Chapter XXXIX: Front Matter (39)

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: 5.03%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 93.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)

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 endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island

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:
18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675)
65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
3.03% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
11.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.34 years
male: 54.93 years
female: 59.82 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.62 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held December 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 54.8%,
Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO
(LEADER-Fanilo) 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA (AVI) 4.2%, Ny Hasina
ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA
1.7%, other 1.6%

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 in 2007)
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:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM,
OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Narisoa RAJAONARIVONY
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE
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 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):
$17.27 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.097 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.9%
industry: 16.5%
services: 56.6% (2006 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:
47.5 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
26.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $879.9 million
expenditures: $1.147 billion; including capital expenditures of $331
million (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Electricity - production:
984 million kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
915.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
90.59 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
14,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

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

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$-504 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$993.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
France 31.5%, US 31%, Germany 8.8% (2005)

Imports:
$1.544 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
France 16.7%, China 10.6%, Iran 8%, Mauritius 6.6%, Hong Kong 5%,
South Africa 4.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$563 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:
$354 million (2001)

Currency (code):
Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Currency code:
MGF

Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,167.5 (2006), 2,003 (2005),
1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Madagascar

Telephones - main lines in use:
66,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
504,700 (2005)

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:
1,504 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
90,000 (2005)

Transportation Madagascar

Airports:
116 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 87
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Railways:
total: 854 km
narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 49,827 km
paved: 5,780 km
unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)

Waterways:
600 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWT
by type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Military Madagascar

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

Military service age and obligation:
18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,542,797
females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,218,662
females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 187,000
females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$329 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
7.2% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

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

@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 a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,
who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA's
anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests and
one prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread of
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)

Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of
uranium, coal, and bauxite

Land use:
arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)

Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
endangers fish populations

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

Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most
prominent physical feature

People Malawi

Population:
13,013,926
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493)
15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.2 years
female: 16.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
19.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 94.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.7 years
male: 41.93 years
female: 41.45 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
14.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
900,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
84,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European

Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%,
Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other
3.6% (1998 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

Government Malawi

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland

Government type:
multiparty democracy

Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,
Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Independence:
6 July 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Constitution:
18 May 1994

Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next
to be held May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%,
Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%,
Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the
president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission); magistrate's courts

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Congress for
National Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu
wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi
Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and
Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC
[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP,
PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE
[Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown
MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People's
Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation
Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP
[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE
chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David
GILMOUR
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a
radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Government - note:
the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature

Economy Malawi

Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed
countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%
of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for
nearly 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. The
performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for over 60% of exports. The economy depends on
substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World
Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was
approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
program. The government faces strong challenges, including
developing a market economy, improving educational facilities,
facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly
growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that
fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA
championed an anticorruption campaign. Malawi's recent fiscal policy
performance has been very strong, but a serious drought in 2005 and
2006 heightened pressure on the government to increase spending.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.038 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.172 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35.4%
industry: 17.6%
services: 47% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:
55% (2004 est.)

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.3 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $818.4 million
expenditures: $895.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
68.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:
6.4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.293 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 3.3%
hydro: 96.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.202 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$-186 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$513.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel

Exports - partners:
US 17.9%, South Africa 11.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%, Netherlands
6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, Mozambique 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$767.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment

Imports - partners:
South Africa 36.9%, Zambia 9.2%, Zimbabwe 7.7%, Mozambique 7.1%,
India 6.8%, Tanzania 4.9%, US 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$175.5 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$982.4 million (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$401.5 million (2001)

Currency (code):
Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Currency code:
MWK

Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 139.786 (2006), 108.894 (2005),
108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Malawi

Telephones - main lines in use:
102,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
429,300 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third
station held in standby status) (2001)

Radios:
2.6 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.mw

Internet hosts:
377 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)

Internet users:
52,500 (2005)

Transportation Malawi

Airports:
42 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Railways:
total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 15,451 km
paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Waterways:
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Military Malawi

Military branches:
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,430,514 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$15.81 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Malawi

Disputes - international:
disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake
Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Malaysia

Introduction Malaysia

Background:
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established
colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these
were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled
territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,
which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when
the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian
states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined
the Federation. The first several years of the country's history
were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine
claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in
1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad
(1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy
from dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion in
manufacturing, services, and tourism.

Geography Malaysia

Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern
one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and
the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea

Climate:
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast
(October to February) monsoons

Terrain:
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources:
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use:
arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops: 17.54%
other: 77% (2005)

Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
flooding, landslides, forest fires

Environment - current issues:
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian
forest fires

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, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China
Sea

People Malaysia

Population:
24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.5 years
male: 69.8 years
female: 75.38 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
52,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups:
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others
7.8% (2004 est.)

Religions:
Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in
addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Languages:
Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin,
Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi,
Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most
widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2002)

Government Malaysia

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
local long form: none
local short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaysia

Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament
consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;
all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka
and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and
Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government;
powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution;
under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain
constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own
immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of
Representatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives

Capital:
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;
Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah,
Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau
Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal
territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala
Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Independence:
31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Constitution:
31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963

Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; Islamic law is applied to
Muslims in matters of family law and religion

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since
13 December 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since
31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul
Razak (since 7 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers
of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 3
November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality
of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan
Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed
by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan
Rakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (next
must be held by 2009)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199,
DAP 12, PAS 6, PKR 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:
Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the
advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders:
ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN,
consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party
or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal
Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese
Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy
VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti
Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka
Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti
Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti
Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's
Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam];
United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad
Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization
(Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard
DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk
Malaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party
or SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action
Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic
Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI
Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN
AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG];
opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA -
consists of PAS and PKR

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador RAJMAH binti Hussain
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50440
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Flag description:
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white
(bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent
and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based
on the flag of the US

Economy Malaysia

Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971
through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an
emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven
by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia was
hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the
information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001
grew only 0.5% because of an estimated 11% contraction in exports,
but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billion
mitigated the worst of the recession, and the economy rebounded in
2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003,
notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led to
caution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5%
per year in 2005-06. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has
profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost
of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce
government subsidies, contributing to higher inflation. Malaysia
"unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency
appreciated 6% against the dollar in 2006. Healthy foreign exchange
reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk that
Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term
similar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent on
continued growth in the US, China, and Japan - top export
destinations and key sources of foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$308.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$131.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.3%
industry: 48.1%
services: 43.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
10.73 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14.5%
industry: 36%
services: 49.5% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.2 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $31.63 billion
expenditures: $37 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
46.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -
subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber,
pepper, timber

Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining
and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum
production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production
and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate:
5.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
78.24 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.5%
hydro: 10.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
72.71 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
50 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
770,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
515,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
230,200 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:
3.1 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:
62.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
32.97 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
29.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.124 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$17.86 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$158.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and
wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners:
US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong Kong 5.8%,
Thailand 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$127.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,
iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Japan 14.6%, US 13%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.6%, Taiwan 5.6%,
Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$82.3 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$57.77 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Currency (code):
ringgit (MYR)

Currency code:
MYR

Exchange rates:
ringgits per US dollar - 3.67 (2006), 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8
(2003), 3.8 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Malaysia

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.366 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.545 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic
satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, Hong
Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)

Radios:
10.9 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
mainland Malaysia 51; Sabah 16; Sarawak 21; note - many are low
power stations (2006)

Televisions:
10.8 million (1999)

Internet country code:
.my

Internet hosts:
158,650 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7 (2000)

Internet users:
11.016 million (2005)

Transportation Malaysia

Airports:
117 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 72 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 282 km; gas 5,372 km; oil 1,715 km; oil/gas/water 19 km;
refined products 114 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,890 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 98,721 km
paved: 80,280 km (including 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Waterways:
7,200 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,542,727 GRT/7,544,154 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 99, chemical tanker 38, container
48, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 8,
petroleum tanker 61, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 66 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, South
Korea 1, Singapore 44)
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 12, Belize 1, Cayman
Islands 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 4)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:
Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town
(Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas

Military Malaysia

Military branches:
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian
Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut
Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara
Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 5,584,231
females age 18-49: 5,510,345 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,574,854
females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 244,418
females age 18-49: 231,896 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.03% (FY00)

Transnational Issues Malaysia

Disputes - international:
Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together
with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while
the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the
legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia
was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil
companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting
marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue
over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land
reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the
Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007 the ICJ will hold
public hearings in response to the Memorials and Countermemorials
filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra
Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJ
awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and
Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty
of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute;
separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern
provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia
to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to
Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia are
still considering international adjudication over their disputed
offshore and deepwater seabeds, where hydrocarbon exploration was
terminated in 2003; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around
Limbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,153 (Indonesia), 14,208 (Burma)
(2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser
extent, a source and transit country for men and women trafficked
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; foreign
victims, mostly women and girls from China, Indonesia, Thailand, the
Philippines, and Vietnam, are trafficked to Malaysia for commercial
sexual exploitation; economic migrants from countries in the region
who work as domestic servants or laborers in the construction and
agricultural sectors face exploitative conditions in Malaysia that
meet the definition of involuntary servitude; some Malaysian women,
primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia is placed on Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking, particularly its failure to provide protection
for victims of trafficking

Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking
prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Maldives

Introduction Maldives

Background:
The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under
British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after
independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currently
in his sixth term in office - has dominated the islands' political
scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the
president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic
reforms, including a more representative political system and
expanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, and
many promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. Tourism and
fishing are being developed on the archipelago.

Geography Maldives

Location:
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest
of India

Geographic coordinates:
3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
644 km

Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain:
flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Environment - current issues:
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global
warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

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

Geography - note:
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands,
plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic
location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People Maldives

Population:
359,008 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 80,113/female 75,763)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 98,040/female 94,029)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,477/female 5,586) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
34.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.41 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 65.8 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religions:
Sunni Muslim

Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),
English spoken by most government officials

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.)

Government Maldives

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 31 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;
Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa
Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), Meemu,
Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Independence:
26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution:
adopted 1 January 1998

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
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
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%

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:
political parties were allowed to register in June 2005; the first
entrants are: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul
BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP
[Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar
NASEER]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
various unregistered political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed LATHEEF
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405

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 28% 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 the second leading sector.
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 7% of GDP. 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. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5%
per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a major
tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property
damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP
contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunami
reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped boost GDP by
nearly 18 percent in 2006. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as
a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material.
Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing is the major challenge
facing the government. Over the longer term 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 (official exchange rate):
$817 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-3.6% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2002 est.)

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

Labor force:
88,000 (2000)

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

Unemployment rate:
NEGL% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:
21% (2004)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)
expenditures: $671 million (2006 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:
-0.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
149.9 million kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
139.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
7,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$123 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish

Exports - partners:
Japan 22.8%, Thailand 22.7%, Sri Lanka 16.4%, UK 12.6%, Singapore
5.8%, Germany 4.8%, France 4.3% (2005)