Chapter V (30)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 220,000

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 18
provincial repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 120,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 1,928 km
broad gauge: 1,928 km 1.524-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
total: 46,470 km
paved: 3,730 km
unpaved: 42,740 km (1997 est.)
note: much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough
cross-country tracks

Waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 34 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal
Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 702,141 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 457,270 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 28,613 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20.3 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Montserrat ----------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of
Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 100 sq km
land: 100 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal
lowland

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak 914 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 30% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic
eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano
occurred during 1996-97)

Environment--current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that
have been cleared for cultivation

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

People

Population: 12,853 (July 1999 est.)
note: demographic figures include an estimated 8,000 refugees who
left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in
July 1995

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.21% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.56 years
male: 73.79 years
female: 77.37 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups: black, white

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Languages: English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat

Data code: MH

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the
Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint
Georges, Saint Peter's

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday of June)

Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December
1989

Legal system: English common law and statutory law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997)
head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August
1997)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the
finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister; note--as a result of the last
election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of
the independent candidates

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7
popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PPA 2,
MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint
Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands
and presides over the High Court)

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party or NPP

International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC
(associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)

Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman
standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Economy

Economy--overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July
1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-98. A
catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the air and sea ports,
causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the
12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998,
but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector
continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming
and the destruction of crops. Construction was the dominant activity
in 1997 and 1998. GDP probably declined again in 1998. Prospects for
the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the
volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has
committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the
economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$36 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -18.5% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

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

Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note--later substantially lowered by
flight of people from volcanic activity

Labor force--by occupation: community, social, and personal
services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels
12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%,
other 14.4% (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4
million (1997 est.)

Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes,
onions, peppers; livestock products

Exports: $8.2 million (1997)

Exports--commodities: electronic components, plastic bags,
apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle

Exports--partners: US, Ireland

Imports: $26.1 million (1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related
materials

Imports--partners: NA

Debt--external: $8.9 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $9.8 million (1995); note?about $100
million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK

Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 3,000

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

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

Radios: 6,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 203 km
unpaved: 66 km (1995)

Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages
and ferry landing), Carr's Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: Police Force

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Morocco -------

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline: 1,835 km

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

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large
areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal
plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc,
fish, salt

Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 47%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 11% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and
subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: land degradation/desertification
(soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing,
destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw
sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

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

Geography--note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

Population: 29,661,636 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 5,409,322; female 5,208,742)
15-64 years: 60% (male 8,773,625; female 8,922,976)
65 years and over: 4% (male 619,164; female 727,807) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.84% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 25.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 50.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.87 years
male: 66.85 years
female: 70.99 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan

Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.7%
male: 56.6%
female: 31% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib

Data code: MO

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Rabat

Administrative divisions: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al
Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*,
Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira,
Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra,
Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate,
Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan,
Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab),
Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall
within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara;
decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in
March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and
scope of the reorganization not yet available

Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of
King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)

Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended
(to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil
law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
head of government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14
March 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected
indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor
syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed
every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives
(325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors--last held 5 December 1997 (next to
be held NA December 2000); Chamber of Representatives--last held 14
November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results: Chamber of Counselors--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16,
MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3,
UNMT 2, other 3; Chamber of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP
32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the
recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided
over by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:
ARCHANE]
labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only):

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT
(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL
embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 3, APO AE 09718
consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear
star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is
the traditional color of Islam

Economy

Economy--overview: Morocco faces the problems typical of
developing countries--restraining government spending, reducing
constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping
inflation within manageable bounds. Since the early 1980s the
government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives
with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of
creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account
transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented;
and state enterprises are slowly being privatized. Drought
conditions in 1997 depressed activity in the key agricultural
sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 2.2% contraction
in real GDP. Favorable rainfalls in the fall of 1997 have led to
6.8% real GDP growth in 1998. Growth is forecast to be about 4.0% in
1999. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the
external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU;
and improving education and attracting foreign investment to improve
living standards and job propects for Morocco's youthful population.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$107 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 33%
services: 53% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 13.1% (1990-91 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2%-3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 11 million (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%,
industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

Unemployment rate: 19% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $8.4 billion
expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food
processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 11.5 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.65%
hydro: 4.35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 12.52 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables,
olives; livestock

Exports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods
23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)

Exports--partners: EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya
3.4% (1996 est.)

Imports: $10 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: semiprocessed goods 26%, capital goods 25%,
food and beverages 18%, fuel and lubricants 15%, consumer goods 12%,
raw materials 4% (1995 est.)

Imports--partners: EU 57%, US 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.3%, Brazil 2.8%
(1996 est.)

Debt--external: $20.9 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $565.6 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--9.320 (January
1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203
(1994)

Fiscal year: July 1-June 30

Communications

Telephones: 1,312,596 (1999 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and
Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and
Tetouan
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to
Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 22, FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)

Radios: 5.1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 26 (in addition, there are 35
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.21 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km
double track) (1994)

Highways:
total: 60,626 km
paved: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,070 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km
(abandoned); natural gas 241 km

Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar,
Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also
Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,869 GRT/263,033 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 6, container 3, oil tanker
3, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8,
short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 69 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 7,735,597 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,888,595 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 320,040 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.3611 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims and administers Western Sahara,
but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a
referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in
effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of
sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of
Morocco--the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco
contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de
Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the
increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments
of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for
cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

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

@Mozambique ----------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel,
between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Coastline: 2,470 km

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

Climate: tropical to subtropical

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high
plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and
southern provinces; devastating cyclones

Environment--current issues: a long civil war and recurrent
drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of
the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental
consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal
waters

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

People

Population: 19,124,335 (July 1999 est.)
note: the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of
16,542,800; other estimates range as low as 16.9 million

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 4,236,545; female 4,325,586)
15-64 years: 53% (male 4,941,048; female 5,181,282)
65 years and over: 2% (male 182,857; female 257,017) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.54% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 42.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 17.31 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 117.56 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.89 years
male: 44.73 years
female: 47.09 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe,
Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans
0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 23.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique

Data code: MZ

Government type: republic

Capital: Maputo

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo,
Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution: 30 November 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November
1986); note--before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected
president by Frelimo's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected
by the Committee 30 July 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA
December 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA October
1999); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president;
percent of vote--Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or
Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--Frelimo 44.33%, Renamo
33.78%, DU 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party--Frelimo 129, Renamo
112, DU 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
and judges elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of
Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance
secretary]; note--the DU may have broken up into the three parties
that composed it--Liberal and Democratic Party of Mozambique,
National Democratic Party, and National Party of Mozambique

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA
chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is
a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black
superimposed on an open white book

Economy

Economy--overview: Before the peace accord of October 1992,
Mozambique's economy was devastated by a protracted civil war and
socialist mismanagement. In 1994, it ranked as one of the poorest
countries in the world. Since then, Mozambique has undertaken a
series of economic reforms. Almost all aspects of the economy have
been liberalized to some extent. More than 900 state enterprises
have been privatized. Pending are tax and much needed commercial
code reform, as well as greater private sector involvement in the
transportation, telecommunications, and energy sectors. Since 1996,
inflation has been low and foreign exchange rates stable. Albeit
from a small base, Mozambique achieved one of the highest growth
rates in the world in 1997-98. Still, the country depends on foreign
assistance to balance the budget and to pay for a trade imbalance in
which imports outnumber exports by three to one. The medium-term
outlook for the country looks bright, as trade and transportation
links to South Africa and the rest of the region are expected to
improve and sizable foreign investments materialize. Among these
investments are metal production (aluminum, steel), natural gas,
power generation, agriculture (cotton, sugar), fishing, timber, and
transportation services. Additional exports in these areas should
bring in needed foreign exchange.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$16.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 11% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 13%
services: 52% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 9.5%,
services 5.5%, wage earners working abroad 5% (1993 est)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget:
revenues: $402 million
expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap,
paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos,
tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 39% (1997)

Electricity--production: 426 million kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source: NA%

Electricity--consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 685.6 million kWh (1997)

Agriculture--products: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea,
cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry

Exports: $295 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra,
citrus (1997)

Exports--partners: Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US
10%, Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)

Imports: $965 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
(1997)

Imports--partners: South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%,
Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $5.7 billion (December 1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $1.115 billion (1995)

Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1--12,394.0 (January 1999),
11,874.6 (1998), 11.543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995),
6,038.6 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 70,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire
lines, and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean
and 3 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 700,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 44,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,131 km
narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes

Pipelines: crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
note: not operating

Ports and harbors: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba,
Quelimane

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports: 174 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 152
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 96 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Militia

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,385,483 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,526,447 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $72 million (FY97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.7% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: Southern African transit hub for South American
cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets; producer
of hashish and methaqualone

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

@Namibia -------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and South Africa

Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 3,824 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
855 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline: 1,572 km

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

Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
Desert in east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin,
lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected
deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought

Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; desertification

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

People

Population: 1,648,270 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 366,030; female 358,105)
15-64 years: 52% (male 424,879; female 435,116)
65 years and over: 4% (male 26,787; female 37,353) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 19.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.26 years
male: 41.64 years
female: 40.87 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%
to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara
7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other
Christian denominations 30%), native religions 10% to 20%

Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German
32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38%
male: 45%
female: 31% (1960 est.)

Government

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

Data code: WA

Government type: republic

Capital: Windhoek

Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap,
Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati,
Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote--76%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the
National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each
regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly
(72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Council--last held 30 November-1 December 1998
(next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly--last held 7-8
December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: National Council--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--SWAPO
73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by
party--SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's
KATJIUONGUA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU,
MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr.
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Private Bag 12029
Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst
fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid)
fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red
stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the
extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts
for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel
minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of
uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary
source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large
quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the
population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture)
for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although
per capita GDP is three times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer
countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced
poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and
the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has
close links to South Africa.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 34%
services: 55% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1996 est.)

Labor force: 500,000

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 49%, industry and commerce
25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997
est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193
million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)

Electricity--production: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from South Africa

Agriculture--products: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Exports: $1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium;
cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Exports--partners: UK 38%, South Africa 24%, Spain 12%, Japan 7%
(1996 est.)

Imports: $1.48 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel,
machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports--partners: South Africa 87%, Germany, US, Japan (1995 est.)

Debt--external: $315 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $127 million (1998)

Currency: 1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1--5.98380 (January
1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709
(1995), 3.55080 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 89,722 (1992 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio
relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are
by open wire
international: NA
note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0

Radios: 195,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which five are main stations
and three are low-power stations; there are also about 20 low-power
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 27,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)

Highways:
total: 64,799 km
paved: 7,841 km
unpaved: 56,958 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 135 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 113
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 70
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 380,528 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 228,225 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $90 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited
Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at
the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested

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

@Nauru -----

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of
the Marshall Islands

Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E

Map references: Oceania

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

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 30 km

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

Climate: tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral
reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Natural resources: phosphates

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; intensive phosphate
mining during the past 90 years--mainly by a UK, Australia, and New
Zealand consortium--has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and
threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock
islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in
Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

People

Population: 10,605 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: 0 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese
8%, European 8%

Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman
Catholic)

Languages: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island
language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most
government and commercial purposes

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

Data code: NR

Government type: republic

Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan,
Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok,
Uaboe, Yaren

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, New Zealand-,
and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution: 29 January 1968

Legal system: acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
election last held 17 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Bernard DOWIYOGO elected president; percent of
Parliament vote--NA
note: former President Kinza CLODUMAR was deposed in a no-confidence
vote

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 8 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: loose multi-party system; Nauru

International organization participation: AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Nauru does not have an
embassy in the US
consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe
across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe
on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in
relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points
symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Economy

Economy--overview: Revenues come from exports of phosphates, but
reserves are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates
have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the
Third World. Few other resources exist, thus most necessities must
be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The
rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from
phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of
phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the
transition. The government also has been borrowing heavily from the
trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has
called a freezing of wages, a reduction of over-staffed public
service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies,
and closure of some overseas consulates.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$100 million (1993 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1993 est.)

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.6% (1993)

Labor force--by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public
administration, education, and transportation

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget:
revenues: $23.4 million
expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96)

Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 32 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 32 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coconuts

Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991)

Exports--commodities: phosphates

Exports--partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991)

Imports--commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building
materials, machinery

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

Debt--external: $33.3 million

Economic aid--recipient: $2.5 million (1995); note?$2.25 million
from Australia (FY96/97 est.)

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 2,000 (1989 est.)

Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone
communications provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Radios: 4,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3.9 km; note--used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Highways:
total: 30 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 6 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Nauru

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the
Nauru Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an
informal agreement, Australia is responsible for defense of the
island

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Navassa Island --------------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about
one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 5.2 sq km
land: 5.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 8 km

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

Climate: marine, tropical

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating;
ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Natural resources: guano

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

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

Geography--note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval
Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough
grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees,
scattered cactus

People

Population: uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island

Data code: BQ

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the Office of Insular Affairs,
US Department of the Interior; in September 1996, the Coast Guard
ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a
46-meter-tall lighthouse located on the southern side of the island;
there has also been a private claim advanced against the island

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Legal system: NA

Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Haiti

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

@Nepal -----

Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total: 140,800 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south,
central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential,
scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 42%
other: 26% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides,
drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration
of the summer monsoons

Environment--current issues: the almost total dependence on wood
for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without
replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion;
water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health
risks)

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

Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

People

Population: 24,302,653 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 5,182,829; female 4,869,895)
15-64 years: 55% (male 6,856,905; female 6,571,916)
65 years and over: 4% (male 407,797; female 413,311) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.51% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

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

Infant mortality rate: 73.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.42 years
male: 58.47 years
female: 58.36 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas

Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
note: only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp
distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Languages: Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into
numerous dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 27.5%
male: 40.9%
female: 14% (1995 est.)

People--note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of
approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal

Data code: NP

Government type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991

Capital: Kathmandu

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December
(1945)

Constitution: 9 November 1990

Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the
throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King
MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram
head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 15
April 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National
Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10
by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of
the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 15 November 1994 (next
to be held 3 May 1999)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill)
Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats by party-- CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP
4, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3, independents 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice
is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional
Council, the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United
Madhar KUMAR, general secretary]; Nepali Congress Party or NCP
general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called
party chair]

Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous small,
left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical
Nepalese antimonarchist groups

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador THAPA Bekh Bahadur
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red with a blue border around the unique shape
of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle
bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a
white 12-pointed sun

Economy