Chapter XXXVI: Front Matter (36)

Imports - partners:
Russia 23.1%, Germany 16.7%, Poland 7.7%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.61 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$10.01 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$228.5 million (1995)

Currency (code):
litas (LTL)

Currency code:
LTL

Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4
(2001), 4 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Lithuania

Telephones - main lines in use:
824,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,169,900 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet
is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber
applications
international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia
and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and
Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:
1.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)

Televisions:
1.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.lt

Internet hosts:
67,769 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
32 (2001)

Internet users:
695,700 (2003)

Transportation Lithuania

Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 77,148 km
paved: 69,202 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,946 km (2002)

Waterways:
600 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Klaipeda

Merchant marine:
total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 296,856 GRT/317,731 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 24, chemical tanker 1,
passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 12)
registered in other countries: 16 (2005)

Airports:
102 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 74
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 68 (2004 est.)

Military Lithuania

Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, National Defense Volunteer Forces
(SKAT)

Military service age and obligation:
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 19-49: 830,368 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 590,606 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 29,689 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Lithuania

Disputes - international:
in 2003, the Lithuania-Russia land and maritime boundary treaty was
ratified and a transit regime established through Lithuania linking
Russia and its Kaliningrad coastal exclave, leaving only
improvements to the border demarcation in 2005; by 2004, a third of
the Belarus-Lithuania boundary had been demarcated; the Latvian
parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with
Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil; as a member state
that forms part of the EU's external border, Lithuania must
implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe
and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Luxembourg

Introduction Luxembourg

Background:
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of
its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of
autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany
in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered
into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following
year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries
of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and
in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

Geography Luxembourg

Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands
to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Natural resources:
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Land use:
arable land: 23.28%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001)

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

People Luxembourg

Population:
468,571 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 45,768/female 42,980)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 157,453/female 153,927)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 27,573/female 40,870) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.51 years
male: 37.56 years
female: 39.48 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
12.06 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
8.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.74 years
male: 75.45 years
female: 82.24 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups:
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,
Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and
resident workers)

Religions:
87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)

Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative
language), French (administrative language)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Government Luxembourg

Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Luxembourg

Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday:
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Constitution:
17 October 1868; occasional revisions

Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular
elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is
appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of
Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,
DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP
14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory
body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members
appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister

Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district
courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and
tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and
tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are
appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:
Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian
Social Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP
[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist
Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist
Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other
minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union);
Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP
(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil
service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des
Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists);
LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)

International organization participation:
ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE
09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box
9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;
similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and
is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy Luxembourg

Economy - overview:
This stable, high-income economy - in between France, Belgium, and
Germany - features solid growth, low inflation, and low
unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel,
has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber,
and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now
accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more than compensated for the
decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive
foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms.
The economy depends on foreign and cross-border workers for more
than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like all EU
members, has suffered from the global economic slump, the country
enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$27.27 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $58,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 16.3%
services: 83.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
293,700 (of whom 105,000 are foreign cross-border workers commuting
primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.5% (December, 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $13.74 billion
expenditures: $14.49 billion, including capital expenditures of $760
million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock
products

Industries:
banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal
products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, information
technology, tourism and banking

Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.511 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 25.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
5.735 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
2.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
6.3 billion kWh (2002)

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

Oil - consumption:
50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
865 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
867 million cu m (2001 est.)

Exports:
$13.4 billion f.o.b. (2003)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass

Exports - partners:
Germany 22.1%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.2%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%,
Spain 5.9%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:
$16.3 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners:
Belgium 29.8%, Germany 22.6%, China 12.6%, France 12%, Netherlands
4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $147 million (2002)

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Luxembourg

Telephones - main lines in use:
355,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
473,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6
coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:
285,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
5 (1999)

Televisions:
285,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code:
.lu

Internet hosts:
28,214 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)

Internet users:
165,000 (2002)

Transportation Luxembourg

Railways:
total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:
total: 5,210 km
paved: 5,210 km (including 126 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)

Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Mertert

Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 16, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger
3, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 40 (Belgium 12, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10,
Netherlands 4, United States 3) (2005)

Airports:
2 (2004 est.)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2004 est.)

Military Luxembourg

Military branches:
Army

Military service age and obligation:
a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age
for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed
into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 110,867 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 90,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 2,775 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$231.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues Luxembourg

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Macau

Introduction Macau

Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the
Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all
matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography Macau

Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:
22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 25.4 sq km
land: 25.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km

Coastline:
41 km

Maritime claims:
not specified

Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain:
generally flat

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two
islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland

People Macau

Population:
449,198 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 39,564/female 36,947)
15-64 years: 75.1% (male 160,957/female 176,386)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 14,713/female 20,631) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.2 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 35.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.87% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
8.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.12 years
male: 79.29 years
female: 85.09 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
0.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95.7%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%,
other 3.3% (2001 census)

Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)

Languages:
Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinese
dialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)

Government Macau

Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status:
special administrative region of China

Government type:
limited democracy

Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic
of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated
as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents
living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited
to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently
registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government
bodies

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,
four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for up to two five-year terms
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004;
received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3
members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (29 seats; 12 elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and seven appointed by the chief
executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 26 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, Macau
Development Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, New
Democratic Macau Association 18.2%, others na; seats by political
group - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, Macau
United Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2,
New Hope 1, Union Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled by
professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief
executive

Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:
Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development
Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG
On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New
Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
[leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent),
UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description:
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water
in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large
in center of arc and four smaller

Economy Macau

Economy - overview:
Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the
world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and
tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit
hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in
2001, its economy grew 9.5% in 2002 and 15.6% in 2003. During the
first three quarters of 2004, Macau registered year-on-year GDP
increases of more than 20 percent. A rapid rise in the number of
mainland visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on
travel, increased public works expenditures, and significant
investment inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's
gaming industry drove the recovery. The budget also returned to
surplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a
hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of
government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses
have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will
boost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the
mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory
may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to
generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling
licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities
in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games will
bolster the construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into
effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free
access to the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA
was to be expanded on 1 January 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.1 billion (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:
15.6% (2003)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2003)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 7.2%
services: 92.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
231,500 (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing 18.3%, construction 8%, transport and communications
7%, wholesale and retail trade 16.2%, restaurants and hotels 10.9%,
gambling 11.6%, public sector 8.8%, other services and agriculture
19.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.7% (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (3rd quarter, 2004)

Budget:
revenues: $1.84 billion
expenditures: $1.57 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important, some of catch is
exported to Hong Kong; most food requirements are met by imports,
primarily from China

Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
1.719 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.772 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
1 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
179.7 million kWh (2003)

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

Oil - consumption:
11,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Exports:
$2.58 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2003)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts

Exports - partners:
US 48.7%, China 13.9%, Germany 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.6%, UK 4.4% (2004)

Imports:
$2.76 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils

Imports - partners:
China 44.4%, Hong Kong 10.6%, Japan 9.6%, Taiwan 4.9%, Singapore
4.1%, US 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:
$2.7 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency (code):
pataca (MOP)

Currency code:
MOP

Exchange rates:
patacas per US dollar - 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003), 8.033 (2002),
8.034 (2001), 8.026 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Macau

Telephones - main lines in use:
174,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
364,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communication
facility; access to international communications carriers provided
via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
160,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2003)

Televisions:
49,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.mo

Internet hosts:
89 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
120,000 (2003)

Transportation Macau

Highways:
total: 341 km
paved: 341 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:
Macau

Airports:
1 (2004 est.)

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

Military Macau

Military branches:
China's People's Revolutionary Army (PLA) constitutes the only
armed force in Macau; several police forces constitute the Security
Forces of Macau (SFM) that are subordinate to the General
Secretariat of Security, a body comparable to a ministry of interior
(2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Macau

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Macedonia

Introduction Macedonia

Background:
International recognition of Macedonia's independence from
Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new
state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols.
Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995 and the two
countries agreed to normalize relations, although differences over
Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring
Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the
2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue
to be challenges for Macedonia.

Geography Macedonia

Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 221 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with
heavy snowfall

Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese,
nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 22.26%
permanent crops: 1.81%
other: 75.93% (2001)

Irrigated land:
550 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
high seismic risks

Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants

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

Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

People Macedonia

Population:
2,045,262 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 217,057/female 202,465)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 707,489/female 697,150)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 97,117/female 123,984) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 32.8 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 33.9 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
8.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.73 years
male: 71.28 years
female: 76.37 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb
1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 32.4%, other Christian 0.2%, Muslim 16.9%,
other and unspecified 50.5% (2002 census)

Languages:
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian
1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

Government Macedonia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia; note - the provisional
designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia (FYROM)
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Skopje

Administrative divisions:
85 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),
Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,
Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar,
Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje),
Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,
Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda
(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski
Brod, Mavrovo i Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, Staro
Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari
(Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles,
Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino,
Zrnovci
note: the ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute "greater Skopje"

Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing
independence from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:
Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's
Day and Ilinden

Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended
November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments
strengthening minority rights

Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Vlado BUCKOVSKI (since 17
December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and BDI
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be
held April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election
last held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on
second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,
Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Vlado BUCKOVSKI elected prime minister by the
Assembly

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected by
popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall
vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Together for Macedonia coalition 60 (SDSM 43, LDP 12, others 5),
VMRO-DPMNE 33 (VMRO 28 and LDT 5), Democratic Union for Integration
16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity
2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional
Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial
Council - the Assembly appoints the judges

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA
[Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks
[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben
XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC];
Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Republican
Union of Macedonia or DRUM [Dosta DIMOVSKA]; Democratic Union of
Vlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integration
or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE (including VMRO and LDT)
[Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [Boris
ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna
JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV];
National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers'
Party [Vejljo TANTAROV]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP
[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or
SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or
SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition
(including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party for
Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; Movement for
Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]

International organization participation:
ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120
Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Flag description:
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of
the red field

Economy Macedonia

Economy - overview:
At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least
developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the
total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of
Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated
advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence
of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the down-sized Yugoslavia, one of
its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute
about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic
growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000.
However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade,
and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian
insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased
trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on
security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in
2002 to 0.9%, then rose by a moderate 3.4% in 2003, and is estimated
at 1.3% in 2004. Unemployment at one-third of the workforce remains
a critical economic problem. Much of the extensive grey market
activity falls outside official statistics.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 26%
services: 62.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
855,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:
37.7% (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
30.2% (2003 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.198 billion
expenditures: $1.245 billion, including capital expenditures of $114
million (2004 est.)

Public debt:
20% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, corn, millet, cotton, sesame,
mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Industries:
coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood
products, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel

Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
6.273 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 83.7%
hydro: 16.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
7.216 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
953 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
22,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Current account balance:
$-311 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$1.629 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners:
Serbia and Montenegro 31.4%, Germany 19.9%, Greece 8.9%, Croatia
6.9%, US 4.9% (2004)

Imports:
$2.677 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products,
automobiles

Imports - partners:
Greece 15.4%, Germany 13.1%, Serbia and Montenegro 10.4%, Slovenia
8.6%, Bulgaria 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Romania 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$928 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.863 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$250 million (2003 est.)

Currency (code):
Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code:
MKD

Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 49.41 (2004), 54.32 (2003), 64.35
(2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:
560,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
830,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 389

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.mk

Internet hosts:
3,738 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
100,000 (2002)

Transportation Macedonia

Railways:
total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:
total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)

Airports:
17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military Macedonia

Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes Air and Air
Defense Command)

Military service age and obligation:
conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript
duty is 6 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service
(January 2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 498,259 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 411,156 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 16,686 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY01/02 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6% (FY01/02 est.)

Transnational Issues Macedonia

Disputes - international:
ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundary
with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and
Montenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject the
use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001; most IDPs have returned)
(2004)

Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although most criminal activity is thought to be domestic and not a
financial center, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly
cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or prosecutions
for money laundering to date)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Madagascar

Introduction Madagascar

Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free
presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17
years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential
race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was
returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was
contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc
RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In
April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the
winner.

Geography Madagascar

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

Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
4,828 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath

Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 5.07%
permanent crops: 1.03%
other: 93.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:
10,900 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to
the island are endangered

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

Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel

People Madagascar

Population:
18,040,341 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,051,832/female 4,038,837)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 4,657,346/female 4,745,971)
65 years and over: 3% (male 247,146/female 299,209) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.46 years
male: 17.24 years
female: 17.67 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
3.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
41.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.95 years
male: 54.57 years
female: 59.4 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

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

Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Government Madagascar

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Antananarivo

Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution:
19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held November 2006);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%,
Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats;
two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members
will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the
seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to
be held NA 2006)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD
5, others 3, independents 22

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders:
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot
RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National
Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or
FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc
RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee
for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council
of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 483-7603
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy Madagascar

Economy - overview:
Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has
since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of
privatization and liberalization. This strategy has placed the
country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low
level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of
the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and
employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in
recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States.
Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the
primary source of fuel are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA
has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002
political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.
Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces
of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.56 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29.3%
industry: 16.7%
services: 54% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
7.3 million (2000)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $783.7 million
expenditures: $1.079 billion, including capital expenditures of $331
million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Industries:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,
tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
840.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 36.1%
hydro: 63.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
781.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

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

Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$-281.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$868.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite,
petroleum products

Exports - partners:
US 35.8%, France 30.8%, Germany 7.7% (2004)

Imports:
$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners:
France 17.2%, China 9.7%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Iran 6.4%, Mauritius
6.2%, South Africa 5.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$500.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:
$354 million (2001)

Currency (code):
Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Currency code:
MGF

Exchange rates:
Malagasy francs per US dollar - 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003),
1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001), 1,353.5 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Madagascar

Telephones - main lines in use:
59,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
279,500 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:
3.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:
325,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.mg

Internet hosts:
773 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
70,500 (2003)

Transportation Madagascar

Railways:
total: 732 km
narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 49,827 km
paved: 5,780 km
unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
600 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT
by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:
116 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 87
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 43 (2004 est.)

Military Madagascar

Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval (Navy and Air) Force; National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18 months
(2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,542,797 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,218,662 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 187,000 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$44.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues Madagascar

Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan
de Nova Island (all administered by France)

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Malawi

Introduction Malawi

Background:
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became
the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of
one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country
held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution,
which came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after the previous president
failed to amend the constitution to permit another term, has
struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, who still
leads their shared political party. MATHARIKA's anti-corruption
efforts have led to several high-level arrests but no convictions.
Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure on
agricultural lands, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.

Geography Malawi

Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
November)