Chapter XXXVII: Front Matter (37)

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

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nomination
must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval
margin is required); president elected for a five-year term;
election last held 17 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in
referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon
Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government

Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50

Judicial branch:
High Court

Political parties and leaders:
although political parties are not banned, none exist

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

Flag description:
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical
white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side
of the flag

Economy Maldives

Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and
more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%
of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. Fishing is a second leading sector. The
Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989
initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the
private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to
allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing
continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the
limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic
labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists
mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts,
accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the
impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying
country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
88,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
NEGL% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

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

Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:
117 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
108.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$90 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish, clothing

Exports - partners:
US 32.1%, Thailand 17%, Sri Lanka 13.4%, Japan 10.7%, UK 9.8%,
Indonesia 4.5% (2003)

Imports:
$392 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.8%, Sri Lanka 13.8%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, UAE
7.6%, Thailand 5.1% (2003)

Debt - external:
$281 million (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA (1995)

Currency:
rufiyaa (MVR)

Currency code:
MVR

Exchange rates:
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.2421 (2001),
11.77 (2000), 11.77 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Maldives

Telephones - main lines in use:
28,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
41,900 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3
Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

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

Radios:
35,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
10,000 (1999)

Internet country code:
.mv

Internet hosts:
532 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
15,000 (2002)

Transportation Maldives

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

Ports and harbors:
Gan, Male

Merchant marine:
total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,164 GRT/68,973 DWT
registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1,
short-sea/passenger 1
foreign-owned: North Korea 1

Airports:
5 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military Maldives

Military branches:
National Security Service: comprising Security Branch (ground
forces), Air Element; Coast Guard

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 81,221 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 45,142 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$43.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues Maldives

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Mali

Introduction Mali

Background:
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in
1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few
months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a
transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic
presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997,
President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and
economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's
two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was
succeeded by Amadou TOURE.

Geography Mali

Location:
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid,
and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February

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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Natural resources:
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited

Land use:
arable land: 3.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 96.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:
1,380 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies
of potable water; poaching

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

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

People Mali

Population:
11,956,788 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.1% (male 2,835,378; female 2,801,578)
15-64 years: 49.9% (male 2,862,075; female 3,101,009)
65 years and over: 3% (male 163,927; female 192,821) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.3 years
male: 15.7 years
female: 16.9 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.78% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
47.29 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
19.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 117.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 111.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 124.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.28 years
male: 44.7 years
female: 45.87 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
6.58 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian

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

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

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

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

Government Mali

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
local long form: Republique de Mali

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Bamako

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

Independence:
22 September 1960 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Constitution:
adopted 12 January 1992

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally
established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi MAIGA (since 30
April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held NA
May 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of
vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 July and 28 July 2002 (next to be held NA
July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE, party
chairman]; Block of Alternative for the Renewal of Africa or BARA
[Yoro DIAKITE]; Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou
Bakary SANGARE, chairman]; Hope 2002 [leader NA]; Movement for the
Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA
[Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for
Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party for
Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for
National Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME,
secretary general]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali
GNANGADO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA,
chairman]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Bonbasor KEITA, chairman];
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou
TOURE, secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress
or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary general]; Union for Democracy and
Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and
Fronts of Azawad or MFUA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki HUDDLESTONE
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] (2) 223-833
FAX: [223] (2) 223-712

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy Mali

Economy - overview:
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its
land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal
distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the
riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is
nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and
fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm
commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable
to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along
with gold. The government has continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%
devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 have pushed up
economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2002. Worker
remittances and external trade routes have been jeopardized by
continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.53 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
64% average; 30% of the total population living in urban areas; 70%
of the total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
3.93 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:
14.6% urban areas; 5.3% rural areas (2001 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $764 million
expenditures: $828 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep,
goats

Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:
NA (FY96/97)

Electricity - production:
480.2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
446.6 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing
electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$915 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners:
Thailand 14%, China 12.1%, India 7.9%, Italy 7.5%, Bangladesh 6.1%,
UK 6.1% (2003)

Imports:
$927 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:
France 15.4%, Senegal 7.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.1% (2003)

Debt - external:
$3.3 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:
$596.4 million (2001)

Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:
XOF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2
(2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699
(1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mali

Telephones - main lines in use:
56,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
250,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
provides only minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open-wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five
transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International
(2001)

Radios:
570,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:
45,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ml

Internet hosts:
187 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2001)

Internet users:
25,000 (2002)

Transportation Mali

Railways:
total: 729 km
narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 15,100 km
paved: 1,827 km
unpaved: 13,273 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
1,815 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Koulikoro

Airports:
27 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Military Mali

Military branches:
Army, Air Force, National Guard

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,529,147 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,450,795 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$51.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues Mali

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Malta

Introduction Malta

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

Geography Malta

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

Geographic coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

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

Land use:
arable land: 28.13%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 68.74% (2001)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

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

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

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

People Malta

Population:
396,851 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 36,891; female 34,912)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 137,259; female 134,611)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 22,691; female 30,487) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 38 years
male: 36.6 years
female: 39.5 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.42% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
10.09 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
7.93 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.68 years
male: 76.51 years
female: 80.98 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.49 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 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: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Government Malta

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

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Valletta

Administrative divisions:
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils
carry out administrative orders

Independence:
21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution:
1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and
again in 1987

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March
2004)
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 29 March 2004 (next to be held by
April 2009); following legislative 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: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; percent of
House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

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; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD
0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31

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

Political parties and leaders:
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry
VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party
or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William
GRANT
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229

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 Malta

Economy - overview:
Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and
a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food
needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy
sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing
(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is
privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order
to prepare for membership in the European Union. The island remains
divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU.
Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back
exports, tourism, and overall growth.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.082 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
23.1% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
160,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 5%, industry 24%, services 71% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.086 billion
expenditures: $2.367 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
1.768 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.644 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Current account balance:
$-250 million (2003)

Exports:
$2.175 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners:
Singapore 17.4%, US 11.6%, UK 9.4%, Germany 8.8%, France 7.5%,
China 7% (2003)

Imports:
$2.761 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Italy 19.3%, France 13.7%, UK 8.5%, Germany 6.6%, Singapore 6.1%,
Japan 5.7%, South Korea 5.5%, US 4.1% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$2.429 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$130 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency:
Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code:
MTL

Exchange rates:
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3772 (2003), 0.4336 (2002), 0.4501
(2001), 0.4382 (2000), 0.3989 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Malta

Telephones - main lines in use:
208,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
290,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios:
255,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)

Televisions:
280,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.mt

Internet hosts:
7,156 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2002)

Internet users:
120,000 (2002)

Transportation Malta

Highways:
total: 2,254 km
paved: 1,972 km
unpaved: 282 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:
Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine:
total: 1,176 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWT
by type: bulk 468, cargo 251, chemical tanker 46, combination bulk
8, combination ore/oil 8, container 74, liquefied gas 4, livestock
carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 7,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 210, refrigerated cargo 40, roll
on/roll off 35, short-sea/passenger 6, vehicle carrier 15
registered in other countries: 18 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 13,
Bulgaria 19, Canada 8, China 14, Croatia 9, Cyprus 6, Denmark 4,
Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 52, Greece 603, Hong Kong 3,
Iceland 5, India 4, Indonesia 2, Iran 4, Israel 20, Italy 24, Japan
3, South Korea 2, Latvia 25, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 14,
Netherlands 5, Nigeria 1, Norway 32, Pakistan 1, Poland 30, Portugal
3, Romania 8, Russia 69, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 3,
Switzerland 30, Syria 4, Taiwan 1, Turkey 108, Ukraine 22, United
Kingdom 2, United States 8

Airports:
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Malta

Military branches:
Armed Forces: Land Forces (including Air Squadron and Maritime
Squadron), Revenue Security Corps

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 99,324 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 79,128 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$33.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (2003)

Transnational Issues Malta

Disputes - international:
none

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

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Man, Isle of

Introduction Man, Isle of

Background:
Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th
century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the
British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost
extinct Manx Gaelic language.

Geography Man, Isle of

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: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 572 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
160 km

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

Climate:
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about one-third
of the time

Terrain:
hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Natural resources:
none

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)
(2002)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air
pollution

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

People Man, Isle of

Population:
74,655 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 6,669; female 6,357)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 24,527; female 24,302)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,128; female 7,672) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 38 years
female: 40.8 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.53% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
11.28 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 7.08 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.16 years
male: 74.8 years
female: 81.7 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx

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

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

Languages:
English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Government Man, Isle of

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

Dependency status:
British crown dependency

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Douglas

Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with
its own elections

Independence:
none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:
Tynwald Day, 5 July

Constitution:
unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act, 1961, does not
embody the unwritten Manx Constitution

Legal system:
English common law and Manx statute

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Ian MACFADYEN (since 26
October 2002)
election results: Donald GELLING elected chief minister by the
Tynwald; note - Richard CORKILL resigned 2 December 2004
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected
by the Tynwald; election last held 14 December 2004 (next to be held
NA December 2010)
head of government: Chief Minister Donald GELLING (since 14 December
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch:
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (an 11-member
body composed of the President of Tynwald, 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 22 November 2001 (next to be
held NA November 2006)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Man
Labor Party 17.3%, Alliance for Progressive Government 14.6%; seats
by party - Man Labor Party 2, Alliance for Progressive Government 3,
independents 19

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:
Man Labor Party [leader NA]; Alliance for Progressive Government
[leader NA]; Man Nationalist Party [leader NA]
note: most members sit as independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
UPU

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 Man, Isle of

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.
Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to
EU markets.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
13.5%

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (March 2003 est.)

Labor force:
36,610 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, forestry and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%,
construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and
retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%,
public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%,
entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10%

Unemployment rate:
0.7% (March 2003)

Budget:
revenues: $485 million
expenditures: $463 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY00/01 est.)

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

Industries:
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (FY96/97)

Exports:
NA

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

Exports - partners:
UK (2000)

Imports:
NA

Imports - commodities:
timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports - partners:
UK (2000)

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency:
British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Manx pound

Currency code:
GBP

Exchange rates:
Manx pounds per US dollar - 0.6125 (2003), 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944
(2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999); the Manx pound is at par with
the British pound

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Man, Isle of

Telephones - main lines in use:
51,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite
earth station, submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:
0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Televisions:
27,490 (1999)

Internet country code:
.im

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Man, Isle of

Railways:
total: 61 km (35 km electrified) (2003)

Highways:
total: 800 km
paved: 800 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:
Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey

Merchant marine:
total: 226 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,055,436 GRT/9,972,459 DWT
by type: bulk 25, cargo 40, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 2,
container 19, liquefied gas 31, multi-functional large load carrier
1, petroleum tanker 59, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 17,
specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
registered in other countries: 9 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Australia 3, Cyprus 4, Denmark 30, Estonia 3, France
1, Germany 57, Greece 8, Hong Kong 11, Iceland 1, Italy 6, Monaco 4,
Netherlands 2, New Zealand 1, Norway 10, Singapore 2, Sweden 3,
United Kingdom 80, United States 1

Airports:
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Man, Isle of

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Man, Isle of

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Marshall Islands

Introduction Marshall Islands

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

Geography Marshall Islands

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

Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

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

Area - comparative:
about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
370.4 km

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

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

Terrain:
low coral limestone and sand islands

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

Natural resources:
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 38.89%
other: 44.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
infrequent typhoons

Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon
from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels

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

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 Marshall Islands

Population:
57,738 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 11,347; female 10,934)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 17,380; female 16,520)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 748; female 809) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.6 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.6 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.29% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
33.88 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
4.94 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.7 years
male: 67.77 years
female: 71.73 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.02 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

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

Ethnic groups:
Micronesian

Religions:
Christian (mostly Protestant)

Languages:
English (widely spoken as a second language, both English and
Marshallese are official languages), two major Marshallese dialects
from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)

Government Marshall Islands

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)

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

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:
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution:
1 May 1979

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January
2004); 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 17 November 2003
(next to be held NA November 2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of
Parliament vote - 100%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later
than November 2007)
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

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 years - Kabua Party
[Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, 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
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012

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

Economy Marshall Islands

Economy - overview:
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island
economy. Agricultural production is primarily subsistence and is
concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are
coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the
labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.
Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US has
provided more than $1 billion in aid since 1986. Negotiations have
continued for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought,
a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign
investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and less income
from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to
an average of 1% over the past decade.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $115 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
28,700 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%

Unemployment rate:
30.9% (1999 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Exports:
$9 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)

Imports:
$54 million f.o.b. (2000)

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

Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000)

Debt - external:
$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is the legal tender

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Marshall Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
4,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
600 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services
include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID,
and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications
system on Kwajalein (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2002)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:
2 (both are US military stations) (2002)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.mh

Internet hosts:
6 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
1,400 (2003)

Transportation Marshall Islands

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: 64.5 km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)

Ports and harbors:
Majuro

Merchant marine:
total: 420 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 81, cargo 25, chemical tanker 41,
combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 7, container 77, liquefied
gas 9, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 6, petroleum
tanker 149, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 7, vehicle
carrier 4
registered in other countries: 50 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Australia 2, Chile 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 10, Denmark
2, Germany 119, Greece 82, Hong Kong 12, India 2, Japan 16, Monaco
18, Netherlands 6, New Zealand 1, Norway 5, Poland 11, Singapore 1,
Slovenia 1, Switzerland 4, Thailand 2, Turkey 8, United Kingdom 10,
United States 92

Airports:
15 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Marshall Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Marshall Islands

Disputes - international:
claims US territory of Wake Island

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Martinique

Introduction Martinique

Background:
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a
French possession except for three brief periods of foreign
occupation.

Geography Martinique

Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, 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
water: 40 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
350 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 10.38%
permanent crops: 9.43%
other: 80.19% (2001)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted
and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000
inhabitants

People Martinique

Population:
429,510 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.6% (male 49,245; female 47,845)
15-64 years: 67% (male 143,893; female 143,963)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 20,043; female 24,521) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 32.5 years
female: 33.8 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.81% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
14.56 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.88 years
male: 79.35 years
female: 78.4 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

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

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

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%,
other 3.5% (1997)

Languages:
French, Creole patois

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.4%
female: 98.1% (2003 est.)

Government Martinique

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

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:
Bastille Day, 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 Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - took
office 8 February 2004
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
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