Chapter V (26)

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution: 12 July 1991

Legal system: three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special
courts, and state security courts (in the process of being
eliminated)

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984) was reelected for a six-year term by universal
suffrage; election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA
January 1998); results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
was reelected
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed
KHOUNA (since NA January 1996) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh): elections last held 15 April 1994 (next
to be held 12 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats (56 total, with 17 up for election every two years) PRDS 16,
UFD/NE 1
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 6 and 13
March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) UFD/NE 67, PMR 1, RDU 1,
independents 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed 12
July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging
parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led
by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic
Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for
Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and
Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party
for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party
(PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic
Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI

Other political or pressure groups: Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ismail Ould IYAHI
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS
embassy: address NA, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
FAX: [222] (2) 515-92

Flag: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow,
horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the
crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy -------

Economic overview: A majority of the population still depends on
agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the
nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by
recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive
deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports.
The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to
cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the
richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by
foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first
deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years,
drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial
buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage
of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank,
the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are
gloomy because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population
growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 27.1%
industry: 29.5%
services: 43.4% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce
14%, government 10%

Unemployment rate: 20% (1991 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $254 million
expenditures: $280 million, including capital expenditures of $94
million (1994 est.)

Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 110,000 kW
production: 135 million kWh
consumption per capita: 61 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep;
fish products

Exports: $390 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products
partners: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

Imports: $355 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital
goods
partners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy

External debt: $1.9 billion (1992 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 135.690 (January 1996),
129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993), 87.027 (1992),
81.946 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by
government mining company
standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 7,496 km
paved: 1,342 km
unpaved: 6,154 km (1987 est.)

Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 24
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor
microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

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

Radios: 300,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 50,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 500,754
males fit for military service: 244,546 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $33 million, 2.5%
of GDP (1995)

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

@Mauritius ---------

Map ---

Location: 20 17 S, 57 33 E -- Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Flag ----

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

Geography ---------

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

Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references: World

Area:
total area: 1,860 sq km
land area: 1,850 sq km
comparative area: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 177 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims the island of Diego Garcia in
UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island

Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry
winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire 828 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 54%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 31%
other: 7%

Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: water pollution
natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely
surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

People ------

Population: 1,140,256 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 157,174; female 152,980)
15-64 years: 67% (male 379,840; female 383,295)
65 years and over: 6% (male 27,429; female 39,538) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.23% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 18.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.67 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.53 years
male: 66.72 years
female: 74.33 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian

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

Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%,
Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%

Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius

Data code: MP

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port Louis

Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega
Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka,
Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,
Rodrigues*, Savanne

Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice
President Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992) were elected
for five-year terms by the National Assembly
head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27
December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27
December 1995) were appointed by the president and are responsible
to the National Assembly
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 20 December 1995 (next
to be held by December 2000); results - MMM/MLP 65%, MSM/RMM 20%,
other 15%; seats - (66 total; 62 elected, 4 appointed) MLP 35, MMM
25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were
Rodrigues Movement 2, Gaetan Duval Party 1, Hizballah 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
government coalition: MLP/MMM alliance - Mauritian Labor Party
(MLP), Navin RAMGOOLAM; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul
BERENGER
opposition: Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis
Serge CLAIR; Rodrigues Movement, Nicolas VONMALLY; Gaetan Duval
Party, Gaetan DUVAL; Hizbullah, Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY; Militant
Socialist Movement (MSM); Mauritian Militant Resurgence (MMR)

Other political or pressure groups: various labor unions

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anund Priyay NEEWOOR
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767
FAX: [230] 208-9534

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

Economy -------

Economic overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has
developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to middle
income diversified economy with growing industrial and tourist
sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of the order
of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in
increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much
improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the
cultivated land area and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The
government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with
a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural
diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-93
continued strong with solid real growth and low unemployment.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.7% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $9,600 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 335,000
by occupation: government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%,
manufacturing 22%, other 22%

Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1991 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $653 million
expenditures: $567 million, including capital expenditures of $143
million (FY92/93 est.)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles,
wearing apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,
nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1992)

Electricity:
capacity: 340,000 kW
production: 920 million kWh
consumption per capita: 777 kWh (1993)

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

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%
partners: EU and US have preferential treatment, EU 77%, US 15%

Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%,
foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%
partners: EU, US, South Africa, Japan

External debt: $996.8 million (1993 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 17.842
(January 1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563
(1992), 15.652 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,703 km (including 29 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128 km (1991 est.)

Ports: Port Louis

Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 221,446 GRT/308,478 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 1,
oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 65,000 (1985 est.)

Telephone system: small system with good service
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several
countries

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

Radios: 395,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 151,096 (1991 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special
Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National
Coast Guard)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 327,403
males fit for military service: 166,466 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11.2 million,
0.4% of GDP (FY92/93)

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

@Mayotte -------

(territorial collectivity of France)

Map ---

Location: 12 50 S, 45 10 E -- Southern Africa, island in the
Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern
Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Flag ----

Description: the flag of France is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 375 sq km
land area: 375 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 185.2 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claimed by Comoros

Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)

Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient
volcanic peaks
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: part of Comoro Archipelago

People ------

Population: 100,838 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 25,099; female 24,881)
15-64 years: 48% (male 24,790; female 23,727)
65 years and over: 2% (male 1,152; female 1,189) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.78% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 47.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.12 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.7 years
male: 56.43 years
female: 61.05 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.63 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran

Ethnic divisions: NA

Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

Data code: MF

Type of government: territorial collectivity of France

Capital: Mamoutzou

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995) represented by Prefect Alain WEIL (since NA), who was
appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
BAMANA (since NA 1976)

Legislative branch: unicameral
General Council (Conseil General): elections last held NA March 1994
(next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(19 total) MPM 12, RPR 4, independents 3
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be
held 24 September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) MPM 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA 1998); results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats
- (1 total) UDF-CDS 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM),
Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM),
Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RPR), Mansour
KAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center
of Social Democrats (CDS)

International organization participation: FZ

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of
France)

US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of
France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

Economy -------

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

GDP: purchasing power parity - $54 million (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $600 (1993 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1985 est.)

Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: NA kW
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh

Agriculture: vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra

Exports: $2.9 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra
partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion

Imports: $87.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice,
clothing, flour
partners: France 63%, South Africa 11%, Thailand 9%, Singapore

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 93 km
paved: 72 km
unpaved: 21 km

Ports: Dzaoudzi

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 450

Telephone system: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone
communications to Comoros and other international connections

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

Radios: 30,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: 3,500 (1994 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@Mexico ------

Map ---

Location: 23 00 N, 102 00 W -- Middle America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and
bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Flag ----

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

Geography ---------

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf
of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific
Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references: North America

Area:
total area: 1,972,550 sq km
land area: 1,923,040 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 4,538 km
border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km

Coastline: 9,330 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims Clipperton Island (French
possession)

Climate: varies from tropical to desert

Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high
plateaus, and desert
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,
natural gas, timber

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 39%
forest and woodland: 24%
other: 24%

Irrigated land: 51,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in
north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme
southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in
urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;
serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centers
along US-Mexico border
natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, destructive
earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and
Caribbean coasts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Geographic note: strategic location on southern border of US

People ------

Population: 95,772,462 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 17,732,725; female 17,125,562)
15-64 years: 59% (male 27,562,285; female 29,165,138)
65 years and over: 5% (male 1,911,968; female 2,274,784) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.87% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 26.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.58 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 25 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.67 years
male: 70.07 years
female: 77.45 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or
predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian
9%, other 1%

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%

Languages: Spanish, various Mayan dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 89.6%
male: 91.8%
female: 87.4%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico

Data code: MX

Type of government: federal republic operating under a centralized
government

Capital: Mexico

Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular - estado)
and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja
California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua,
Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango,
Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo,
Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga,
Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas,
Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Constitution: 5 February 1917

Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not
enforced)

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO
Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994) was elected for a six-year
term by popular vote; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be
held NA 2000); results - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%,
Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE
CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%; other 6.049%
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la
Union)
Senate (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 21 August 1994
(next to be held NA July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats in full Senate - (128 total;
Senate expanded from 64 seats at the last election) PRI 93, PRD 25,
PAN 10
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 24
August 1994 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (500 total) PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PT 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges are appointed by the president with consent of the
Senate

Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI), Santiago ONATE Laborde; National Action
Party (PAN), Carlos CASTILLO; Popular Socialist Party (PPS),
Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD),
Porfirio MUNOZ Ledo; Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction
Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Democratic Forum Party
(PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Green Ecologist Party (PVEM),
Jorge GONZALEZ Torres; Workers Party (PT), Alberto ANYA Gutierrez

Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;
Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM); Confederation of Industrial
Chambers (CONCAMIN); Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce
(CONCANACO); National Peasant Confederation (CNC); Revolutionary
Workers Party (PRT); Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and
Peasants (CROC); Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM);
Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX);
National Chamber of Transformation Industries (CANACINTRA);
Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations (COECE);
Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services (FESEBES)

International organization participation: AG (observer), APEC,
BCIE, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11,
G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECD,
OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus SILVA Herzog Flores
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San
Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas),
Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit,
Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Loredo, McAllen (Texas),
Midland (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California),
Philadelphia, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino,
San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. JONES
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
telephone: [52] (5) 211-0042
FAX: [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo

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

Economy -------

Economic overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture
of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly
dominated by the private sector. Mexico entered 1996 on the heels of
its worst recession since the 1930s. Economic activity contracted
about 7% in 1995 in the aftermath of the peso devaluation in late
1994. Although Mexico City was able to correct imbalances in its
external accounts, meet international payments obligations, and
dramatically improve its trade balance in 1995, the domestic economy
suffered harshly as the ZEDILLO administration stuck to a strict
austerity program. The tight monetary and fiscal policies helped
prevent spiraling inflation and kept government spending under
control but drove interest rates to record heights, making it
difficult for most Mexicans to service their debts. At the same
time, consumers' reduced purchasing power made buying even
necessities difficult for some. Many small- and medium-sized firms
were unable to survive under the twin burdens of high interest rates
and depressed domestic demand for their goods. Business closures and
cutbacks fueled unemployment; more than 1 million Mexicans lost
their jobs. According to the government and most private sector
observers, the recession bottomed out in the third quarter of 1995,
but the difficult year fed growing dissatisfaction with the ruling
party, led to a crisis of confidence in President ZEDILLO'S ability
to lead, and spurred increased tensions within the ruling party.
While the ZEDILLO administration is optimistic that 1996 will bring
some recovery - the government is forecasting 3% growth and 21%
inflation - Mexico will face several key vulnerabilities, including
the financial health of the banking sector, shaky investor
confidence that could be easily jarred by more political or economic
shocks, and increasingly emboldened dissenters within the ruling
party.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $721.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -6.9% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $7,700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 28.4%
services: 63.1%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 52% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 33.6 million (1994)
by occupation: services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and
fishing 28%, commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%,
transportation 4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%

Unemployment rate: 10% (1995 est.) plus considerable
underemployment

Budget:
revenues: $56 billion (1995 est.)
expenditures: $54 billion (1995 est.), including capital
expenditures of $NA

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

Industrial production growth rate: -7.5% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 28,780,000 kW
production: 122 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,239 kWh (1993)

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

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis
continues in spite of increasing government eradication; major
supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the
primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South
America; increasingly involved in the production and distribution of
methamphetamine

Exports: $80 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.), includes in-bond
industries
commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor
vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics
partners: US 85%, Japan 1.6%, EU 4.6% (1994 est.)

Imports: $72 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.), includes in-bond
industries
commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products,
agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for
assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft
parts
partners: US 69%, Japan 6%, EU 12% (1994 est.)

External debt: $155 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $85 million (1993)
note: US commitments, (Emergency Stabilization Fund), $13.5 billion;
IMF, $13 billion (1995-96)

Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 -
7.6647 (December 1995), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994), 3.1156 (1993),
3,094.9 (1992), 3,018.4 (1991)
note: the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new
peso = 1,000 old pesos

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 20,567 km
standard gauge: 20,477 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
total: 245,433 km
paved: 88,601 km (including 4,286 km of expressways)
unpaved: 156,832 km (1993 est.)

Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals

Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km;
natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km

Ports: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La
Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz,
Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz

Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 875,314 GRT/1,245,932
DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4, liquefied
gas tanker 7, oil tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 1,411
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 88
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 66
with paved runways under 914 m: 815
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 50
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 358 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive microwave
radio relay links; privatized in December 1990
domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,
but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with
120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in
November 1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico
improved access to South America, Central America and much of the US
as well as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central
American Microwave System of trunk connections

Radio broadcast stations: AM 679, FM 0, shortwave 22

Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 238

Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy
(includes Naval Air and Marines)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 23,945,962
males fit for military service: 17,451,706
males reach military age (18) annually: 1,057,538 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.24 billion,
0.9% of GDP (1996)

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

@Micronesia, Federated States of -------------------------------

Map ---

Location: 6 55 N, 158 15 E -- Oceania, island group in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to
Indonesia

Flag ----

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

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 702 sq km
land area: 702 sq km
comparative area: four times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6,112 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the
eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasional severe damage

Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands
to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and
Truk
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Totolom 791 m

Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

Geographic note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People ------

Population: 125,377 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: 35% (est.)
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.34% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 27.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 35.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.99 years
male: 66.02 years
female: 69.99 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands)
abbreviation: FSM

Data code: FM

Type of government: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3
November 1986

Capital: Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)
note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the
Palikir valley

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk),
Yap

Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)

National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of
Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Constitution: 10 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Bailey OLTER (since
21 May 1991) and Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991) were
elected by the Congress from among the four Senators-at-Large;
election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999);
results - Bailey OLTER reelected to a second term as president;
Jacob NENA reelected to a second term as vice president
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
Congress: elections last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March
1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents
14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador March Fong EU
embassy: address NA, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of
Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186

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

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity consists primarily of
subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral
deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The
potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the
location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development.
Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue,
with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s.
Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are
major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $205 million (1994 est.)
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100
million annually

GDP real growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,700 (1994 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1994 est.)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)

Budget:
revenues: $45 million
expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)

Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items
from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 18,000 kW
production: 40 million kWh
consumption per capita: 380 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables,
coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Exports: $29.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
partners: Japan, US, Guam

Imports: $141.1 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,
beverages
partners: US, Japan, Australia

External debt: $129 million

Economic aid:
recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US
will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 226 km
paved: 39 km
unpaved: 187 km

Ports: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 5
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 960

Telephone system:
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6

Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Midway Islands --------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 28 13 N, 177 22 W -- Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 5.2 sq km
land area: 5.2 sq km
comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain: low, nearly level
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 4 m

Natural resources: fish, wildlife

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: a coral atoll; closed to the public

People ------

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US
military personnel (July 1995 est.)

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands

Data code: MQ

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US formerly
administered by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally
closed since 10 September 1993 and is currently undergoing transfer
of accountability and responsibility to the US Department of the
Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is based on providing support
services for remaining activities located on the islands. All food
and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by US Military

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 32 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Pipelines: 7.8 km

Ports: Sand Island

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: NA

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Moldova -------

Map ---

Location: 47 00 N, 29 00 E -- Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Flag ----

Description: same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical
bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of
flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak
and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive
branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons;
on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a
stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined
yellow

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total area: 33,700 sq km
land area: 33,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii

Land boundaries:
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine -
including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by
Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was
incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940

Climate: moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
lowest point: Nistru River 2 m
highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m

Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum

Land use:
arable land: 50%
permanent crops: 13%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 28%

Irrigated land: 2,920 sq km (1990)

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
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 4,463,847 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 592,245; female 573,452)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,381,017; female 1,496,428)
65 years and over: 10% (male 155,908; female 264,797) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.18% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.91 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 47.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.14 years
male: 60.77 years
female: 69.73 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic divisions: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%,
Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7%
(1989 figures)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in the
Dniester region and Gagauz Turks in the south

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only
about 1,000 members) (1991)
note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian

Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 96%
male: 99%
female: 94%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

Data code: MD

Type of government: republic

Capital: Chisinau

Administrative divisions: previously divided into 40 rayons; new
districts possible under new constitution in 1994

Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991

Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old
Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court
reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and OSCE documents

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mircea SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990) was
elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8
December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - Mircea
SNEGUR ran unopposed and won 98.17% of vote; note - President SNEGUR
was named executive president by the Supreme Soviet on 3 September
1990 and was confirmed by popular election on 8 December 1991
head of government: Prime Minister Andrei SANGHELI (since 1 July
1992; reappointed 5 April 1994 after elections for new legislature)
was appointed by Parliament; First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU
(since NA April 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA
1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (104 total)
PDAM 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and Intellectuals
Bloc 11, FPCDM 9; note - seats as of June-July 1995 were as follows:
PDAM 45, PSM/UN 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, PRCM 11,
FPCDM 9
note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Popular Front
(FPCDM - formerly Moldovan Popular Front), Iurie ROSCA, chairman;
Socialist Unity Faction (US) of the Socialist Party of Moldova
(PSM), Vladimir SOLONARI, leader; Social Democratic Party of Moldova
(PSDM), Anatol TARAN, chairman; Agrarian Democratic Party of Moldova
(PDAM), Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc,
Mihai GHIMPU, leader; Liberal Party of Modova (PLM), Mircea RUSU,
chairman; Socialist Party of Moldova (PSM), Valeriu SENIC and Victor
MOREV, cochairmen; Party of Rivival and Conciliation of Moldova
(PRCM), Mircea SNEGUR, chairman; Moldovan Party of Democratic Forces
(PFDM), Valeriu MATEI, chairman; Party for Social Progress (PPSM),
Eugen SOBOR, chairman; Communist Party (PCM), Vladimir VORONIN,
first chairman; Yedinstvo Intermovement, Vladimir SOLONARI,
chairman, note - this party may not be in existence now

Other political or pressure groups: United Council of Labor
Collectives (UCLC), Igor SMIRNOV, chairman; The Ecology Movement of
Moldova (EMM), G. MALARCHUK, chairman; The Christian Democratic
League of Women of Moldova (CDLWM), L. LARI, chairman; National
Christian Party of Moldova (NCPM), D. TODIKE, M. BARAGA, V. NIKU,
leaders; The Peoples Movement Gagauz Khalky (GKh), S. GULGAR,
leader; The Democratic Party of Gagauzia (DPG), G. SAVOSTIN,
chairman; The Alliance of Working People of Moldova (AWPM), G.
POLOGOV, president; Christian Alliance for Greater Romania; Stefan
the Great Movement; Liberal Convention of Moldova; Association of
Victims of Repression; Christian Democratic Youth League

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS,
EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae TAU
chancery: Suites 329, 333, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 783-3012
FAX: [1] (202) 783-3342

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Todd STEWART
embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevich #103, Chisinau 277014
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72
FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44

Flag: same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of
blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a
Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons
carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its
right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast
is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox
head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow

Economy -------

Economic overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good
farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy
depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine,
and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal,
and natural gas. Energy shortages have contributed to sharp
production declines since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The Moldovan Government has been making steady progress on an
ambitious economic reform agenda, and the IMF has called Moldova a
model for the region. As part of its reform efforts, Chisinau has
introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped
issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed their
steady privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest
rates. Chisinau appears strongly committed to continuing these
reforms in 1996. Published estimates probably overstated the decline
in output in 1991-94; the $2,310 per capita figure for GDP thus is a
minimum estimate.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (1995 estimate
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate: -3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,310 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 36%
services: 31% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.03 million (January 1994)
by occupation: agriculture 34.4%, industry 20.1%, other 45.5% (1985
figures)

Unemployment rate: 1.2% (includes only officially registered
unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (December 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
note: budget deficit for 1995 approximately 5% of GDP

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

Industrial production growth rate: -6% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 3,000,000 kW
production: 8.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,830 kWh (1994)

Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets,
sunflower seed, tobacco; meat, milk

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis;
mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to
Western Europe

Exports: $720 million (1995)
commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear,
machinery, chemicals
partners: Russia, Kazakstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany

Imports: $822 million (1995)
commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, foodstuffs,
automobiles, and other consumer durables
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany

External debt: $550 million (of which $250 million to Russia)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)
note: commitments, $1,335 million ($500 million disbursements),
1992-95

Currency: the leu (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993

Exchange rates: lei per US$1 - 4.5460 (January 1996), 4.4990
(1995), 4.2700 (1994), 3.6400 (1993), 0.4145 (1992), 0.0017 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 1,328 km
broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)

Highways:
total: 14,508 km
paved: 12,346 km
unpaved: 2,162 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 424 km (1994)

Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)

Ports: none