 (2007 est.)

$2,800 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.9%

industry: 25.8%

services: 57.3% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

2.322 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 29%

industry: 19%

services: 52% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 4.9% (2007 est.)

note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008

Population below poverty line:

48% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4%

highest 10%: 41.8% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43.1 (2001) country comparison to the world: 51 60.3 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

34.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Budget:

revenues: $1.271 billion

expenditures: $1.594 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

74.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 69.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

19.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 11.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.17% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 59 13.04% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$507.5 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 94 $465.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.81 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 $1.802 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.272 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $4.133 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters

Industries:

food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - production:

3.286 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - consumption:

2.569 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

63.95 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Oil - consumption:

29,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - exports:

212.5 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Oil - imports:

29,570 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Current account balance:

-$1.475 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 -$1.048 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$2.675 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $2.313 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts

Exports - partners:

US 32.3%, El Salvador 14.6%, Costa Rica 6.9%, Honduras 6.8%, Mexico 5.3%, Canada 5%, Guatemala 5% (2008)

Imports:

$4.848 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $4.117 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US 21%, Venezuela 14.3%, Mexico 8.4%, Costa Rica 8%, China 7.8%, Guatemala 6.1%, El Salvador 5.2% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.141 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $1.103 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.596 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 19.374 (2008 est.), 18.457 (2007), 17.582 (2006), 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004)

Communications ::Nicaragua

Telephones - main lines in use:

312,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 114

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.039 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 109

Telephone system:

general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company

domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags behind other Central American countries; fixed-line teledensity roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership increasing and now exceeds 50 per 100 persons; connected to Central American Microwave System

international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 7 repeaters) (1997)

Internet country code:

.ni

Internet hosts:

88,742 (2009) country comparison to the world: 74

Internet users:

185,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 140

Transportation ::Nicaragua

Airports:

143 (2009) country comparison to the world: 40

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 132

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 115 (2009)

Pipelines:

oil 54 km (2008)

Roadways:

total: 19,036 km country comparison to the world: 113 paved: 2,299 km

unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)

Waterways:

2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2008) country comparison to the world: 41

Ports and terminals:

Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff

Military ::Nicaragua

Military branches:

National Army of Nicaragua (ENN; includes Navy, Air Force) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of duty 18-36 months (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,513,312

females age 16-49: 1,507,999 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,277,878

females age 16-49: 1,339,413 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 72,366

female: 70,118 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 157

Transnational Issues ::Nicaragua

Disputes - international:

memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Niger (Africa)

Introduction ::Niger

Background:

Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Events have since evolved into a fledging insurgency.

Geography ::Niger

Location:

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1.267 million sq km country comparison to the world: 22 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 Bagzane 2,022 m

Natural resources:

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 11.43%

permanent crops: 0.01%

other: 88.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:

730 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

33.7 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%)

per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture

People ::Niger

Population:

15,306,252 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Age structure:

0-14 years: 49.6% (male 3,840,379/female 3,758,674)

15-64 years: 48% (male 3,658,361/female 3,690,373)

65 years and over: 2.3% (male 159,984/female 198,481) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 15.2 years

male: 14.9 years

female: 15.4 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.677% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Birth rate:

51.6 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Death rate:

14.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Net migration rate:

-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Urbanization:

urban population: 16% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 116.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 5 male: 121.72 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 111.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.6 years country comparison to the world: 201 male: 51.39 years

female: 53.85 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

7.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

60,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

animal contact disease: rabies

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Nigerien(s)

adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups:

Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

Religions:

Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%

Languages:

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 28.7%

male: 42.9%

female: 15.1% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 4 years

male: 5 years

female: 3 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 134

Government ::Niger

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Niger

conventional short form: Niger

local long form: Republique du Niger

local short form: Niger

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Independence:

3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution:

adopted 18 July 1999

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 Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999)

head of government: Prime Minister Ali Badjo GAMATIE (since 2 October 2009); appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president

cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); second round of election last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)

election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 20 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNSD 76, RSD 15, RDP 7, PNA-Alouma 1, Alkalami 1, Nigerien Party of the Masses for Labor 1, independents 12

Judicial branch:

State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Alkalama; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Party of the Masses for Labor; Nigerien Progressive Party or PPN-RDA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg rebel group

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE

chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227

FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN

embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey

mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey

telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64

FAX: [227] 20-73-31-67

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 ::Niger

Economy - overview:

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and strong population growth have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Uranium prices have increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.29 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $9.398 billion (2007 est.)

$9.097 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.382 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 3.3% (2007 est.)

5.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 222 $700 (2007 est.)

$700 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 39%

industry: 17%

services: 44% (2001)

Labor force:

4.688 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 78

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%

industry: 6%

services: 4% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

63% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%

highest 10%: 35.7% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.5 (1995) country comparison to the world: 21

Budget:

revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources)

expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Central bank discount rate:

4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 121 4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA%

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$604.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$193.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$318.9 million (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Industries:

uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Industrial production growth rate:

5.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - production:

150 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - consumption:

589.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

450 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Oil - consumption:

6,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Oil - imports:

5,367 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Current account balance:

-$321 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 -$321 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$428 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 167 $428 million (2006)

Exports - commodities:

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners:

Japan 80.4%, Nigeria 8.5%, France 2.9% (2008)

Imports:

$800 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 176

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners:

France 16.6%, China 10.9%, Algeria 9.6%, Nigeria 7.4%, French Polynesia 6.5%, Belgium 4.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2% (2008)

Debt - external:

$2.1 billion (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)

note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Communications ::Niger

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 186

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.677 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 129

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity only 13 per 100 persons with cellular subscribership increasing rapidly from a small base; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned

international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2007)

Internet country code:

.ne

Internet hosts:

253 (2009) country comparison to the world: 182

Internet users:

80,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 160

Transportation ::Niger

Airports:

28 (2009) country comparison to the world: 119

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 18

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 14

under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 18,550 km country comparison to the world: 115 paved: 3,803 km

unpaved: 14,747 km (2006)

Waterways:

300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2008) country comparison to the world: 94

Military ::Niger

Military branches:

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Niger Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

17-21 years of age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,871,868

females age 16-49: 2,696,966 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,019,553

females age 16-49: 2,046,906 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 170,060

female: 163,996 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 122

Transnational Issues ::Niger

Disputes - international:

Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Niger is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; caste-based slavery practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue in isolated areas of the country - an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 Nigeriens live under conditions of traditional slavery; children are trafficked within Niger for forced begging, forced labor in gold mines, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and possibly for forced labor in agriculture and stone quarries; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked to and through Niger for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labor in mines and on farms, and as mechanics and welders

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Niger is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking in 2007; in particular, measures to combat and eliminate traditional slavery practices were weak; the government's overall law enforcement efforts have stalled from 2006; while efforts to protect child trafficking victims were steady, the government failed to provide services to or rescue adult victims subjected to traditional slavery practices, and made poor efforts to educate the public about traditional slavery practices in general (2008)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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@Nigeria (Africa)

Introduction ::Nigeria

Background:

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.

Geography ::Nigeria

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: 923,768 sq km country comparison to the world: 32 land: 910,768 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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:

natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.02%

permanent crops: 3.14%

other: 63.84% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,820 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

286.2 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)

per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; flooding

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea

People ::Nigeria

Population:

149,229,090 country comparison to the world: 8 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 31,624,050/female 30,242,637)

15-64 years: 55.5% (male 42,240,641/female 40,566,672)

65 years and over: 3.1% (male 2,211,840/female 2,343,250) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 19 years

male: 18.9 years

female: 19.1 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.999% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Birth rate:

36.65 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Death rate:

16.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Net migration rate:

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Urbanization:

urban population: 48% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 94.35 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 13 male: 100.38 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 87.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 46.94 years country comparison to the world: 212 male: 46.16 years

female: 47.76 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.91 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2.6 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

170,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever

water contact disease: leptospirosis and shistosomiasis

animal contact disease: rabies

Nationality:

noun: Nigerian(s)

adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups:

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Religions:

Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages:

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68%

male: 75.7%

female: 60.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years

male: 9 years

female: 7 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 180

Government ::Nigeria

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria

conventional short form: Nigeria

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Independence:

1 October 1960 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Constitution:

adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999

Legal system:

based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007)

cabinet: Federal Executive Council

elections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)

election results: Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011); House of Representatives - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%, ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%, other 8.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, UNPP 2.8%, NPD 1.9%, APGA 1.6%, PRP 0.8%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6, UNPP 2, APGA 2, NPD 1, PRP 1, vacant 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the president); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges recommended by the National Judicial Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Accord Party [Ikra Aliyu BILBIS]; Action Congress or AC [Hassan ZUMI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; All Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE]; All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]; Democratic People's Party or DPP [Jeremiah USENI]; Fresh Democratic Party [Chris OKOTIE]; Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU]; Movement for the Restoration and Defense of Democracy or MRDD [Mohammed Gambo JIMETA]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Vincent OGBULAFOR]; Peoples Progressive Alliance [Clement EBRI]; Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria Peoples Party or UNPP [Mallam Selah JAMBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU; Campaign for Democracy or CD; Civil Liberties Organization or CLO; Committee for the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR; Constitutional Right Project or CRP; Human Right Africa; National Association of Democratic Lawyers or NADL; National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS; Nigerian Bar Association or NBA; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC; Nigerian Medical Association or NMA; the Press; Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Baba Gana WIKIL

chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400

FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robin SANDERS

embassy: 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja

mailing address: P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja

telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000

FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Economy ::Nigeria

Economy - overview:

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The 2009 CIA World Factbook (part 9 of 25)