Chapter V (28)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican
Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,128,375 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,218,732 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $49 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Malta -----

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 320 sq km
land: 320 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 140 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers

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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources: limestone, salt

Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 59% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; increasing reliance on desalination

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

Geography--note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only
the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or
Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

People

Population: 381,603 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810)
15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390)
65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.49% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 11.02 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.76 years
male: 75.43 years
female: 80.23 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%

Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88% (1985)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta

Data code: MT

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Valletta

Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from
Valletta)

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13
December 1974

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law;
has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6
September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8
September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by
NA April 1999); following House of Representatives elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year
term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of
House of Representatives vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually
65 seats; note--additional seats are given to the party with the
largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current
total: 69 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD
1.2%; seats by party--PN 35, MLP 30

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by
the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal,
judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister

Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or PN [Edward

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony
DARMANIN
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta

Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side)
and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the
George Cross, edged in red

Economy

Economy--overview: Significant resources are limestone, a
favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta
produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater
supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is
dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics
and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs
about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the
island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks
of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically
over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit
remains a key concern.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 148,085 (September 1996)

Labor force--by occupation: public services 34%, other services
32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 5% (1997)

Budget:
revenues: $1.32 billion
expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair,
construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing,
tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: potatoes, cauliflowers, grapes, wheat,
barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk,
poultry, eggs

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures (1996)

Exports--partners: France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy
6% (1997)

Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Imports--partners: Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US
8% (1997)

Debt--external: $130 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999),
0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776
(1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 189,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 300,000 (1996 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,582 km
paved: 1,471 km
unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)

Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine:
total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956
GRT/40,706,665 DWT
ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination
bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker
2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil
tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle
carrier 18
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49
countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland
45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia
23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: Armed Forces (including an air squadron, a
maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police
Force

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 99,067 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $65.5 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the
commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their
countries, particularly for oil exploration

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North
Africa to Western Europe

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

@Man, Isle of ------------

Geography

Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland

Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 588 sq km
land: 588 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 113 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about
half the time

Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 620 m

Natural resources: lead, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 0%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the
southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

People

Population: 75,686 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 6,906; female 6,597)
15-64 years: 65% (male 24,655; female 24,604)
65 years and over: 17% (male 5,156; female 7,768) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 6.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 2.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.79 years
male: 74.28 years
female: 81.47 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Manxman, Manxwoman
adjective: Manx

Ethnic groups: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Languages: English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man

Data code: IM

Dependency status: British crown dependency

Government type: NA

Capital: Douglas

Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July

Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act

Legal system: English law and local statute

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy
DAUNT (since NA 1995)
head of government: President of the Tynwald and the Legislative
Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch for a five-year term; president of theTwnwald and the
Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term;
election last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the
Legislative Council; percent of legislative vote--NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative
Council (a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and
Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House
of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys--last held 21 November 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: House of Keys--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--independents 24

Judicial branch: High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by
the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant
governor

Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members
sit as independents

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown
dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown
dependency)

Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem
(Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh
and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise
on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Economy

Economy--overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism
are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering
incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions
to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment
opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture
and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in
their shares of GDP. Banking and other services now contribute more
than four fifths of GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of
Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$985 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 16%
services: 82% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 33,577 (1996)

Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 10%,
transport and communication 8%, retail distribution 9%, professional
and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and
finance 18%

Unemployment rate: 1% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $437.7 million
expenditures: $432.5 million, including capital expenditures of
$102.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

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

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs,
poultry

Exports: $NA

Exports--commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef,
lamb

Exports--partners: UK

Imports: $NA

Imports--commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports--partners: UK

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Manx pound (LM) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999),
0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529
(1994)); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 46,000 (1996)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives broadcasts from the
UK) (1997)

Televisions: 24,450 (1996)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 52 km (27 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 640 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 320 km

Ports and harbors: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey

Merchant marine:
total: 148 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,161,154
GRT/6,880,170 DWT
ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 7, chemical tanker 14, combination
bulk 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 14, oil tanker 43,
refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, vehicle carrier 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 8 ships, Denmark 1,
Sweden 1, Belgium 1, and Netherlands 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Marshall Islands ----------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 370.4 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands
border typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep
seabed minerals

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: 60%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 40%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons

Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water

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

Geography--note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and
1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
missile test range

People

Population: 65,507 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 16,622; female 15,957)
15-64 years: 48% (male 16,106; female 15,386)
65 years and over: 2% (male 677; female 759) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.86% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 45.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 43.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.81 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 66.5 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Micronesian

Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)

Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official
language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian
family, Japanese

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 100%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)

Data code: RM

Government type: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21
October 1986

Capital: Majuro

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

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

National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, 1 May (1979)

Constitution: 1 May 1979

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
members for a four-year term; election last held 14 January 1997
(next to be held NA November 1999); note--Imata KABUA elected to
succeed and complete the term of the late President Amata KABUA
election results: Imata KABUA elected president; percent of
Parliament vote--63%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no
formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely
resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party
headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following
two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379

Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower
hoist-side corner--orange (top) and white; there is a white star with
four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two
stripes

Economy

Economy--overview: US Government assistance is the mainstay of
this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on
small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts,
tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the
labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.
Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides
roughly $65 million in annual aid, equal to about 70% of GDP.
Negotiations will get underway in 1999 for an extended agreement.
Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the
decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial
difficulties have caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$91 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 13%
services: 72% (1995)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $80.1 million
expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5
million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood,
and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 57 million kWh (1994)

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

Electricity--consumption: 57 million kWh (1994)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1994)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1994)

Agriculture--products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits;
pigs, chickens

Exports: $17.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports--commodities: fish, coconut oil, fish, trochus shells

Exports--partners: US, Japan, Australia

Imports: $71.8 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels,
beverages and tobacco

Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia, NZ

Debt--external: $125 million (FY96/97 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?approximately $65 million
annually from the US

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

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 2,000 (1997 est.)

Telephone system: telex services
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which one is an independent
station and two are US military stations) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks

Ports and harbors: Majuro

Merchant marine:
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,572,915
GRT/11,208,214 DWT
ships by type: bulk 56, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada
1, China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)

Airports: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may
be established); Police Force

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims US territory of Wake Atoll

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

@Martinique ----------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 61 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 1,100 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km
water: 40 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than six times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 350 km

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

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June
to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every
eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 411,539 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 47,933; female 46,957)
15-64 years: 67% (male 136,058; female 138,935)
65 years and over: 10% (male 17,530; female 24,126) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.03% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.27 years
male: 76.47 years
female: 82.13 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%,
white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%

Languages: French, Creole patois

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 92%
female: 93% (1982 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique

Data code: MB

Dependency status: overseas department of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Fort-de-France

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998)
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Assembly--last held on NA March 1998 (next to be
held by March 2004)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--NA; note--the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PS 2; Martinique
also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR

Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
League of Workers and Peasants; Association for the Protection of

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)

Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four
quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a
white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas,
tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of
GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has
declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of
rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk
of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported,
contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual
transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than
agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority
of the work force is employed in the service sector and in
administration.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.24 billion (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,700 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)

Labor force: 160,000

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%,
services 73% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)

Budget:
revenues: $775 million
expenditures: $2.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $118
million (1996)

Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar,
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 855 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 855 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, sugarcane

Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum,
pineapples

Exports--partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)

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

Imports--commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs,
construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods

Imports--partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)

Debt--external: $180 million (1994)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual aid from
France

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 209,672 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and
Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 74,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are nine
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 2,724 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1994)

Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force),
Gendarmerie

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana
bound for the US and Europe

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

@Mauritania ----------

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Senegal and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of
New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km

Coastline: 754 km

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

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil
erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification;
very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal
which is the only perennial river

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: most of the population concentrated in the cities
of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country

People

Population: 2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225)
15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951)
65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 44.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 76.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.48 years
male: 47.39 years
female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%

Religions: Muslim 100%

Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
(official), French

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah

Data code: MR

Government type: republic

Capital: Nouakchott

Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular--region)
and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou,
Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri,
Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution: 12 July 1991

Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern
law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
(since 16 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December
2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
reelected with 90% of the vote

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000);
National Assembly--last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme
Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed
12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based;
emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party or

Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union
MOHAMED, secretary general]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER
embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott

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

Economy

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

GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,890 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 31%
services: 43% (1996)

Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1996)

Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%,
industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $329 million
expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (1996 est.)

Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)

Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80%
hydro: 20%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 150 million kWh (1996

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $562 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold

Exports--partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%

Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, capital goods

Imports--partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US
3%

Debt--external: $2.5 billion (1995)

Economic aid--recipient: $227.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999),
151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)

Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 50,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

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

Highways:
total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 26 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $30 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Mauritius ---------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references: World

Area:
total: 1,860 sq km
land: 1,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues

Area--comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 177 km

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

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

Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Environment--current issues: water pollution

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

People

Population: 1,182,212 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 156,616; female 153,698)
15-64 years: 68% (male 398,557; female 402,674)
65 years and over: 6% (male 28,586; female 42,081) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.18% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
male: 67.21 years
female: 74.96 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian

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

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

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

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

Government

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

Data code: MP

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port Louis

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

Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice
President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27
December 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next
to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president and are responsible to the National
Assembly
election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi
Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the
National Assembly--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats--62
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from
the losing political parties to give representation to various
ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by
December 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%,
other 15%; seats by party--MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on
Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1,
Hizbullah 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
RAMGOOLAM]
Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD

Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington,
DC 20521-2450

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

Economy

Economy--overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has
developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a
middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial
services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth
has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has
been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant
mortality, and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on
about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export
earnings. The government's development strategy centers on
industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports),
agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in
1991-98 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 29%
services: 63% (1996)

Population below poverty line: 10.6% (1992 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1997)

Labor force: 514,000 (1995)

Labor force--by occupation: construction and industry 36%,
services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants,
hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $824 million (FY94/95)
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $198
million (FY95/96 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1992)

Electricity--production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.67%
hydro: 13.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: clothing and textiles 55%, sugar 24% (1995)

Exports--partners: UK 34.4%, France 19.5%, US 13.0%, Germany 5.6%,
Italy 4.0% (1996)

Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: manufactured goods 37%, capital equipment
19%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% (1995)

Imports--partners: South Africa 12.0%, France 11.1%, India 8.9%,
UK 6.5%, Germany 4.7%, (1996)

Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $5.2 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1--24.099 (January
1999), 22.803 (1998), 20.561 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995),
17.960 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 107,000 (1993)

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

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

Radios: 399,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are 11
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 242,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,860 km
paved: 1,732 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Port Louis

Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,846 GRT/236,308 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, combination bulk 2, container 6, liquefied
gas tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

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

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 339,218 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 171,705 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $11.2 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.4% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims the Chagos Archipelago in
UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island

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

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

@Mayotte -------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 375 sq km
land: 375 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 185.2 km

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

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

Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient
volcanic peaks

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m

Natural resources: NEGL

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

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: part of Comoro Archipelago

People

Population: 149,336 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 34,838; female 34,798)
15-64 years: 52% (male 42,073; female 35,068)
65 years and over: 1% (male 1,257; female 1,302) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 46.12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 12.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 69.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.02 years
male: 57.61 years
female: 62.51 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: NA

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

Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

Data code: MF

Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Mamoutzou

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of
France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA)
head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
BAMANA (since NA 1977)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term