Television:broadcast stations: 0; note - TV programs received from Hong Kongtelevisions: NA
@Macau:Defense Forces
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 141,160; males fit for military service 78,578 (1995 est.)
Note: defense is responsibility of Portugal
________________________________________________________________________
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:total area: 25,333 sq kmland area: 24,856 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries: total 748 km, Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: dispute with Greece over name, symbols, andcertain constitutional provisions
Climate: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters withheavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulphur, timber
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 30% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plantsnatural hazards: high seismic risksinternational agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection
Note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western andCentral Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:People
Population: 2,159,503 (July 1995 est.) note: the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
Age structure:0-14 years: 25% (female 257,876; male 277,314)15-64 years: 67% (female 711,810; male 733,903)65 years and over: 8% (female 97,475; male 81,125) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 71.87 years female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic divisions: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,Gypsies 3%, other 4%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994) by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Government
Names:conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republika Makedonijalocal short form: Makedonija
Abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
Digraph: MK
Type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular - opstina)Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci,Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo,Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar,Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba,Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo,Vinica
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: 8 September
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991);election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1997); results- Kiro GLIGOROV was elected by the Assembly in 1991; reelected bypopular vote in 1994head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4September 1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the majority vote of all thedeputies in the Sobranje
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly (Sobranje): elections last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held November 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Judicial Court of the Republic
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP); note - two factions competing for party name; one faction is led by Abdurahman HALITI and the other faction is led by Arber XHAFFERI; National Democratic Party (NDP), Ilijas HALINI, president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia - Liberal Party (SRSM-LP), Stojan ANDOV, president; Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM), Kiro POPOVSKI, president; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president; Party of Yugoslavs in Macedonia (SJM), Milan DURCINOV, president; Democratic Party (DP), Petar GOSEV, president
Other political or pressure groups: Movement for All Macedonian Action(MAAK); Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic Party of Turks; Partyfor Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim)
Member of: CCC, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,ITU, OSCE (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: the US recognized The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia on 8 February 1994
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Victor D. COMRAS liaison office: ul. 27 Mart No. 5, 9100 Skopje mailing address: USLO Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] (91) 116-180 FAX: [389] (91) 117-103
Flag: 16-point gold sun (Vergina, Sun) centered on a red field
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Economy
Overview: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own agricultural and coal resources. Its economic decline will continue unless ties are reforged or enlarged with its neighbors Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians working in Germany and other West European nations. Continued political turmoil, both internally and in the region as a whole, prevents any swift readjustments of trade patterns and economic programs. The country's industrial output and GDP are expected to decline further in 1995. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's geographical isolation, technological backwardness, and potential political instability place it far down the list of countries of interest to Western investors. Resolution of the dispute with Greece and an internal commitment to economic reform would encourage foreign investment over the long run. In the immediate future, the worst scenario for the economy would be the spread of fighting across its borders.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.9 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $900 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 54% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1993 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $1.06 billion (1993)commodities: manufactured goods 40%, machinery and transport equipment14%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 23%, raw materials 7.6%, food(rice) and live animals 5.7%, beverages and tobacco 4.5%, chemicals4.7% (1990)partners: principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other formerYugoslav republics, Germany, Greece, Albania
Imports: $1.2 billion (1993) commodities: fuels and lubricants 19%, manufactured goods 18%, machinery and transport equipment 15%, food and live animals 14%, chemicals 11.4%, raw materials 10%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 8.0%, beverages and tobacco 3.5% (1990) partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany, Bulgaria
External debt: $840 million (1992)
Industrial production: growth rate -14% (1993)
Electricity: capacity: 1,600,000 kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
Industries: low levels of technology predominate, such as, oilrefining by distillation only; produces basic liquid fuels, coal,metallic chromium, lead, zinc, and ferronickel; light industryproduces basic textiles, wood products, and tobacco
Agriculture: meets the basic needs for food; principal crops are rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, and millet; also grown are cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus fruit, and vegetables; agricultural production is highly labor intensive
Illicit drugs: limited illicit opium cultivation; transshipment pointfor Southwest Asian heroin
Economic aid:recipient: US $10 million (for humanitarian and technical assistance)EC promised a 100 ECU million economic aid package (1993)
Currency: the denar, which was adopted by the Macedonian legislature26 April 1992, was initially issued in the form of a coupon pegged tothe German mark; subsequently repegged to a basket of seven currencies
Exchange rates: denar per US$1 - 39 (November 1994), 865 (October1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Transportation
Railroads: total: 922 km standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 10,591 km paved: 5,091 km unpaved: gravel 1,404 km; earth 4,096 km (1991)
Inland waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: none
Ports: none
Airports:total: 16with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 11with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Communications
Telephone system: 125,000 telephoneslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: no satellite links
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0radios: 370,000
Television:broadcast stations: 5 (relays 2)televisions: 325,000
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 585,403; males fit for military service 474,467; males reach military age (19) annually 19,693 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 7 billion denars, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
@Madagascar:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 587,040 sq kmland area: 581,540 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 26% other: 11%
Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation andovergrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with rawsewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and faunaunique to the island are endangerednatural hazards: periodic cyclonesinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location alongMozambique Channel
@Madagascar:People
Population: 13,862,325 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47% (female 3,231,647; male 3,265,715)15-64 years: 50% (female 3,511,699; male 3,413,564)65 years and over: 3% (female 225,205; male 214,495) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.18% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 44.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 12.99 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 86.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.45 years male: 52.47 years female: 56.48 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 80%male: 88%female: 73%
Labor force:total workers: 4.9 millionworkers not receiving money wages: 4.7 million (96% of total laborforce); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculturewage earners: 175,000 (3.6% of total work force)wage earners by occupation: agriculture 45,500, domestic service29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)
@Madagascar:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Madagascarconventional short form: Madagascarlocal long form: Republique de Madagascarlocal short form: Madagascarformer: Malagasy Republic
Digraph: MA
Type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Antananarivo, Antsiranana,Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary
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 traditionalMalagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993); electionlast held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - AlbertZAFY (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%head of government: Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate (Senat): two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; decentralization and formation of regional assemblies is not expected before 1997 National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High ConstitutionalCourt (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Committee of Living Forces (CFV), analliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD),Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM),Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar (GRAD),Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal(AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other parties, trade unions, andreligious groups; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar(PMDM/MFM), formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power, ManandafyRAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development (CSCD),Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United Malagasys (Famima); Rallyfor Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA
Other political or pressure groups: National Council of ChristianChurches (FFKM); Federalist Movement
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18 FAX: [261] (2) 345-39
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
@Madagascar:Economy
Overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.8% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $790 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $250 millionexpenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180million (1991 est.)
Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar,petroleum productspartners: France, US, Germany, Japan, Russia
Imports: $510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%,petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $4.3 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1993 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 220,000 kW production: 560 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993)
Industries: agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum
Agriculture: accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wildvarieties) used mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 3,718.0 (November 1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Madagascar:Transportation
Railroads: total: 1,020 km narrow gauge: 1,020 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:total: 40,000 kmpaved: 4,694 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth34,495 km (est.)
Inland waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and smallportions of Canal des Pangalanes
Ports: Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Port Saint-Louis, Toamasina, Toliaria
Merchant marine:total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,261 GRT/28,193 DWTships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oiltanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
Airports:total: 138with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21with paved runways under 914 m: 42with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 64
@Madagascar:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; above average systemlocal: NAintercity: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, andtropospheric scatter linksinternational: submarine cable to Bahrain; 1 earth station for IndianOcean INTELSAT
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 36)televisions: NA
@Madagascar:Defense Forces
Branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces,Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force),Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,027,156; males fit formilitary service 1,800,127; males reach military age (20) annually130,071 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35 million, 1.3% ofGDP (1991)
________________________________________________________________________
@Malawi:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 118,480 sq kmland area: 94,080 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total 2,881 km, Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km,Zambia 837 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary inLake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May toNovember)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills,some mountains
Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal,and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 50% other: 5%
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution fromagricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawninggrounds endangers fish populationnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note: landlocked
@Malawi:People
Population: 9,808,384 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (female 2,361,309; male 2,384,679)15-64 years: 49% (female 2,479,108; male 2,335,729)65 years and over: 3% (female 139,632; male 107,927) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.63% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 49.81 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 23.53 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: the return of refugees to Mozambique is much reduced compared with 1994
Infant mortality rate: 140.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.01 years male: 38.28 years female: 39.76 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.36 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian
Ethnic divisions: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga,Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditionalindigenous beliefs
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languagesimportant regionally
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987)total population: 48%male: 65%female: 34%
Labor force: 428,000 wage earnersby occupation: agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services15%, commerce 9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, otherpermanently employed 6% (1986)
@Malawi:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Malawiconventional short form: Malawiformer: Nyasaland
Digraph: MI
Type: multiparty democracy following a referendum on 14 June 1993; formerly a one-party republic
Capital: Lilongwe
Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga(Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, NkhataBay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Constitution: 6 July 1966; republished as amended January 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since21 May 1994), leader of the United Democratic Frontcabinet: Cabinet; named by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly: elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total) UDF84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5
Judicial branch: High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:ruling party: United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZIopposition groups: Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Gwanda CHAKUAMBAPhiri, secretary general (top party position); Alliance for Democracy(AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; Socialist League of Malawi (Lesoma), KapoteMWAKUSULA, secretary general; Malawi Democratic Union (MDU), HarryBWANAUSI; Congress for the Second Republic (CSR), Kanyama CHIUME;Malawi Socialist Labor Party (MSLP), Stanford SAMBANEMANJA
Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Patrick NYASULU (since 14 October 1994) chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CHAVEAS embassy: address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] 783 166 FAX: [265] 780 471
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to the flag of Afghanistan, which is longer and has the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands
@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 accounts for 40% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. After two years of weak performance, economic growth improved significantly in 1988-91 as a result of good weather and a broadly based economic adjustment effort by the government. Drought cut overall output sharply in 1992, but the lost ground was recovered in 1993. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental problems of deforestation and erosion.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 9.3% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $750 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $416 millionexpenditures: $498 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1992 est.)
Exports: $311 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products partners: US, UK, Zambia, South Africa, Germany
Imports: $308 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment partners: South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe
External debt: $1.8 billion (December 1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% accounts for about 15% of GDP (1992 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 190,000 kW production: 820 million kWh consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993)
Industries: agricultural processing (tea, tobacco, sugar), sawmilling, cement, consumer goods
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; cash crops - tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, and corn; subsistence crops - potatoes, cassava, sorghum, pulses; livestock - cattle, goats
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $215 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $2.15 billion
Currency: 1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Exchange rates: Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 7.8358 (August 1994), 4.4028 (1993), 3.6033 (1992), 2.8033 (1991), 2.7289 (1990), 2.7595 (1989)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Malawi:Transportation
Railroads: total: 789 km narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:total: 13,135 kmpaved: 2,364 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 251 km; earth,improved earth 10,520 km
Inland waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
Ports: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkotakota
Airports:total: 47with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4with paved runways under 914 m: 25with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15
@Malawi:Communications
Telephone system: 42,250 telephoneslocal: NAintercity: fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, andradio communications stationsinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean ) earthstations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Malawi:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit), paramilitary Malawi Young Pioneers
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,069,302; males fit formilitary service 1,056,372 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $13 million, 0.7% ofGDP (FY93/94)
________________________________________________________________________
@Malaysia:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo bordering the Java Sea and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 329,750 sq kmland area: 328,550 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total 2,669 km, Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km,Thailand 506 km
Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607km)
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation; specifiedboundary in the South China Seaexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the SpratlyIslands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;State of Sabah claimed by the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchasethe Malaysian salient that divides Brunei into two parts; two islandsin dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast(October to February) monsoons
Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 63% other: 24%
Irrigated land: 3,420 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions;water pollution from raw sewage; deforestationnatural hazards: floodinginternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed,but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern SouthChina Sea
@Malaysia:People
Population: 19,723,587 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37% (female 3,559,434; male 3,690,310)15-64 years: 59% (female 5,871,131; male 5,844,568)65 years and over: 4% (female 423,539; male 334,605) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.24% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 27.95 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.48 years male: 66.55 years female: 72.56 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic divisions: Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian9%
Religions:Peninsular Malaysia: Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu(Indians)Sabah: Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%Sarawak: tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim20%, Christian 16%, other 5%
Languages:Peninsular Malaysia: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects,TamilSabah: English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin andHakka dialects predominate)Sarawak: English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages *** Nodata for this item ***
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 78%male: 86%female: 70%
Labor force: 7.627 million (1993)
@Malaysia:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Malaysiaformer: Malayan Union
Digraph: MY
Type: constitutional monarchynote: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed bythe paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; PeninsularMalaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, wheregovernors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powersof state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah -self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, withforeign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powersdelegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, holds27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense,internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: National 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
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Paramount Ruler JA'AFAR ibni Abdul Rahman (since 26April 1994); Deputy Paramount Ruler SALAHUDDIN ibni Hisammuddin AlamShah (since 26 April 1994)head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December1993)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the Paramount Ruler from members ofparliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlimen)Senate (Dewan Negara): consists of 58 members, 32 appointed by theparamount ruler and 26 elected by the state legislatures (2 from eachstate) for six-year terms; elections last held NA (next to be heldNA); results - NAHouse of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat): consists of 180 members,elected for five-year terms; elections last held 21 October 1990 (nextto be held by December 1995); results - National Front 52%, other 48%;seats - (180 total) National Front 127, DAP 20, PAS 7, independents 4,other 22; note - within the National Front, UMNO won 71 seats and MCAwon 18 seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Peninsular Malaysia: National Front, a confederation of 13 politicalparties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNOBaru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LINGLiong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian IndianCongress (MIC), S. Samy VELLUSabah: National Front, SALLEH Said Keruak, Sabah Chief Minister,Sakaran DANDAI, head of Sabah State; United Sabah National Organizaton(USNO), leader NASarawak: coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party PesakaBumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud;Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai;Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti BansaDayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition parties areDemocratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian IslamicParty (PAS), Fadzil NOOR
Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77,GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM,OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ,UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul MAJID bin Mohamed chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 483-7661 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador John S. WOLFembassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpurmailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; APO AP96535-8152telephone: [60] (3) 2489011FAX: [60] (3) 2422207
Flag: fourteen 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 fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US
@Malaysia:Economy
Overview: The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a soundly managed public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 9% average annual growth in 1988-94. The official growth target for 1995 is 8.5%. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Manufactured goods exports expanded rapidly, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $166.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 8.7% (1994)
National product per capita: $8,650 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $18.7 billionexpenditures: $19.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.8billion (1994)
Exports: $56.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products,palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textilespartners: Singapore 22%, US 20%, Japan 13%, UK 4%, Germany 4%,Thailand 4% (1993)
Imports: $55.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, petroleumproductspartners: Japan 27%, US 17%, Singapore 15%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, UK3%, South Korea 3% (1993)
External debt: $35.5 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1994); accounts for 38% of GDP (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 6,700,000 kW production: 31 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,528 kWh (1993)
Industries:Peninsular Malaysia: rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing,light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting,logging and processing timberSabah: logging, petroleum productionSarawak: agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining,logging
Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP (1993 est.)Peninsular Malaysia: natural rubber, palm oil, riceSabah: mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut, riceSarawak: rubber, timber, pepper; deficit of rice in all areas
Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to theUS, Western Europe, and the Third World despite severe penalties fordrug trafficking; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $4.7 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million
Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.5542 (January 1995), 2.6242 (1994), 2.5741 (1993), 2.5474 (1992), 2.7501 (1991), 1.7048 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Malaysia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 1,801 km (Peninsular Malaysia 1,665 km; Sabah 136 km; Sarawak 0km)narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (Peninsular Malaysia 1,665 km;Sabah 136 km)
Highways:total: 29,028 km (Peninsular Malaysia 23,602 km, Sabah 3,782 km,Sarawak 1,644 km)paved: NA (Peninsular Malaysia 19,354 km mostly bituminous treated)unpaved: NA (Peninsular Malaysia 4,248 km)
Inland waterways:Peninsular Malaysia: 3,209 kmSabah: 1,569 kmSarawak: 2,518 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Ports: Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Labuan,Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang,Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjong Berhala, Tanjong Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine:total: 213 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,410,823 GRT/3,635,966DWTships by type: bulk 34, cargo 73, chemical tanker 11, container 27,liquefied gas tanker 9, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 50,roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
Airports:total: 115with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6with paved runways under 914 m: 82with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
@Malaysia:Communications
Telephone system: 994,860 telephones (1984); international servicegoodlocal: NAintercity: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysiamainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radiorelay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; 2 domesticsatellite linksinternational: submarine cables extend to India and Sarawak; SEACOMsubmarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earthstations - 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 33televisions: NA
@Malaysia:Defense Forces
Branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian AirForce, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak BorderScouts
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,041,003; males fit formilitary service 3,058,445; males reach military age (21) annually183,760 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 2.9% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Maldives:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 300 sq kmland area: 300 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm as defined by geographiccoordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary withIndiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November toMarch); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain: flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 3% other: 84%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens watersuppliesnatural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sealevel riseinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -Law of the Sea
Note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago ofstrategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
@Maldives:People
Population: 261,310 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47% (female 60,038; male 63,042)15-64 years: 50% (female 63,526; male 67,020)65 years and over: 3% (female 3,537; male 4,147) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.58% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 42.8 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.49 years male: 63.99 years female: 67.07 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.17 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic),English spoken by most government officials
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)total population: 91%male: 91%female: 92%
Labor force: 66,000 (est.)by occupation: fishing industry 25%
@Maldives:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Maldivesconventional short form: Maldives
Digraph: MV
Type: republic
Capital: Male
Administrative divisions: 19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu,Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu,Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution: 4 June 1968
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 and head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM(since 11 November 1978); election last held 1 October 1993 (next tobe held 1998); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelectedwith 92.76% of the votecabinet: Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis): elections last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected, 8 appointed by the president) independents 40
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: although political parties are notbanned, none exist; country governed by the Didi clan for the pasteight centuries
Member of: AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: Maldives has no embassy in the US,but does have a UN mission in New York; Permanent Representative tothe UN Ahmed ZAKI
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there consular agency: Midhath Hilmy, Male telephone: 322581
Flag: 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
@Maldives:Economy
Overview: Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1993, tourism accounted for 17% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. The Maldivian government initiated an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivatable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In 1993, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 6% of GDP.