The 2010 CIA World Factbook (part 9 of 25)

Death rate:

13.69 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 91

Urbanization:

urban population: 19% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.015 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female

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

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 83.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 11 male: 87.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 79.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 50.92 years country comparison to the world: 211 male: 50.22 years

female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.51 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

11.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

930,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

68,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

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: Malawian(s)

adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups:

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Religions:

Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Languages:

Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 62.7%

male: 76.1%

female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years

male: 9 years

female: 9 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

4.2% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 101

Government ::Malawi

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi

conventional short form: Malawi

local long form: Dziko la Malawi

local short form: Malawi

former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

Government type:

multiparty democracy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E

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

Administrative divisions:

28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Independence:

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Constitution:

18 May 1994

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)

cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)

election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress of Democrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Maravi People's Party [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Rainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party [Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE

chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270

FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE

embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3

mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi

telephone: [265] (1) 773 166

FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), black, and green; a white sun disc is centered on the black band, its surrounding 45 white rays extend partially into the red and green bands; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the sun represents Malawi's economic progress since attaining independence

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

note: adopted 1964

Economy ::Malawi

Economy - overview:

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture, which has benefited from fertilizer subsidies since 2006, accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. The government faces many challenges including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well. The government has announced infrastructure projects that could yield improvements, such as a new oil pipeline, for better fuel access, and the potential for a waterway link through Mozambican rivers to the ocean, for better transportation options. Since 2009, however, Malawi experienced some setbacks, including a general shortage of foreign exchange, which has damaged its ability to pay for imports, and fuel shortages that hinder transportation and productivity. Investment fell 23% in 2009. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.51 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $12.69 billion (2009 est.)

$11.79 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.035 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 7.6% (2009 est.)

9.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 219 $800 (2009 est.)

$800 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 33.4%

industry: 21.7%

services: 44.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%

industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

53% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%

highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 69

Investment (gross fixed):

27.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Public debt:

40.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 44.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 8.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

15% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 21 15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

25.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 25.28% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$626.5 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 151 $580.3 million (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$1.434 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $1.233 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $1.515 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 97 $1.771 billion (31 December 2008)

$587.2 million (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

17.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Electricity - production:

1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - consumption:

1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - consumption:

8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - imports:

6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - production:

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

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - exports:

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

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Current account balance:

-$315 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 -$332 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$1.189 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $912 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel

Exports - partners:

Germany 12.37%, Egypt 8.52%, South Africa 7.67%, Zimbabwe 7.55%, US 7.4%, Russia 6.79%, Netherlands 6.64%, Japan 4.1% (2009)

Imports:

$1.675 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.502 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners:

South Africa 40.15%, China 6.79%, India 6.73%, France 5.03%, Tanzania 4.81%, Mozambique 4.03% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$301 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $163.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.213 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.166 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 151.65 (2010), 141.14 (2009), 142.41 (2008), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006)

Communications ::Malawi

Telephones - main lines in use:

175,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 129

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.4 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 126

Telephone system:

general assessment: rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006

domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 15 per 100 persons

international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Broadcast media:

radio is the main broadcast medium; state-run radio has the widest geographic broadcasting reach, but about a dozen privately-owned radio stations broadcast in major urban areas; the single television network is government-owned; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.mw

Internet hosts:

870 (2010) country comparison to the world: 167

Internet users:

716,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 109

Transportation ::Malawi

Airports:

32 (2010) country comparison to the world: 112

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 26

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 13

under 914 m: 12 (2010)

Railways:

total: 797 km country comparison to the world: 102 narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 15,451 km country comparison to the world: 121 paved: 6,956 km

unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Waterways:

700 km; (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2010) country comparison to the world: 76

Ports and terminals:

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Military ::Malawi

Military branches:

Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,402,724 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,048,900

females age 16-49: 1,960,258 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 177,376

female: 176,905 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 118

Transnational Issues ::Malawi

Disputes - international:

disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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

@Malaysia (East & Southeast Asia)

Introduction ::Malaysia

Background:

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.

Geography ::Malaysia

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 329,847 sq km country comparison to the world: 66 land: 328,657 sq km

water: 1,190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,669 km

border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline:

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

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

Climate:

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

Terrain:

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources:

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 5.46%

permanent crops: 17.54%

other: 77% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

580 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)

per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

flooding; landslides; forest fires

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People ::Malaysia

Population:

28,274,729 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.4% (male 4,153,621/female 3,914,962)

15-64 years: 63.6% (male 8,210,373/female 8,143,043)

65 years and over: 5% (male 569,245/female 724,575) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.5 years

male: 26.4 years

female: 26.7 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.609% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Birth rate:

21.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Death rate:

4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Net migration rate:

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 139 note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2009 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 70% of total population (2008)

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

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.069 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 121 male: 17.92 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.55 years country comparison to the world: 112 male: 70.81 years

female: 76.48 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.7 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

80,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

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: Malaysian(s)

adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups:

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Religions:

Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)

Languages:

Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai

note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.7%

male: 92%

female: 85.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 90

Government ::Malaysia

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Malaysia

local long form: none

local short form: Malaysia

former: Federation of Malaya

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E

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

note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions:

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Independence:

31 August 1957 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Constitution:

31 August 1957; amended many times the latest in 2007

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King - Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December 2006); (the position of the king is primarily ceremonial)

head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 3 April 2009); Deputy Prime Minister MUHYIDDIN bin Mohamed Yassin (since 9 April 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the king (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: kings elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; selection based on principle of rotation among rulers of states; election last held on 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who commands the support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister (since independence this has been the leader of the UMNO party)

election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected king

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 members appointed by the king, 26 elected by 13 state legislatures to serve three-year terms with a two term limit) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)

elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)

election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%; seats - BN coalition 140, opposition parties 82

Judicial branch:

civil courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges are appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister); sharia courts include Sharia Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and inheritance only for Muslims; decisions of sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts

Political parties and leaders:

National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition) consists of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOH Tsu Koon]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [CHUA Soi Lek]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [Govindasamy PALANIVEL]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [NAJIB bin Abdul Razak]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWAN])

People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition) consists of the following parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]

independent party: Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Saban) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Bar Council; BERSIH (electoral reform coalition); PEMBELA (Muslim NGO coalition)

other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups

International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador JAMALUDDIN Jarjis

chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700

FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul W. JONES

embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000

FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Flag description:

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the flag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the star represent the unity between these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers

note: the design is based on the flag of the US

National anthem:

lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER

note: adopted 1957; the full version is only performed in the presence of the king; the tune, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled "La Rosalie," was originally the anthem of the state of Perak

Economy ::Malaysia

Economy - overview:

Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Under current Prime Minister NAJIB, Malaysia is attempting to achieve high-income status by 2020 and to move farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in Islamic finance, high technology industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The NAJIB administration also is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand and to wean the economy off of its dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of electronics - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel, combined with strained government finances, has forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying to lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas, which supplies at least 40% of government revenue. The central bank maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves and its well-developed regulatory regime has limited Malaysia's exposure to riskier financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Nevertheless, decreasing worldwide demand for consumer goods hurt Malaysia's exports and economic growth in 2009, although both showed signs of recovery in 2010. In order to attract increased investment, NAJIB has also sought to revise the special economic and social preferences accorded to ethnic Malays under the New Economic Policy of 1970, but he has encountered significant opposition, especially from Malay nationalists.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$416.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $388.8 billion (2009 est.)

$395.5 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$219 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 -1.7% (2009 est.)

4.7% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $14,000 (2009 est.)

$14,500 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.1%

industry: 41.6%

services: 49.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

11.62 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13%

industry: 36%

services: 51% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 3.7% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line:

5.1% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%

highest 10%: 28.5% (2005 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46.1 (2002) country comparison to the world: 36 49.2 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Public debt:

52.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 53.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 0.6% (2009 est.)

note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled

Central bank discount rate:

1% (31 December 2009)

NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.08% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 6.08% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$69.03 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 38 $57 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$337.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $280.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$314.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $265.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$256 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 25 $187.1 billion (31 December 2008)

$325.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, coconuts, rice; rubber, timber; Sarawak - rubber, timber; pepper

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity - production:

103.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity - consumption:

99.25 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Electricity - exports:

2.268 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

693,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Oil - consumption:

536,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Oil - exports:

511,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Oil - imports:

314,600 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Oil - proved reserves:

2.9 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - production:

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

Natural gas - consumption:

26.27 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas - exports:

31.03 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.35 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Current account balance:

$34.83 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $34.08 billion (2009 est.)

Exports:

$192.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $157.5 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners:

Singapore 13.9%, China 12.2%, US 10.9%, Japan 9.8%, Thailand 5.4%, Hong Kong 5.2% (2009)

Imports:

$149.2 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $117.3 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

China 13.9%, Japan 12.5%, US 11.2%, Singapore 11.1%, Thailand 6%, Indonesia 5.3% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$104.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $96.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$62.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $58.79 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$77.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $74.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$82.65 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $75.62 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

ringgits (MYR) per US dollar - 3.2182 (2010), 3.5246 (2009), 3.33 (2008), 3.46 (2007), 3.6683 (2006)

Communications ::Malaysia

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.312 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 34

Telephones - mobile cellular:

30.379 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 31

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system featuring good intercity service on Peninsular Malaysia provided mainly by microwave radio relay and an adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service excellent

domestic: domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 135 per 100 persons

international: country code - 60; landing point for several major international submarine cable networks that provide connectivity to Asia, Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2008)

Broadcast media:

state-owned television broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with relays throughout the country, and the leading private commercial media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays throughout the country; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates multiple national networks as well as regional and local stations; large number of private commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio services are available; about 400 radio stations overall (2008)

Internet country code:

.my

Internet hosts:

344,452 (2010) country comparison to the world: 56

Internet users:

15.355 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 26

Transportation ::Malaysia

Airports:

118 (2010) country comparison to the world: 51

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 38

over 3,047 m: 7

2,438 to 3,047 m: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 80

914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 73 (2010)

Heliports:

3 (2010)

Pipelines:

condensate 3 km; gas 1,965 km; oil 31 km; refined products 114 km (2009)

Railways:

total: 1,849 km country comparison to the world: 75 standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,792 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 98,721 km country comparison to the world: 44 paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways)

unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Waterways:

7,200 km country comparison to the world: 20 note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km (2011)

Merchant marine:

total: 321 country comparison to the world: 30 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 97, carrier 2, chemical tanker 45, container 44, liquefied gas 35, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 79, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 4

foreign-owned: 35 (Denmark 1, Hong Kong 8, Japan 4, Nigeria 1, Russia 2, Singapore 19)

registered in other countries: 79 (Bahamas 13, India 1, Indonesia 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 11, Panama 12, Papua New Guinea 1, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 27, Thailand 3, Tuvalu 1, US 2, unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang (Port Klang), Tanjung Pelepas

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; increased naval patrols in 2009 resulted in significantly reduced numbers of incidents

Military ::Malaysia

Military branches:

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,692,438

females age 16-49: 6,494,413 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,612,642

females age 16-49: 5,501,129 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 267,646

female: 253,529 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.03% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Transnational Issues ::Malaysia

Disputes - international:

Malaysia is involved in a complex dispute with Brunei, China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam over claims to part or all of the Spratly Islands; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but does not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims along their land boundary; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 15,174 (Indonesia); 21,544 (Burma) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and men, women, and children for forced labor; Malaysia is mainly a destination country for men, women, and children who migrate willingly from South and Southeast Asia to work, some of whom are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by Malaysian employers in the domestic, agricultural, construction, plantation, and industrial sectors; to a lesser extent, some Malaysian women, primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for commercial sexual exploitation

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, despite some progress in enforcing the 2007 comprehensive anti-trafficking law; it has yet to fully address labor trafficking in Malaysia; there are credible allegations of involvement of Malaysian immigration officials in trafficking and extorting Burmese refugees; the government did not develop mechanisms to effectively screen victims of trafficking in vulnerable groups and condones the confiscation of passports of migrant workers by employers (2009)

Illicit drugs:

drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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

@Maldives (South Asia)

Introduction ::Maldives

Background:

The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing the new president include strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. Maldives officials have been prominent participants in international climate change talks due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise.

Geography ::Maldives

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 298 sq km country comparison to the world: 209 land: 298 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

644 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

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

Terrain:

flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 13.33%

permanent crops: 30%

other: 56.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Total renewable water resources:

0.03 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%)

per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)

Natural hazards:

tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

Environment - current issues:

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Environment - international agreements:

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

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People ::Maldives

Population:

395,650 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.3% (male 45,038/female 43,291)

15-64 years: 73.8% (male 180,874/female 111,703)

65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,711/female 7,717) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.9 years

male: 26.6 years

female: 24.7 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.178% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 213

Birth rate:

14.5 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Death rate:

3.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Net migration rate:

-12.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217

Urbanization:

urban population: 38% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 5.3% 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: 1.57 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female

total population: 1.4 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.47 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 77 male: 30.97 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 25.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.21 years country comparison to the world: 100 male: 72 years

female: 76.54 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.83 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Maldivian(s)

adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups:

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religions:

Sunni Muslim

Languages:

Dhivehi (official) (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.8%

male: 93%

female: 94.7% (2006 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 13 years

female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

8.1% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 11

Government ::Maldives

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives

conventional short form: Maldives

local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E

time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale (Male)*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Independence:

26 July 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution:

new constitution ratified 7 August 2008

Legal system:

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11 November 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Mohamed "Anni" NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11 November 2008)

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: under the new constitution, the president elected by direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote - NASHEED 54.3%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Council or People's Majlis (77 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Majlis in February 2009 passed legislation that increased the number of seats to 77 from 50

elections: last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

election results: percent of vote - DRP 36.4%, MDP 33.8 %, PA 9.1%, DQP 2.6% Republican Party 1.2%, independents 16.9%; seats by party - DRP 28, MDP 26, PA 7, DQP 2, Republican Party 1, independents 13

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of voting members of the People's Council; High Court; Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders:

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Shaykh Hussein RASHEED Ahmed]; Dhivehi Quamee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [THASMEEN Ali]; Gaumii Ithihaad (National Alliance) or GI [Mohamed WAHEED]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mariya DIDI]; Maldives National Congress or MNC; Maldives Social Democratic Party or MSDP; People's Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN]; People's Party or PP; Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP; Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Ibrahim ISMAIL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: various unregistered political parties

International organization participation:

ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed

chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017

telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195

FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits

Flag description:

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA

note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"

Economy ::Maldives

Economy - overview:

Tourism, Maldives' largest economic activity, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. The Maldivian Government implemented economic reforms, beginning in 1989 that initially lifted import quotas, opened some exports to the private sector, and liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more than a decade, and registered 18% in 2006, due to a rebound in tourism and reconstruction following the tsunami of December 2004. GDP slowed in 2007-08, then contracted in 2009 due to the global recession. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis, which was eased with a December 2009, $79.3 million dollar IMF standby agreement. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.767 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 $1.708 billion (2009 est.)

$1.763 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.433 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 -3.1% (2009 est.)

6.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $4,300 (2009 est.)

$4,600 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.6%

industry: 16.9%

services: 77.5% (2009 est.)

Labor force:

144,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 177

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 11%

industry: 23%

services: 65% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.4% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Population below poverty line:

16% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 12.3% (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

13% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 27 13% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 13% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$460 million (31 October 2009) country comparison to the world: 159 $475.2 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$1.065 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 161 $946.1 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.548 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 $1.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.9% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - production:

542 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - consumption:

542 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Oil - consumption:

6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Oil - imports:

5,490 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Current account balance:

-$370 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 -$638 million (2008 est.)

Exports:

$88 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 $125 million (2008 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish

Exports - partners:

France 17.01%, Thailand 15.16%, Italy 13.49%, UK 13.13%, Sri Lanka 12.38% (2009)

Imports:

$782 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $1.221 billion (2008 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

Imports - partners:

Singapore 24.62%, UAE 15.7%, India 11.02%, Malaysia 8.98%, Sri Lanka 5.4%, Thailand 5.36% (2009)

Debt - external:

$589 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $477 million (2008 est.)

Exchange rates:

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 12.8 (2009), 12.8 (2008), 12.8 (2007), 12.8 (2006)

Communications ::Maldives

Telephones - main lines in use:

49,913 (2009) country comparison to the world: 161

Telephones - mobile cellular:

461,149 (2009) country comparison to the world: 159

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone services have improved; interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service

domestic: each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that exceeds 100 per 100 persons

international: country code - 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)

Broadcast media:

state-owned radio and television monopoly until recently; by mid-2008 there were 5 radio broadcast stations operating; first private cable TV channel now operational with an additional 4 private TV channels in the regulatory pipeline (2008)

Internet country code:

.mv

Internet hosts:

2,164 (2010) country comparison to the world: 153

Internet users:

86,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 163

Transportation ::Maldives

Airports:

5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 178

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 88 km country comparison to the world: 214 paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu

note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 24 country comparison to the world: 95 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 20, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2

registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 3, Tuvalu 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Male

Military ::Maldives

Military branches:

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18-28 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 158,307

females age 16-49: 97,166 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 137,181

females age 16-49: 83,837 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,369

female: 3,765 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Military - note:

the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008)

Transnational Issues ::Maldives

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)

page last updated on January 24, 2011

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

@Mali (Africa)

Introduction ::Mali

Background:

The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup - led by the current president Amadou TOURE - enabling Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the continent. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was subsequently elected to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be free and fair.

Geography ::Mali

Location:

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,240,192 sq km country comparison to the world: 24 land: 1,220,190 sq km

water: 20,002 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 7,243 km

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

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Senegal River 23 m

highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Natural resources:

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower

note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Land use:

arable land: 3.76%

permanent crops: 0.03%

other: 96.21% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,360 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

100 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%)

per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

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

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

People ::Mali

Population:

13,796,354 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.6% (male 3,220,491/female 3,177,823)

15-64 years: 49.5% (male 3,241,250/female 3,406,757)

65 years and over: 3% (male 189,886/female 207,018) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.2 years

male: 15.8 years

female: 16.6 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.607% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Birth rate:

46.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Death rate:

14.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Net migration rate:

-5.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Urbanization:

urban population: 32% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 4.8% 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: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 113.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 4 male: 120.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 106.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.17 years country comparison to the world: 208 male: 50.59 years

female: 53.8 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.54 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

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

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Malian(s)

adjective: Malian

Ethnic groups:

Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Religions:

Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%

Languages:

French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 46.4%

male: 53.5%

female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years

male: 9 years

female: 7 years (2009)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 117

Government ::Mali

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mali

conventional short form: Mali

local long form: Republique de Mali

local short form: Mali

former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W

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

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

22 September 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Constitution:

adopted 12 January 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)

head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September 2007)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADP coalition 113 (ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]; Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); Convergence 2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Amadou Ali NIANGADOU]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Basir GOLOGO]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: the army; Islamic authorities; rebels in the northern region; state-run cotton company CMDT; tuaregs

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou TRAORE

chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950

FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC

embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district

mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako

telephone: [223] 270-2300

FAX: [223] 270-2479

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO

note: adopted 1962; the anthem is also known as "Pour L'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" (For Africa and for You, Mali) and "A ton appel Mali" (At Your Call, Mali)

Economy ::Mali

Economy - overview:

Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country highly dependent on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River and about 65% of its land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The government has continued an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that has helped the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali is developing its cotton and iron ore extraction industries to diversify its revenue sources because gold production has started to fall. Mali has invested in tourism but security issues are hurting the industry. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a 5% average in 1996-2010. Worker remittances and external trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire, however, Mali is building a road network that will connect it to all adjacent countries and it has a railway line to Senegal. In 2010, Mali experienced a regional drought that hurt livestock and livelihoods.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.74 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $15.91 billion (2009 est.)

$15.24 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.077 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 4.4% (2009 est.)

5% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 $1,200 (2009 est.)

$1,200 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 45%

industry: 17%

services: 38% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

3.241 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80%

industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7%

highest 10%: 30.5% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.1 (2001) country comparison to the world: 61 50.5 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 97 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$1.758 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 124 $1.559 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$2.514 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $2.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$994.9 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 150 $1.095 billion (31 December 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

515 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - consumption:

479 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Oil - consumption:

6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Oil - imports:

4,402 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Current account balance:

-$446 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Exports:

$294 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 174

Exports - commodities:

cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners:

China 14.61%, Thailand 8.28%, Pakistan 6.74%, Morocco 6.48%, Burkina Faso 4.67%, France 4.6%, India 4.45% (2009)

Imports:

$2.358 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

Senegal 12.21%, France 11.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.05%, China 5.89% (2009)

Debt - external:

$2.8 billion (2002) country comparison to the world: 133

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

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 ::Mali

Telephones - main lines in use:

81,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 148

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.742 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 107

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas

domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to nearly 30 per 100 persons

international: country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)

Broadcast media:

national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately-owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately-owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.ml

Internet hosts:

524 (2010) country comparison to the world: 179

Internet users:

249,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 135

Transportation ::Mali

Airports:

20 (2010) country comparison to the world: 134

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 12

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Railways:

total: 593 km country comparison to the world: 111 narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 18,709 km country comparison to the world: 114 paved: 3,368 km

unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Waterways:

1,800 km (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2010) country comparison to the world: 46

Ports and terminals:

Koulikoro

Military ::Mali

Military branches:

Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,759,648

females age 16-49: 2,894,776 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,760,901

females age 16-49: 1,900,025 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 153,198

female: 154,762 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 78

Transnational Issues ::Mali

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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

@Malta (Europe)

Introduction ::Malta

Background:

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008.

Geography ::Malta

Location:

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates:

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 316 sq km country comparison to the world: 207 land: 316 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

196.8 km (excludes 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources:

limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 31.25%

permanent crops: 3.13%

other: 65.62% (2005)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.07 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (74%/1%/25%)

per capita: 50 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements:

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

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People ::Malta

Population:

406,771 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.1% (male 33,526/female 31,780)

15-64 years: 69.4% (male 142,491/female 138,769)

65 years and over: 14.5% (male 25,406/female 33,193) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.7 years

male: 38.5 years

female: 41.1 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.391% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Birth rate:

10.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Death rate:

8.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Net migration rate:

2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Urbanization:

urban population: 94% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.058 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

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

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.72 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 209 male: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.59 years country comparison to the world: 32 male: 77.34 years

female: 81.97 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.52 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Nationality:

noun: Maltese (singular and plural)

adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups:

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 98%

Languages:

Maltese (official) 90.2%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.8% (2005 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

total population: 92.8%

male: 91.7%

female: 93.9% (2005 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

4.8% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 81

Government ::Malta

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malta

conventional short form: Malta

local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form: Malta

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 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 (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders and have some responsibility for local road and other public maintenance

Independence:

21 September 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)

Constitution:

1964; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)

head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

election results: George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives (normally 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms; note - the Parliament elected in 2008 is composed of 69 seats; when the political party winning the plurality of votes does not win a majority of seats, the constitution provides that a sufficient number of seats will be added to Parliament to ensure that the party that won the elections has a majority in Parliament)

elections: last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, PL 48.8%, other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, PL 34

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal

note: magistrates and judges for the courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders:

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael BRIGUGLIO]; Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN [Josi MUSCAT]; Malta Labor Party or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Maltra or ALDM (for divorce, abortion, gay marriage, the rights existent in other EU member states); Alleanza Nazzionali Repubblikana or ANR (for traditional values, anti-immigration); Alternattiva Demokratika (pro-environment); Azzjoni Nazzjonali or AN (freedom to participate in democratic government); Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar (pro-environment); Ghazda tal-Konsumaturi (consumer rights)

other: environmentalists

International organization participation:

Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark MICELI-FARRUGIA

chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611 through 3612

FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470

consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas W. KMIEC

embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, FRN 9010

mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, VLT1000

telephone: [356] 2561 4000

FAX: [356] 2124 3229

Flag description:

two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT

note: adopted 1945; the anthem is written in the form of a prayer

Economy ::Malta

Economy - overview:

Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy sources. Malta's geographic position between the EU and Africa makes it a target for illegal immigration, which has strained Malta's political and economic resources. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Malta's financial services industry has grown in recent years and in 2008-09 it escaped significant damage from the international financial crisis, largely because the sector is centered on the indigenous real estate market and is not highly leveraged. Locally, the restricted damage from the financial crisis has been attributed to the stability of the Maltese banking system and to its prudent risk-management practices. The global economic downturn and high electricity and water prices hurt Malta's real economy, which is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism, but growth bounced back as the global economy recovered in 2010. Following a 1.2% contraction in 2009, GDP grew 2% in 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.21 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $10.01 billion (2009 est.)

$10.13 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.801 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 -1.2% (2009 est.)

1.5% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $24,700 (2009 est.)

$25,100 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.7%

industry: 17.4%

services: 80.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

174,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1.6%

industry: 22.8%

services: 75.6% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 6% (2008 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:

26 (2007) country comparison to the world: 128

Investment (gross fixed):

14.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Public debt:

72.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 69% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 2.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 127 3% (31 December 2008)

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:

4.47% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 5.89% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$5.195 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 86 $4.956 billion (31 December 2009 est)

note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Maltese liri in circulation prior to Malta joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); 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 EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money:

$14.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $13.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$13.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $12.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.982 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 85 $3.572 billion (31 December 2008)

$5.633 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Industries:

tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

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

Electricity - consumption:

1.832 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - consumption:

19,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Oil - imports:

17,910 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Current account balance:

-$403 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 -$491 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$2.954 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $2.383 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans, pharmaceutical products, printed material

Exports - partners:

Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.5%, France 11.4%, US 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.5%, UK 5.9%, Italy 4.8% (2009)

Imports:

$4.074 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $3.595 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral fuels and oils, electrical machinery, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco

Imports - partners:

Italy 24.4%, UK 11.7%, Germany 9.3%, France 7.6%, China 4.2%, Singapore 4.11%, Switzerland 4.05% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$522 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $538.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$41.02 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 57 $3.75 billion (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$8.24 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 81

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7732 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006)

Communications ::Malta

Telephones - main lines in use:

252,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 122

Telephones - mobile cellular:

422,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 164

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 165 per 100 persons

international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Broadcast media:

1 publicly-owned television station, Television Malta (TVM); several national television stations, two of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are obtainable; publicly-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 stations; roughly 50 commercial radio stations functioning (2008)

Internet country code:

.mt

Internet hosts:

24,941 (2010) country comparison to the world: 102

Internet users:

240,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 137

Transportation ::Malta

Airports:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 217

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 2,227 km country comparison to the world: 171 paved: 2,014 km

unpaved: 213 km (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,571 country comparison to the world: 4 by type: bulk carrier 522, cargo 377, carrier 1, chemical tanker 280, container 91, liquefied gas 31, passenger 45, passenger/cargo 22, petroleum tanker 141, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 30, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 15

foreign-owned: 1,401 (Angola 7, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 14, Bermuda 8, Bulgaria 7, Canada 1, China 11, Croatia 7, Cyprus 29, Denmark 41, Egypt 1, Estonia 16, Finland 2, France 13, Germany 127, Greece 458, Hong Kong 2, India 4, Iran 56, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 52, Japan 5, Kuwait 2, Latvia 11, Lebanon 7, Libya 4, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 84, Poland 22, Portugal 3, Romania 8, Russia 47, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, South Korea 3, Spain 10, Sweden 3, Switzerland 14, Syria 5, Turkey 211, UAE 1, UK 16, Ukraine 30, US 35)

registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Military ::Malta

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 95,899

females age 16-49: 91,412 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 79,961

females age 16-49: 76,067 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,570

female: 2,410 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.7% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Transnational Issues ::Malta

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

page last updated on January 12, 2011

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

@Marshall Islands (Australia-Oceania)

Introduction ::Marshall Islands

Background:

After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.

Geography ::Marshall Islands

Location:

Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 181 sq km country comparison to the world: 216 land: 181 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

Area - comparative:

about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

370.4 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain:

low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources:

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land: 11.11%

permanent crops: 44.44%

other: 44.45% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

infrequent typhoons

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels

Environment - international agreements:

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

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific

People ::Marshall Islands

Population:

65,859 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.6% (male 12,683/female 12,217)

15-64 years: 58.5% (male 19,302/female 18,459)

65 years and over: 2.9% (male 902/female 959) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.5 years

male: 21.5 years

female: 21.5 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.023% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Birth rate:

29.94 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Death rate:

4.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Net migration rate:

-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Urbanization:

urban population: 71% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.7% 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: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 86 male: 27.61 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.48 years country comparison to the world: 130 male: 69.41 years

female: 73.65 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.51 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)

adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups:

Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)

Religions:

Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

Languages:

Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)

note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.7%

male: 93.6%

female: 93.7% (1999)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2003)

Education expenditures:

12.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 4

Government ::Marshall Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands

conventional short form: Marshall Islands

local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands

local short form: Marshall Islands

abbreviation: RMI

former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

Independence:

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution:

1 May 1979

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Nitijela (legislature) from among its members for a four-year term; election last held on 7 January 2008 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: Litokwa TOMEING removed as president by no confidence vote on 21 October 2009; legislature elects ZEDKAIA president on 26 October 2009

Legislative branch:

unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 19 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 4

note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court

Political parties and leaders:

traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DEBRUM

chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414

FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236

consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Martha L. CAMPBELL

embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro

mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379

telephone: [692] 247-4011

FAX: [692] 247-4012

Flag description:

blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Amata KABUA

note: adopted 1981

Economy ::Marshall Islands

Economy - overview:

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. The Marshall Islands received more than $1 billion in aid from the US from 1986-2002. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$133.5 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 219 $115 million (2001 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$161.7 million (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-0.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $2,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 31.7%

industry: 14.9%

services: 53.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

14,680 (2000) country comparison to the world: 212

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 21.4%

industry: 20.9%

services: 57.7% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

36% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 30.9% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 3% (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Industries:

copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Exports:

$19.4 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 $9.1 million (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Imports:

$79.4 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 $54.7 million (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Debt - external:

$87 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications ::Marshall Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 214

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 218

Telephone system:

general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits

domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones

international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2005)

Broadcast media:

no television broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2009)

Internet country code:

.mh

Internet hosts:

3 (2010) country comparison to the world: 230

Internet users:

2,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 209

Transportation ::Marshall Islands

Airports:

15 (2010) country comparison to the world: 147

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007) country comparison to the world: 174

Merchant marine:

total: 1,381 country comparison to the world: 7 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 415, cargo 63, chemical tanker 314, combination ore/oil 2, container 206, liquefied gas 83, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 259, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 7

foreign-owned: 1,284 (Australia 1, Bermuda 34, Brazil 1, Canada 4, China 16, Croatia 12, Cyprus 38, Denmark 7, Egypt 1, Germany 247, Greece 358, Hong Kong 3, India 8, Iraq 2, Isle of Man 2, Israel 1, Italy 1, Japan 41, Jersey 9, Latvia 18, Malaysia 11, Mexico 4, Monaco 21, Netherlands 16, Norway 57, Pakistan 1, Qatar 24, Romania 2, Russia 6, Singapore 28, Slovenia 6, South Korea 25, Switzerland 12, Taiwan 2, Turkey 72, UAE 17, UK 7, Ukraine 1, US 168) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro

Military ::Marshall Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; under the 1983 Compact of Free Association, the US has full authority and responsibility for security and defense of the Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands Police (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 16,138 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 13,277

females age 16-49: 13,374 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 602

female: 580 (2010 est.)

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 January 11, 2011

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

@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 led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and ushered in a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected president in July 2009. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

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 is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People ::Mauritania

Population:

3,205,060 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.3 years

male: 18.5 years

female: 20.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.373% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Birth rate:

33.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Death rate:

9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Net migration rate:

-0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

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 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 61.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 34 male: 67.13 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 56.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 60.75 years country comparison to the world: 184 male: 58.57 years

female: 62.99 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.37 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

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 (2007)

Education expenditures:

4.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 95

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:

13 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); 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 the High State Council on 6 August 2008, retired from the military and stepped down from the Presidency in April 2009 to run for president; he was elected president in an election held on 18 July 2009

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

cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: following the August 2008 coup, the High State Council planned to hold a new presidential election in June 2009; the election was subsequently rescheduled to 18 July 2009 following the Dakar Accords, which brought Mauritania back to constitutional rule; under Mauritania's constitution, the president 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 for Mauritanians abroad to serve six-year terms; a portion of seats up for election every two years) and the National Assembly or Al Jamiya Al Wataniya (95 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on November 2009; National Assembly - last held on 19 November and 3 December 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM (Coalition of Majority Parties) 45, COD (Coordination of Democratic Opposition) 7, RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPM 63 (UPR 50, PRDR 7, UDP 3, HATEM-PMUC 2, RD 1), COD 27 (RFD 9, UFP 6, APP 6, PNDD-ADIL 6), RNRD-TAWASSOUL 4, 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]; Coalition of Majority Parties or CPM (parties supporting the regime including PRDR, UPR, RD, HATEM-PMUC, UCD); Coordination of Democratic Opposition or COD (coalition of opposition political parties opposed to the government including APP, RFD, UFP, PNDD-ADIL, Alternative or El-Badil); Democratic Renewal or RD [Moustapha Ould ABDEIDARRAHMANE]; Mauritanian Party for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC [Saleh Ould HANENA]; National Pact for Democracy and Development or PNDD-ADIL [Yahya Ould Ahmed Ould WAGHEF] (independents formerly supporting President Abdellahi); National Rally for Freedom, Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; National Rally for Reform and Development/RNRD-TAWASSOUL [Mohamed Jamil MANSOUR] (moderate Islamists); 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]; Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR [Mintata Mint HDEID]; Socialist and Democratic Unity Party or PUDS; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union for the Republic or UPR; 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, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Lemine EL HAYCEN

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; the gold color stands for the sands of the Sahara

National anthem:

name: "Hymne National de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

lyrics/music: Baba Ould CHEIKH/traditional, arranged by Tolia NIKIPROWETZKY

note: adopted 1960; the unique rhythm of the Mauritanian anthem makes it particularly challenging to sing

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. 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. Mauritania made satisfactory progress, but the IMF, World Bank, and other international actors suspended assistance and investment in Mauritania after the August 2008 coup. Since the presidential election in July 2009, donors have resumed assistance. Oil prospects, while initially promising, have largely failed to materialize, and the government has placed a priority on attracting private investment to spur economic growth. The Government also emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and privatization of the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $6.476 billion (2009 est.)

$6.542 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.486 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 -1% (2009 est.)

3.5% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $2,100 (2009 est.)

$2,100 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 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: 135

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 50%

industry: 10%

services: 40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 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: 71 37.3 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 33 12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA%

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA

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

note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - production:

415.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - consumption:

386.2 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

16,510 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

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: 109

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Current account balance:

-$184 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

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 42.06%, Italy 9.71%, Japan 7.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.16%, Spain 5.63%, Netherlands 4.32% (2009)

Imports:

$1.475 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 163

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

France 14.3%, Netherlands 10.33%, China 9.94%, Brazil 5.58%, Belgium 4.87%, Germany 4.04%, Spain 4.02% (2009)

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - 261.5 (2010 est.), 262.4 (2009), 238.2 (2008), 258.6 (2007), 271.3 (2006)

Communications ::Mauritania

Telephones - main lines in use:

74,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.182 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 130

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 70 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); optical-fiber and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) cables for internet access (2008)

Broadcast media:

broadcast media state-owned; 1 state-run TV and 1 state-run radio network; Television de Mauritanie, the state-run TV station, has an additional 6 regional TV stations that provide local programming (2008)

Internet country code:

.mr

Internet hosts:

23 (2010) country comparison to the world: 216

Internet users:

75,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 169

Transportation ::Mauritania

Airports:

28 (2010) country comparison to the world: 120

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Railways:

728 km

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

Roadways:

total: 11,066 km country comparison to the world: 133 paved: 2,966 km

unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Waterways:

some navigation possible on Senegal River (2010)

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) (2010)

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: 699,028

females age 16-49: 783,108 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 464,959

females age 16-49: 562,765 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 35,322

female: 36,035 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 13

Transnational Issues ::Mauritania

Disputes - international:

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; slavery-related practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue to exist in isolated parts of the country; Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging; children are also trafficked by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg, and sell drugs; girls are trafficked internally for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked into Mauritania for purposes of forced begging, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation

tier rating: Tier 3 - the Government of Mauritania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not show evidence of overall progress in prosecuting and punishing trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, and preventing new incidents of trafficking during the past year; progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled; law enforcement efforts to address human trafficking including traditional slavery practices decreased (2009)

page last updated on January 26, 2011

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

@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:

1,294,104 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.3 years

male: 31.4 years

female: 33.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.751% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Birth rate:

14.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Death rate:

6.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Net migration rate:

-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

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: 1.04 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 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.85 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 142 male: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.25 years country comparison to the world: 99 male: 70.77 years

female: 77.89 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.8 children born/woman (2010 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: 93

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

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: 13 years

female: 14 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 136

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 Monique OHSAN-BELLEPEAU (since 13 November 2010)

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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 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; members to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 5 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AF 41, MMM 18, MR 2, MSF 1; appointed seats - to be assigned 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of the Future or AF [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 Militant Socialist Movement or MMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH]; Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement or MSMM [Madan DULLOO]; Mauritian Solidarity Front [Cehl FAKEERMEEAH]; 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, AOSIS, 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, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joyker NAYECK

chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

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

FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Jo WILLS

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; red represents the blood shed for independence, blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the island

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL

note: adopted 1968

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). Mauritius' sound economic policies and prudent banking practices helped to mitigate negative effects from the global financial crisis in 2008-09. GDP grew 3.6% in 2010 and the country continues to expand its trade and investment outreach around the globe.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $16.88 billion (2009 est.)

$16.37 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.427 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 3.1% (2009 est.)

5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $13,100 (2009 est.)

$12,800 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.8%

industry: 24.6%

services: 70.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

597,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

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:

7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 7.3% (2009 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: 70 37 (1987 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Public debt:

60.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 62.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 2.5% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 21.54% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 120 $1.906 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$9.605 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $9.277 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$10.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $9.423 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.74 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 87 $3.443 billion (31 December 2008)

$5.666 billion (31 December 2007)

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:

3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - production:

2.321 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

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 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Oil - consumption:

23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - imports:

22,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

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: 136

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) 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 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Current account balance:

-$949 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 -$674.6 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$2.041 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $1.942 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

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

Exports - partners:

UK 25.55%, France 16.89%, US 9.51%, Italy 5.68%, UAE 5.47%, Belgium 4.93%, Madagascar 4.11% (2009)

Imports:

$3.935 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $3.499 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

India 24.5%, France 14.02%, South Africa 8.55%, China 8.17% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $2.304 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.043 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $4.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - 30.991 (2010), 31.96 (2009), 27.973 (2008), 31.798 (2007), 31.656 (2006)

Communications ::Mauritius

Telephones - main lines in use:

379,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 104

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.087 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 145

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 2009 reaching 85 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 (2009)

Broadcast media:

the government maintains control over TV broadcasting through the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which operates 3 analog and 10 digital TV stations; MBC is a shareholder in a local company that operates 2 pay TV stations; the state retains the largest radio broadcast network with multiple stations; several private radio broadcasters have entered the market since 2001; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.mu

Internet hosts:

36,653 (2010) country comparison to the world: 94

Internet users:

290,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132

Transportation ::Mauritius

Airports:

5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 179

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 2,066 km country comparison to the world: 172 paved: 2,066 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2009)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 country comparison to the world: 136 by type: passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2010)

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: 343,279 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 279,405

females age 16-49: 283,023 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 10,565

female: 10,447 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.3% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

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 January 12, 2011

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

@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. In March 2009, Mayotte voted overwhelmingly to become France's 101st department - and fifth overseas department - a change scheduled to become official in 2011.

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: Mlima 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:

231,139 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.3 years

male: 18.1 years

female: 16.5 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.171% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Birth rate:

38.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Death rate:

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female

total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 54.75 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 41 male: 60.23 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 49.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.28 years country comparison to the world: 174 male: 60.99 years

female: 65.63 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.4 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

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:

86%

Education expenditures:

Government ::Mayotte

Country name:

conventional long form: Department 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 2014

Legislative branch:

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

elections: last held on 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]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; 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

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 are a blue upper half with white upturned crescent moon and a red lower half with two yellow ylang-ylang flowers, supported on either side by a white seahorse, and set above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant)

note: the flag of France used for official occasions

National anthem:

note: as an overseas collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

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: 146

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force:

44,560 (2002) country comparison to the world: 190

Unemployment rate:

25.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 174

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 49

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: 213

Exports - commodities:

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

Imports:

$341 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 191

Imports - commodities:

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

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Communications ::Mayotte

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 202

Telephones - mobile cellular:

48,100 (2005) country comparison to the world: 197

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

Broadcast media:

the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Mayotte television and radio station (2008)

Internet country code:

.yt

Internet hosts:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 231

Transportation ::Mayotte

Airports:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 216

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Dzaoudzi

Military ::Mayotte

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 37,001

females age 16-49: 36,018 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,627

female: 2,619 (2010 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 January 12, 2011

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

@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 global financial crisis beginning in late 2008 caused another massive economic downturn the following year. As the economy recovers, 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

volcanism: Mexico experiences volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (elev. 3,850 m, 12,631 ft), which erupted in 2010, is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for causing periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Popocatepetl (elev. 5,426 m, 17,802 ft) poses a threat to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana

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:

112,468,855 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.7 years

male: 25.6 years

female: 27.7 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.118% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Birth rate:

19.39 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Death rate:

4.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Net migration rate:

-3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

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 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 106 male: 19.71 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 15.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.26 years country comparison to the world: 71 male: 73.45 years

female: 79.22 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.31 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

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: 29

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: 86.1%

male: 86.9%

female: 85.3% (2005 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

4.8% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 82

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, the head of the Bank of Mexico, and senior treasury officials require consent of the Senate (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 35.9%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR 35.3%, Roberto MADRAZO 22.3%, other 6.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 seats 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; members to serve three-year terms)

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

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 - PRI 237, PAN 143, PRD 72, PVEM 21, PT 13, CD 6, other 8; note - as of 1 January 2011, the current composition of the Senate is: PAN 50, PRI 33, PRD 25, PVEM 6, CD 6, PT 5, independent 3; the current composition of the Chamber of Deputies is: PRI 237, PAN 142, PRD 69, PVEM 21, PT 13, CD 8, other 10

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 WALTON Aburto]; Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Beatriz PAREDES Rangel]; 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 [Gustavo MADERO Munoz]; New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA/PANAL [Jorge Antonio KAHWAGI Macari]; Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Jesus ORTEGA Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

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; Dialogue for the Reconstruction of Mexico or DIA; 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), CD, CDB, CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, FATF, 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, Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, 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, Raleigh (North Carolina), Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s): Albuquerque, Anchorage (Alaska), Boise (Idaho), 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, Washington DC, Yuma (Arizona); note - Washington DC Consular Section located in a separate building from the Mexican Embassy and has jurisdiction over DC, parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos PASCUAL

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, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana

consulate(s): Merida, Nogales

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band; green signifies hope, joy, and love; white represents peace and honesty; red stands for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor; the coat of arms is derived from a legend that the wandering Aztec people were to settle at a location where they would see an eagle on a catus eating a snake; the city they founded, Tenochtitlan, is now Mexico City

note: similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, uses lighter shades of red and green, and does not have anything in its white band

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA

note: adopted 1943, in use since 1854; the anthem is also known as "Mexicanos, al grito de Guerra" (Mexicans, to the War Cry); according to tradition, Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA, an accomplished poet, was uninterested in submitting lyrics to a national anthem contest; his fiancee locked him in a room and refused to release him until the lyrics were completed

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. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, Mexico's share of US imports has increased from 7% to 12%, and its share of Canadian imports has doubled to 5%. Mexico has free trade agreements with over 50 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 pension and fiscal reforms. The administration passed an energy reform measure in 2008, and another fiscal reform in 2009. Mexico's GDP plunged 6.5% in 2009 as world demand for exports dropped and asset prices tumbled, but GDP posted positive growth of 5% in 2010, with export growth leading the way. The administration continues to face many economic challenges, including improving the public education system, upgrading infrastructure, modernizing labor laws, and fostering private investment in the energy sector. CALDERON has stated that his top economic priorities remain reducing poverty and creating jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.56 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.485 trillion (2009 est.)

$1.589 trillion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.004 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 -6.5% (2009 est.)

1.5% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $13,400 (2009 est.)

$14,400 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.2%

industry: 33.3%

services: 62.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

46.99 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 13.7%

industry: 23.4%

services: 62.9% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

5.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 5.5% (2009 est.)

note: underemployment may be as high as 25%

Population below poverty line:

18.2% using food-based definition of poverty; asset based poverty amounted to more than 47% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.7%

highest 10%: 36.3% (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

48.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 28 53.1 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Public debt:

41.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 39.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 3.6% (2009)

Central bank discount rate:

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.07% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 8.71% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$135.7 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 25 $119.5 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$583.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $493 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$342.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $288.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$340.6 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 24 $232.6 billion (31 December 2008)

$397.7 billion (31 December 2007)

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:

6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - production:

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

Electricity - consumption:

181.5 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - exports:

1.288 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

584 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

3.001 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Oil - consumption:

2.078 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Oil - exports:

1.225 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Oil - imports:

521,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Oil - proved reserves:

12.42 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas - production:

60.35 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - consumption:

59.8 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas - exports:

688 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas - imports:

11.84 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Natural gas - proved reserves:

359.7 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Current account balance:

-$7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 -$6.23 billion (2009 est.)

Exports:

$303 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $229.8 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

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

Exports - partners:

US 80.5%, Canada 3.6%, Germany 1.4% (2009)

Imports:

$306 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $234.4 billion (2009 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 48%, China 13.5%, Japan 4.8% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$116.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $99.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$212.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $204.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$328.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $308.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$62.93 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $53.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 12.687 (2010), 13.514 (2009), 11.016 (2008), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006)

Communications ::Mexico

Telephones - main lines in use:

19.425 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 14

Telephones - mobile cellular:

83.528 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 12

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate telephone service for business and government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellular availability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering 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: despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmex remains dominant; Fixed-line teledensity is less than 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 75 per 100 persons in 2009

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 (2009)

Broadcast media:

large number of television stations and more than 1,400 radio stations, most are privately owned; the Televisa group once had a virtual monopoly in TV broadcasting, but new broadcasting groups and foreign satellite and cable operators are now available (2007)

Internet country code:

.mx

Internet hosts:

12.854 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 9

Internet users:

31.02 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 12

Transportation ::Mexico

Airports:

1,819 (2010) country comparison to the world: 3

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 250

over 3,047 m: 12

2,438 to 3,047 m: 30

1,524 to 2,437 m: 85

914 to 1,523 m: 83

under 914 m: 40 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,569

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 66

914 to 1,523 m: 438

under 914 m: 1,063 (2010)

Heliports:

1 (2010)

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 (2009)

Railways:

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

Roadways:

total: 366,095 km country comparison to the world: 17 paved: 132,289 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways)

unpaved: 233,806 km (2008)

Waterways:

2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals mostly connected with ports on the country's east coast) (2010) country comparison to the world: 34

Merchant marine:

total: 60 country comparison to the world: 65 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 3, chemical tanker 12, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, roll on/roll off 4

foreign-owned: 5 (Denmark 2, Greece 1, South Africa 1, UAE 1)

registered in other countries: 18 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Honduras 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 6, Portugal 1, Spain 2, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Salina Cruz, 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), 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: 28,475,126

females age 16-49: 30,048,077 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 22,893,649

females age 16-49: 25,401,642 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,108,032

female: 1,069,885 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

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 January 20, 2011

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

@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: 190 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:

timber, 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:

107,154 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.4 years

male: 21.8 years

female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.284% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 218

Birth rate:

22.57 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Death rate:

4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Net migration rate:

-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 83 male: 27.82 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 22.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.23 years country comparison to the world: 132 male: 69.32 years

female: 73.24 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.8 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

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 52.7%, Congregational 40.1%, Baptist 0.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 0.7%, other 3.8%, none or unspecified 0.8% (2000 Census)

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: 16

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 on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 on 11 May 2007 (next to be held in 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 on 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, AOSIS, 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 Peter A. PRAHAR

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; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

National anthem:

lyrics/music: unknown

note: adopted 1991; the anthem is also known as "Across All Micronesia;" the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben," which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"

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:

NA%

0.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $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: 211

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: 171

Population below poverty line:

26.7% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 64

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.38% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 14.38% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$29.02 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 185 $21.21 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$114 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $98 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$65.68 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 180 $43.75 million (31 December 2008)

Agriculture - products:

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

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: 67

Exports:

$14 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Exports - commodities:

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

Imports:

$132.7 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 207

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Debt - external:

$60.8 million (FY05 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 203

Telephones - mobile cellular:

38,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199

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; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

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

Broadcast media:

no television broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with television transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half dozen radio stations in operation (2009)

Internet country code:

.fm

Internet hosts:

3,097 (2010) country comparison to the world: 144

Internet users:

17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194

Transportation ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Airports:

6 (2010) 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 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 240 km country comparison to the world: 206 paved: 42 km

unpaved: 198 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 country comparison to the world: 140 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor

Military ::Micronesia, Federated States of

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 26,687 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 21,909

females age 16-49: 23,410 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,270

female: 1,221 (2010 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 January 11, 2011

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

@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 the country has been 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, Vladimir VORONIN, as its president in 2001. VORONIN served as Moldova's president until he resigned in September 2009, following the opposition's gain of a narrow majority in July parliamentary elections and the Communist Party's (PCRM) subsequent inability to attract the three-fifths of parliamentary votes required to elect a president. Moldova's four opposition parties formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), which acted as Moldova's governing coalition until parliamentary elections were held in November 2010 and a new governing coalition could be formed. Moldova experienced significant political uncertainty in 2009 and 2010, holding three general elections (in April 2009, July 2009, and November 2010) and four presidential ballots in parliament, all of which failed to secure a president.

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 (Nistru) 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:

4,317,483 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 35 years

male: 33.1 years

female: 37.1 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.072% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Birth rate:

11.16 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Death rate:

10.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Net migration rate:

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Urbanization:

urban population: 42% of total population (2008)

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

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.059 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 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.77 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 135 male: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.09 years country comparison to the world: 133 male: 67.39 years

female: 75 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.28 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

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: 135

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 (2008)

Education expenditures:

8.2% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 9

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 - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiu), 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 Marian LUPU (since 30 December 2010)

note: Vladimir VORONIN, president since 4 April 2001, resigned on 11 September 2009; Marian LUPU, the Speaker of Parliament, is serving as acting president until new elections can be held

head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25 September 2009)

note: Vladimir Filat resigned on 27 December 2010, but was reappointed on 31 December 2010

cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); last successful election held on 4 April 2005, most recent (failed) election held on 10 December 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 (re)designated on 31 December 2010; cabinet received a vote of confidence on 14 January 2011

election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president (2005); parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vladimir FILAT (re)designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 59 of 101

Legislative branch:

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

elections: last held on 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014); note - this was the third parliamentary election in less than two years; the earlier parliaments (elected 5 April 2009 and 29 July 2009) could not agree on a presidential candidate

election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 39.3%, PLDM 29.4%, PD 12.7%, PL 10%, other 8.6%; seats by party - PCRM 42, PLDM 32, PD 15, PL 12; note - the PLDM, PD, and PL governing coalition, termed the Alliance for European Integration, has 59 seats; it remains 2 votes short of the 61 needed to elect a new president

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

represented in Parliament: Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Mihai LUPU]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; Liberal Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]

not represented in Parliament: Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Conservative Party or PC [Natalia NIRCA]; Ecological Party of Moldova "Green Alliance" or PEMAVE [Vladimir BRAGA]; European Action Movement or MAE [Veaceslav UNTILA]; For Nation and Country Party or PpNT [Sergiu MOCANU]; Humanist Party of Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT]; Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Patriots of Moldova Party or PPM [Mihail GARBUZ]; Popular Republican Party or PPR [Nicolae ANDRONIC]; Republican Party of Moldova or PRM [Andrei STRATAN]; Roma Social Political Movement of the Republic of Moldova or MRRM [Ion BUCUR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor SELIN]; Social Political Movement "Equality" or MR [Valeriy KLIMENCO]; United Moldova Party or PMUEM [Vladimir TURCAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Igor MUNTEANU

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 J. 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; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with whom Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag does not display any coat of arms

note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA

note: adopted 1994

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. In January 2009, gas supplies were cut during a dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, have hurt growth. The onset of the global financial crisis and poor economic conditions in Moldova's main foreign markets, caused GDP to fall 6.5% in 2009. Unemployment almost doubled and inflation disappeared - at -0.1%, a record low. Moldova's IMF agreement expired in May 2009. In fall 2009, the IMF allocated $186 million to Moldova to cover its immediate budgetary needs, and the government signed an new agreement with the IMF in January 2010 for a program worth $574 million. In 2010, an upturn in the world economy boosted GDP growth to 3.1% and inflation to 7.3%. 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 has made a modest recovery, but remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors as well as the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.6 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $10.28 billion (2009 est.)

$10.99 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.357 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 -6.5% (2009 est.)

7.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $2,400 (2009 est.)

$2,500 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.3%

industry: 20.1%

services: 63.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

1.203 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40.6%

industry: 16%

services: 43.3% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 3.1% (2009 est.)

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):

21.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Public debt:

25% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 25.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 -0.1% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

20.54% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 21.06% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$1.221 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 134 $1.189 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$2.889 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $2.942 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $2.251 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (2004) country comparison to the world: 103 $573.9 million (2004)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity - production:

3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity - consumption:

4.37 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Electricity - exports:

240 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.931 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Oil - consumption:

19,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Oil - exports:

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

Oil - imports:

14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

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 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - imports:

2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Current account balance:

-$565 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 -$464.6 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$1.45 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $1.332 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:

Russia 23.77%, Italy 14.11%, Romania 12.74%, Germany 6.92%, Turkey 6.08%, Belarus 5.38% (2009)

Imports:

$3.66 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $3.276 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

Ukraine 19.9%, Romania 15.1%, Russia 14.52%, Germany 8.69%, Italy 5.7%, Belarus 4.38% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $1.48 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.146 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $3.844 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA (31 December 2010)

$1.813 billion (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.443 (2010), 11.11 (2009), 10.326 (2008), 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006)

Communications ::Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.139 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 72

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.785 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 116

Telephone system:

general assessment: 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 90 per 100 persons

international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2009)

Broadcast media:

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 television and 2 radio stations; a total of nearly 40 terrestrial TV channels and some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian channels also are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.md

Internet hosts:

492,181 (2010) country comparison to the world: 50

Internet users:

1.333 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 89

Transportation ::Moldova

Airports:

11 (2010) 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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Pipelines:

gas 1,906 km (2009)

Railways:

total: 1,138 km country comparison to the world: 88 broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge

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

Roadways:

total: 9,343 km country comparison to the world: 137 paved: 8,810 km

unpaved: 533 km (2008)

Waterways:

558 km (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008) country comparison to the world: 83

Merchant marine:

total: 107 country comparison to the world: 48 by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 89, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 6

foreign-owned: 63 (Belgium 2, Egypt 5, Greece 4, Israel 4, Lebanon 1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 3, Turkey 18, UK 6, Ukraine 12, Yemen 1) (2010)

Military ::Moldova

Military branches:

National Army: Land Forces Command (includes special forces), Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit), Logistics Command (2010)

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: 1,150,585

females age 16-49: 1,168,169 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 877,031

females age 16-49: 979,128 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 30,012

female: 28,450 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

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; according to an ILO report, Moldova's national Bureau of Statistics estimated that there were likely over 25,000 Moldovan victims of trafficking for forced labor in 2008

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - The Government of Moldova does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; despite initial efforts to combat trafficking-related complicity since the government's reassessment on the Tier 2 Watch List in September 2008, and increased victim assistance, the government did not demonstrate sufficiently meaningful efforts to curb trafficking-related corruption, which is a government-acknowledged problem in Moldova; the government improved victim protection efforts, deployed more law-enforcement officers in the effort and contributed direct financial assistance toward victim protection and assistance for the first time (2010)

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 January 19, 2011

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

@Monaco (Europe)

Introduction ::Monaco

Background:

The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family first seized temporary control in 1297, and again in 1331, but were not able to permanently secure their holding until 1419. 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: 249 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:

30,586 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 213

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 48.9 years

male: 48 years

female: 49.9 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.183% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Birth rate:

7.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 223

Death rate:

8.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Net migration rate:

-0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

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

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 1.78 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 223 male: 2.03 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 89.78 years country comparison to the world: 1 male: 85.81 years

female: 93.9 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.5 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

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: 97

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 permanent 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 Michel ROGER (since 29 March 2010)

cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 on 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:

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

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gilles NOGHES

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

telephone: (202) 234-1530

FAX: (202) 244-7656

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; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners

note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT

note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is much more commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions

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. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. 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: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA% (2000 est.)

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: 191 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

0% (2005) country comparison to the world: 1

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2000) country comparison to the world: 54

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: 161 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: 74

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Communications ::Monaco

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 173

Telephones - mobile cellular:

23,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 208

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-cellular teledensity exceeds 100%

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

Broadcast media:

TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) operates a TV network; Radio Monte-Carlo has both an Italian-language and a French-language network; a few private radio stations operating (2008)

Internet country code:

.mc

Internet hosts:

23,621 (2010) country comparison to the world: 104

Internet users:

23,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 189

Transportation ::Monaco

Heliports:

1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 217 paved: 50 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 14, Bermuda 2, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Liberia 10, Marshall Islands 21, Norway 1, Panama 14, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Vanuatu 1) (2010) country comparison to the world: 62

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: 5,814 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,680

females age 16-49: 4,691 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 147

female: 133 (2010 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues ::Monaco

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on January 19, 2011

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

@Mongolia (East & Southeast Asia)

Introduction ::Mongolia

Background:

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN 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 ethnic Mongolians 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. In 2010 the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPP 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 560 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:

3,086,918 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.8 years

male: 25.3 years

female: 26.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.495% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Birth rate:

21.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Death rate:

6.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 116

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 (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 38.56 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 69 male: 41.63 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 35.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.98 years country comparison to the world: 153 male: 65.54 years

female: 70.54 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.22 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

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: 152

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

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: 14 years

male: 13 years

female: 14 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

5.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 65

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); Deputy 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) (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 on 24 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2013); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural

election results: in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3%

Legislative branch:

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

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

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPP 46, DP 27, others 3

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 Party or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: human rights groups; women's groups

International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, 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, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar 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 Jonathan ADDLETON

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); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ

note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; the anthem's lyrics have been altered on numerous occasions

Economy ::Mongolia

Economy - overview:

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct investment and government revenues. 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. In 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 30% - the highest inflation rate in over a decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia, and the country has started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world's largest untapped copper deposits. The economy grew an estimated 7% in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all time high for Mongolia. 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 two-thirds of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.16 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $9.5 billion (2009 est.)

$9.654 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.807 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 -1.6% (2009 est.)

8.9% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $3,100 (2009 est.)

$3,200 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.2%

industry: 29.5%

services: 49.3% (2009 est.)

Labor force:

1.068 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 141

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 34%

industry: 5%

services: 61% (2008)

Unemployment rate:

2.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 22 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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 28% (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

10.82% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 22 14.78% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

21.67% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 20.58% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$451.4 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 160 $510.7 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$1.996 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.791 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.664 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $1.183 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$430.2 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 105 $407 million (31 December 2008)

$612.2 million (31 December 2007)

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: 110

Electricity - production:

4.03 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - consumption:

3.439 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity - exports:

21.2 million kWh (2009)

Electricity - imports:

186.1 million kWh (2009)

Oil - production:

5,100 bbl/day (2009) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - consumption:

16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Oil - exports:

5,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009) country comparison to the world: 205

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

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: 135

Natural gas - exports:

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

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Current account balance:

-$228.7 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 -$710 million (2008 est.)

Exports:

$1.902 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 132 $2.539 billion (2008)

Exports - commodities:

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

Exports - partners:

China 78.52%, Canada 9.46%, Russia 3.02% (2009)

Imports:

$2.131 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 150 $3.224 billion (2008)

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

China 35.99%, Russia 31.56%, South Korea 7.08%, Japan 4.8% (2009)

Debt - external:

$1.86 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 141 $1.6 billion (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,442.8 (2009), 1,267.51 (2008), 1,170 (2007), 1,165 (2006)

Communications ::Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:

188,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 125

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.249 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 127

Telephone system:

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

domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;

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

Broadcast media:

following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008)

Internet country code:

.mn

Internet hosts:

7,942 (2010) country comparison to the world: 134

Internet users:

330,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 125

Transportation ::Mongolia

Airports:

46 (2010) country comparison to the world: 94

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 32

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 25

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports:

1 (2010)

Railways:

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

Roadways:

total: 49,250 km country comparison to the world: 82 paved: 2,824 km

unpaved: 46,426 km (includes 1,994 km with gravel surface and 1,874 km with improved surface) (2009)

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 (2010)

Merchant marine:

total: 58 country comparison to the world: 67 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010)

Military ::Mongolia

Military branches:

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010)

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: 887,059

females age 16-49: 880,788 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 715,585

females age 16-49: 748,083 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 29,240

female: 28,156 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 106

Transnational Issues ::Mongolia

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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

@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:

666,730 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.2 years

male: 35.9 years

female: 38.8 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.777% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 229

Birth rate:

11.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Death rate:

8.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Urbanization:

urban population: 60% of total population (2008)

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

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.074 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

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

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

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 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 Igor LUKSIC (since 29 December 2010)

cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 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 51.9%, Andrija MANDIC 19.6%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.6%, Srdan MILIC 11.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve four-year terms; note - seats increased from 74 seats in 2006)

elections: last held on 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%, NOVA 9.22%, PZP 6.03%, other (including Albanian minority parties) 15.98%; seats by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 48, SNP 16, NOVA 8, PZP 5, Albanian minority parties 4

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for European Montenegro (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC], Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC], Bosniak Party of BS [Rafet HUSOVIC], and Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Marija VUCINOVIC); 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 DINOSHA]; For a Different Montenegro (bloc) [Goran BATRICEVIC] (includes Democratic Center or DC [Goran BATRICEVIC] and Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]); FORCA [Nazif CUNGU]; Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; National Coalition (includes People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC] and Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); New Serb Democracy or NOVA [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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Srdjan DARMANOVIC

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Benjamin LOWENTHAL

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; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a blue sky; the lion is symbol of episcopal authority and harks back to the three and a half centuries that Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC

note: adopted 2004; the anthem's music is based on a Montenegrin folk song

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. In 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. The European Council granted candidate country status to Montenegro at the December 2010 session. 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 has had a significant negative impact on the economy, due to the ongoing credit crunch, a decline in the real estate sector, and a fall in aluminum exports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.569 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $6.689 billion (2009 est.)

$7.093 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.884 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 -5.7% (2009 est.)

6.9% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $10,000 (2009 est.)

$10,500 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Labor force:

259,100 (2004) country comparison to the world: 166

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2%

industry: 30%

services: 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Population below poverty line:

7% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (2003) country comparison to the world: 113

Investment (gross fixed):

30.5% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Public debt:

38% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 79

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 101

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.36% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 9.24% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$816.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.172 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of broad money:

$1.406 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.29 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 116 $3.771 billion (31 December 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.289 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 89 $2.863 billion (31 December 2008)

$3.699 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheep

Industries:

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Electricity - production:

2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

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 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Oil - consumption:

5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Oil - exports:

314 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 128

Oil - imports:

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

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - consumption:

NA cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Current account balance:

-$1.102 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Exports:

$171.3 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 182

Exports - partners:

Italy 29.52%, Greece 22.65%, Slovenia 11.83%, Hungary 8.96%, US 7.93% (2009)

Imports:

$601.7 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 184

Imports - partners:

Italy 17.54%, Slovenia 14.62%, Germany 10.5%, Austria 7.82%, China 7.82%, Russia 4.4%, Hungary 4.11%, Greece 4.11%, Netherlands 3.96% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$NA

Debt - external:

$650 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 156

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Communications ::Montenegro

Telephones - main lines in use:

366,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 106

Telephones - mobile cellular:

752,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites

domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing

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

Broadcast media:

state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial television networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; roughly a dozen privately-owned TV broadcasters operate networks nationally, regionally, and locally; in addition to the 2 state-owned national radio networks, roughly 50 privately-owned radio stations and networks broadcast (2007)

Internet country code:

.me

Internet hosts:

6,247 (2010) country comparison to the world: 137

Internet users:

280,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 133

Transportation ::Montenegro

Airports:

5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 182

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports:

1 (2010)

Railways:

total: 250 km country comparison to the world: 125 standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)

Roadways:

total: 7,404 km country comparison to the world: 146 paved: 4,927 km

unpaved: 2,477 km (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 144 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1

registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 2, Honduras 2, Slovakia 1) (2010)

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: 151,798

females age 16-49: 134,267 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 3,407

female: 3,741 (2010 est.)

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)

page last updated on January 19, 2011

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

@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:

5,118 country comparison to the world: 229 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.1 years

male: 28.8 years

female: 29.4 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.391% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Birth rate:

11.72 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Death rate:

7.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 115

Urbanization:

urban population: 14% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.033 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 2.03 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 119 male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 19.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.91 years country comparison to the world: 119 male: 74.82 years

female: 70.91 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217

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: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 17 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 138

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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy 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 members popularly elected to serve five-year terms; the attorney general and financial secretary sit as ex-officio members)

elections: last held on 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3

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

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 arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness

National anthem:

note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

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: 200

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

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: 58

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.6% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 67 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.04% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 9.89% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$14.13 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 188 $14.51 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$69.63 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 186 $62.13 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9.93 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $5.537 million (31 December 2007 est.)

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 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - imports:

521 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - exports:

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

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Exports:

$700,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

Exports - commodities:

electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle

Imports:

$17 million (2001); $17 million country comparison to the world: 219

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: 191

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:

2,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 220

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 213

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

Broadcast media:

Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code:

.ms

Internet hosts:

552 (2010) country comparison to the world: 177

Internet users:

1,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 212

Transportation ::Montserrat

Airports:

2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 205

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2010)

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 (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,339 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,127

females age 16-49: 1,217 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 38

female: 36 (2010 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 January 11, 2011

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

@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. The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in the 17th century. 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. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of King. Morocco 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. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999 succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved. Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three broad subjects considered to be taboo: the monarchy, Islam, and the status of Western Sahara. 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:

31,627,428 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.7% (male 4,548,808/female 4,418,768)

15-64 years: 65.4% (male 10,009,928/female 10,437,103)

65 years and over: 6% (male 851,190/female 1,019,377) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.5 years

male: 25.9 years

female: 27 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.077% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Birth rate:

19.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Death rate:

4.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Net migration rate:

-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

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: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 76 male: 33.52 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 23.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.69 years country comparison to the world: 77 male: 72.63 years

female: 78.9 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.23 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

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: 77

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 (2006)

Education expenditures:

5.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 40

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 that 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

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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve 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 to serve five-year terms)

elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 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, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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 Samuel L. KAPLAN

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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN

note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

Economy ::Morocco

Economy - overview:

Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in 2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges, King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing govenment spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$153.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $147.6 billion (2009 est.)

$140.6 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$91.7 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 4.9% (2009 est.)

5.6% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $4,700 (2009 est.)

$4,500 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.1%

industry: 31.6%

services: 51.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

11.63 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 44.6%

industry: 19.8%

services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 9.1% (2009 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:

40.9 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 39.5 (1999 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Public debt:

58.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3.31% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 112 3.32% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.5% (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money:

$67.33 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 40 $64.58 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$108.7 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 51 $99.5 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$93.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $91.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$62.91 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 46 $65.75 billion (31 December 2008)

$75.49 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine

Industries:

phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - production:

19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - consumption:

20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil - production:

4,053 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - consumption:

187,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

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: 45

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

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 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

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 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Current account balance:

-$7.922 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 -$4.958 billion (2009 est.)

Exports:

$14.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $13.92 billion (2009 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 22.02%, France 20.22%, India 4.91%, Italy 4% (2009)

Imports:

$34.19 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $30.55 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners:

France 16.95%, Spain 14.72%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.76%, Germany 6.28%, US 5.66%, Saudi Arabia 5.11% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$24.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $21.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$42.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $40.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $1.333 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010), 8.0571 (2009), 7.526 (2008), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006)

Communications ::Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.516 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 45

Telephones - mobile cellular:

25.311 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 35

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Internet available but expensive

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009

international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optical telecommunications undersea cables that provide 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 (2009)

Broadcast media:

2 television broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)

Internet country code:

.ma

Internet hosts:

277,793 (2010) country comparison to the world: 61

Internet users:

13.213 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 29

Transportation ::Morocco

Airports:

58 (2010) 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 (2010)

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 (2010)

Heliports:

1 (2010)

Pipelines:

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2009)

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: 79 paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways)

unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 30 country comparison to the world: 84 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 7, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3

foreign-owned: 6 (France 4, Germany 2)

registered in other countries: 5 (Gibraltar 4, Panama 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier

Military ::Morocco

Military branches:

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,167,760

females age 16-49: 8,599,418 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,960,026

females age 16-49: 7,307,491 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 300,262

female: 298,227 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

5% of GDP (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

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; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); 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 January 20, 2011

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

@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.

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:

22,061,451 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 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.5 years

male: 17.1 years

female: 17.9 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.797% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Birth rate:

37.8 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Death rate:

19.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 114

Urbanization:

urban population: 37% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.017 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 103.82 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 6 male: 106.53 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 101.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 41.37 years country comparison to the world: 222 male: 42.05 years

female: 40.68 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.13 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

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 (2006) country comparison to the world: 70

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 Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16 January 2010)

cabinet: Cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Armando GUEBUZA reelected 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 directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 74.7%, RENAMO 17.7%, MDM 3.9%, other 3.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 191, RENAMO 51, MDM 8

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:

Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO]; 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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Matos SUMBANA

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 Leslie V. ROWE

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; green represents the riches of the land, white peace, black the African continent, yellow the country's minerals, and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's agriculture, the open book stresses the importance of education, and the star represents Marxism and internationalism

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown

note: adopted 2002

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. 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 more than half 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 and smallholder agricultural productivity and productivity growth is weak. 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. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 9% in the decade up to 2007, one of Africa's strongest performances. However, heavy reliance on aluminum, which accounts for about one-third of exports, subjects the economy to volatile international prices. The sharp decline in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered GDP growth by several percentage points. Despite 8.3% GDP growth in 2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in September 2010, after bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$22.19 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $20.49 billion (2009 est.)

$19.28 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.21 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 6.3% (2009 est.)

6.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 218 $900 (2009 est.)

$900 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28.8%

industry: 26%

services: 45.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

9.87 million (2010 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: 33 39.6 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Public debt:

40.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 33.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217 3.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9.95% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 48 9.95% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.68% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 18.31% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$2.657 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 114 $2.812 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$3.803 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $4.074 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $2.311 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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:

8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Electricity - production:

15.91 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity - consumption:

10.16 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - exports:

11.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

8.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Oil - consumption:

18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - imports:

13,760 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 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 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - proved reserves:

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Current account balance:

-$1.028 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 -$866 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$2.517 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $1.947 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 47.62%, South Africa 11.6% (2009)

Imports:

$3.527 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 $3.059 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

South Africa 33.54%, Netherlands 8.42%, India 5.93%, China 4.24% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $1.829 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $4.246 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 35 (2010), 26.283 (2009), 24.125 (2008), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006)

Communications ::Mozambique

Telephones - main lines in use:

82,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 147

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.971 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 87

Telephone system:

general assessment: a fair telecommunications system that is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges

domestic: 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; extremely low fixed-line teledensity; despite significant growth in mobile-cellular services, teledensity remains low at about 25 per 100 persons

international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); landing point for the SEACOM fiber-optic cable

Broadcast media:

1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately-owned and community-operated stations also broadcast; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.mz

Internet hosts:

21,172 (2010) country comparison to the world: 109

Internet users:

613,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 113

Transportation ::Mozambique

Airports:

106 (2010) country comparison to the world: 54

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 83

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 34

under 914 m: 39 (2010)

Pipelines:

gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2009)

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: 97 paved: 5,685 km

unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)

Waterways:

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010) country comparison to the world: 87

Merchant marine:

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 145 by type: cargo 2

foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military ::Mozambique

Military branches:

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,787,832 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,448,161

females age 16-49: 2,269,562 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 272,922

female: 272,062 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Transnational Issues ::Mozambique

Disputes - international:

none

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 January 20, 2011

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

@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. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.

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:

2,128,471 country comparison to the world: 142 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 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.4 years

male: 21.3 years

female: 21.4 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.909% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Birth rate:

21.82 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Death rate:

12.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Net migration rate:

0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

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: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 45.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 57 male: 48.89 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.95 years country comparison to the world: 210 male: 52.25 years

female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.57 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

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: 43

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: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 23

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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27-28 November 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA reelected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA 11.0%, Katuutire KAURA 3.0%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 2.9%, Justus GAROEB 2.4%, Ignatius SHIXWAMENI 1.3%, Hendrick MUDGE 1.2%, other 1.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council, primarily an advisory body (26 seats; two members chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms), and the National Assembly (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 29-30 November 2004 (next to be held on 26-27 November 2010); National Assembly - last held on 26-27 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2014)

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 75.3%, RDP 11.3%, DTA 3.1%, NUDO 3.0%, UDF 2.4%, APP 1.4%, RP 0.8%, COD 0.7%, SWANU 0.6%, other 1.3%; seats by party - SWAPO 54, RDP 8, DTA 2, NUDO 2, UDF 2, APP 1, RP 1, COD 1, SWANU 1

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 [Benjamin 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 [Hendrick 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, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA

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 Gail 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; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB

note: adopted 1991

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 35-40% 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, as shown by Namibia's GINI coefficient. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Until 2010, Namibia drew 40% of its budget revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Increased payments from SACU put Namibia's budget into surplus in 2007 for the first time since independence. SACU allotments to Namibia increased in 2009, but will drop for 2010 and 2011 because South Africa went into recession during the global economic crisis, reducing overall SACU income. Increased fish production and mining of zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-08, but growth in recent years was undercut by poor fish catches, higher costs of producing metals, and the global recession.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.64 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $14.06 billion (2009 est.)

$14.17 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.45 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 -0.8% (2009 est.)

4.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $6,700 (2009 est.)

$6,800 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9%

industry: 32.7%

services: 58.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

729,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 16.3%

industry: 22.4%

services: 61.3% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate:

51.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193 36.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

55.8%

note: 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 (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.1%

highest 10%: 53% (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

70.7 (2003) country comparison to the world: 1

Investment (gross fixed):

24% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Public debt:

20% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 15.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 8.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

7% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 47 10% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.12% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 13.74% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$3.049 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.495 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$4.756 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $3.691 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$5.122 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $4.041 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$846.3 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 101 $618.7 million (31 December 2008)

$702 million (31 December 2007)

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:

6.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - production:

1.491 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - consumption:

2.845 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - exports:

40 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Oil - consumption:

22,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Oil - imports:

19,120 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas - imports:

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:

62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Current account balance:

-$187 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 -$160.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$4.277 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $3.535 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Imports:

$5.152 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $4.519 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.961 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $2.051 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.373 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $2.175 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 7.57 (2010), 8.4234 (2009), 7.75 (2008), 7.18 (2007), 6.7649 (2006)

Communications ::Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use:

142,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 134

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.217 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 142

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system; core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital

domestic: multiple mobile-cellular providers with a combined subscribership of nearly 60 telephones per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 per 100 persons

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)

Broadcast media:

1 private and 1 state-run television station; satellite and cable TV service is available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations operating; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code:

.na

Internet hosts:

76,020 (2010) country comparison to the world: 80

Internet users:

127,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151

Transportation ::Namibia

Airports:

129 (2010) country comparison to the world: 46

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 108

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 25

914 to 1,523 m: 71

under 914 m: 11 (2010)

Railways:

total: 2,629 km country comparison to the world: 65 narrow gauge: 2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 64,189 km country comparison to the world: 72 paved: 5,477 km

unpaved: 58,712 km (2010)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 156 by type: cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Military ::Namibia

Military branches:

Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 554,531 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 341,783

females age 16-49: 304,496 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 26,152

female: 25,790 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 31

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 January 20, 2011

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

@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: 239 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 elevation 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:

9,267 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 225

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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.8 years

male: 24 years

female: 23.6 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.594% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Birth rate:

28.16 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Death rate:

6.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Net migration rate:

-16.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 219

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

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

Sex ratio:

at birth: 0.838 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.81 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 157 male: 11.36 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.99 years country comparison to the world: 166 male: 60.93 years

female: 68.39 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.13 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

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: 9 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by parliament for a three-year term; election last held on 1 November 2010 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: Marcus STEPHEN reelected in a parliamentary vote of 11 to 6

Legislative branch:

unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)

elections: last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, 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; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, 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

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS

note: adopted 1968

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: 145

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: 199

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

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 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Oil - imports:

1,026 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - imports:

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Exports:

$64,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

Exports - commodities:

phosphates

Imports:

$20 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 217

Imports - commodities:

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Debt - external:

$33.3 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)

Communications ::Nauru

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 225

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002) country comparison to the world: 216

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)

Broadcast media:

1 government-owned television station broadcasting programs from New Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape; 1 government-owned radio station, broadcasting on AM and FM, utilizes Australian and British programs (2009)

Internet country code:

.nr

Internet hosts:

4,158 (2010) country comparison to the world: 140

Transportation ::Nauru

Airports:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 215

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 24 km country comparison to the world: 219 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: 3,682 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,683

females age 16-49: 3,059 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 174

female: 168 (2010 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 January 12, 2011

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

@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: 245 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 elevation 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.

Communications ::Navassa Island

Broadcast media:

no television or radio broadcast stations (2009)

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 November 17, 2010

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

@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, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. In June 2010, the prime minister resigned but, as of December 2010, continued to lead a caretaker government while the parties debate who should lead the next government. Disagreements among the political parties over issues such as the future of former Maoist combatants has hindered the drafting of a new constitution -- due in May 2011 -- and the formal conclusion of the peace process.

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:

28,951,852 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.2 years

male: 20.2 years

female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.419% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Birth rate:

22.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Death rate:

6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Net migration rate:

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

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: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 56 male: 45.97 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.81 years country comparison to the world: 163 male: 64.62 years

female: 67.05 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.53 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

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)

Languages:

Nepali (official) 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:

3.8% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 116

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, but the deadline has been extended to May 2011

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 (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)

head of government: vacant; Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL resigned on 30 June 2010 but leads a caretaker government

cabinet: cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 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 members elected by direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers))

elections: last held on 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 Sadbhawana Party 5%, other 15%; 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 56; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet and are included in the seat totals above

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice 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-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified [Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra Dev JOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN]; Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [Pashupati Shumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]

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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA

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 Scott H. DELISI

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 displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies

note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG

note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for the king

Economy ::Nepal

Economy - overview:

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter 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. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$35.31 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $34.11 billion (2009 est.)

$32.58 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$15.11 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 4.7% (2009 est.)

5.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $1,200 (2009 est.)

$1,200 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 33%

industry: 15%

services: 52% (FY09 est.)

Labor force:

18 million country comparison to the world: 32 note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75%

industry: 7%

services: 18% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

46% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 42% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

24.7% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 6%

highest 10%: 40.6% (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 34 36.7 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.6% (September 2010) country comparison to the world: 193 13.2% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 66 6.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 8% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$3.03 billion (July 2010) country comparison to the world: 110 $2.72 billion (July 2009)

Stock of broad money:

$10.01 billion (July 2010) country comparison to the world: 99 $10.67 billion (July 2009)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9 billion (July 2010) country comparison to the world: 96 $7.7 billion (July 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$5.2 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 78 $5.485 billion (31 December 2009)

$4.894 billion (31 December 2008)

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: 135

Electricity - production:

2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - consumption:

2.243 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports:

213 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Oil - consumption:

18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Oil - imports:

16,920 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Current account balance:

-$449 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 114 $537 million (2009)

Exports:

$849 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 156 $907 million (2008)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods

Exports - partners:

India 65.6%, US 8%, Bangladesh 6.04%, Germany 5% (2009)

Imports:

$5.26 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 110 $4.1 billion (2008)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine

Imports - partners:

India 57%, China 13% (2009)

Debt - external:

$4.5 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 108 $3.285 billion (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 72.56 (2010), 77.44 (2009), 65.21 (2008), 70.35 (2007), 72.446 (2006)

Communications ::Nepal

Telephones - main lines in use:

820,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 85

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.618 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 77

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 30 per 100 persons

international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Broadcast media:

state operates 2 television stations as well as national and regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and a small number of independent television stations (2007)

Internet country code:

.np

Internet hosts:

43,928 (2010) country comparison to the world: 91

Internet users:

577,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 116

Transportation ::Nepal

Airports:

47 (2010) 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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

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The 2010 CIA World Factbook (part 9 of 25)

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The 2010 CIA World Factbook (part 9 of 25)