National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $360 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $1,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1993)
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Budget:revenues: $95 million (excluding foreign transfers)expenditures: $143 million, including capital expenditures of $71million (1993 est.)
Exports: $38.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: fish, clothingpartners: US, UK, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Germany
Imports: $177.8 million (c.i.f., 1993)commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleumproductspartners: Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India, Japan
External debt: $130 million (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 24% (1990); accounts for 6% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)
Industries: fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts
Agriculture: fishing, coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $125 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million
Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (January 1995), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Maldives:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA (Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city)
Ports: Gan, Male
Merchant marine:total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 50,384 GRT/77,771 DWTships by type: cargo 14, container 1, oil tanker 1
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
@Maldives:Communications
Telephone system: 2,804 telephones; minimal domestic and internationalfacilitieslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Maldives:Defense Forces
Branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 57,172; males fit for military service 31,911 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Mali:Geography
Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 1.24 million sq kmland area: 1.22 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km,Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821km, Senegal 419 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand;savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 7% other: 66%
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;inadequate supplies of potable water; poachingnatural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dryseasons; recurring droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban
Note: landlocked
@Mali:People
Population: 9,375,132 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (female 2,240,565; male 2,242,373)15-64 years: 49% (female 2,416,952; male 2,165,043)65 years and over: 3% (female 162,234; male 147,965) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.89% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 51.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 19.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 104.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.37 years male: 44.7 years female: 48.09 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.33 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian
Ethnic divisions: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%,Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy: age 6 and over can read and write (1988)total population: 19%male: 27%female: 12%
Labor force: 2.666 million (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)
@Mali:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Maliconventional short form: Malilocal long form: Republique de Malilocal short form: Maliformer: French Sudan
Digraph: ML
Type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao,Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22September (1960)
Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992);election last held in April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); AlphaKONARE was elected in runoff race against Montaga TALLhead of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (sinceMarch 1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (116 total) Adema 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Association for Democracy (Adema),Ibrahim Baubacar KEITA; National Congress for Democratic Initiative(CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally(US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; Popular Movement for the Developmentof the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and Progress(RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), MoussaBalla COULIBALY; Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT); Union ofDemocratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party forDemocracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union forDemocracy and Development (UMDD)
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77,GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim Siragatou CISSEchancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: (vacant) (Ambassador William H. DAMERON III retiredMarch 1995)embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamakomailing address: B. P. 34, Bamakotelephone: [223] 22 54 70FAX: [223] 22 37 12
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, andred; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Mali:Economy
Overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The economy is beginning to turn around after contracting through 1992-93, largely because of enhanced exports and import substitute production in the wake of the 50% devaluation of January 1994. Post-devaluation inflation appears to have peaked at 35% in 1994 and the government appears to be keeping on track with its IMF structural adjustment program.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $600 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $376 millionexpenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1992 est.)
Exports: $415 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cotton, livestock, gold partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports: $842 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
External debt: $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -1.4% (1992 est.); accounts for 13.0% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 310 million kWh consumption per capita: 33 kWh (1993)
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing, construction, phosphate and gold mining
Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming; cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other crops - millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $3.02 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million
Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1- 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mali:Transportation
Railroads:total: 642 km; note - linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayesnarrow gauge: 642 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 15,700 km paved: 1,670 km unpaved: gravel, improved earth 3,670 km; unimproved earth 10,360 km
Inland waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports: Koulikoro
Airports:total: 33with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 10with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12
@Mali:Communications
Telephone system: 11,000 telephones; domestic system poor butimproving; provides only minimal servicelocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay, wire, and radio communicationsstations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progressinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earthstations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 2televisions: NA
@Mali:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, NationalGuard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,861,977; males fit formilitary service 1,062,916 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 2.2% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Malta:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south ofSicily (Italy)
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 320 sq kmland area: 320 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Natural resources: limestone, salt
Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 59%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasingreliance on desalinationnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Biodiversity, Desertification
Note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
@Malta:People
Population: 369,609 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (female 39,199; male 41,581)15-64 years: 67% (female 123,665; male 124,167)65 years and over: 11% (female 23,597; male 17,400) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.75% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.02 years male: 74.75 years female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese
Ethnic divisions: Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)total population: 84%male: 86%female: 82%
Labor force: 127,200by occupation: government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%,manufacturing 22%, training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture2% (1990)
@Malta:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Maltaconventional short form: Malta
Digraph: MT
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administration directly from Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; hasaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)head of government: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Edward(Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr.Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the primeminister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: elections last held 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECHADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT
Member of: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr.embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,Maltamailing address: P. O. Box 535, Vallettatelephone: [356] 235960FAX: [356] 243229
Flag: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red
@Malta:Economy
Overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 24% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major contributors and with the state-owned Malta drydocks employing about 4,300 people. In 1994, over 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $10,760 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.9 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $10,760 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (March 1994)
Budget:revenues: $1.4 billionexpenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $215million (FY94/95 est.)
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware,printed matterpartners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%
External debt: $603 million (1992)
Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1992); accounts for 27% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 250,000 kW production: 1.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,749 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, electronics, ship repairyard, construction, food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco
Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992); overall, 20% self-sufficient; main products - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic foodstuffs
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa toWestern Europe
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $336 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million;Communist countries (1970-88), $48 million
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3656 (January 1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Malta:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,291 km paved: asphalt 1,179 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km
Ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:total: 964 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,518,359GRT/26,604,739 DWTships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 272, cargo 300, chemical tanker30, combination bulk 26, combination ore/oil 16, container 33,liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker191, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigeratedcargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26, short-sea passenger 20,specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 11note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 49 countries; the 10major fleet flags are: Greece 351 ships, Russia 66, Croatia 63,Switzerland 31, Montenegro 29, Italy 27, Germany 23, Monaco 20, UK 20,and Georgia 10
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
@Malta:Communications
Telephone system: 153,000 telephones; automatic system satisfiesnormal requirementslocal: NAintercity: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islandsinternational: 1 submarine cable and 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earthstation
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 2televisions: NA
@Malta:Defense Forces
Branches: Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 98,525; males fit for militaryservice 78,305 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $21.4 million, about0.9% of GDP (FY92/93)
________________________________________________________________________
(British crown dependency)
@Man, Isle Of:Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between GreatBritain and Ireland
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 588 sq kmland area: 588 sq kmcomparative area: nearly 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 113 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Natural resources: lead, iron ore
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
@Man, Isle Of:People
Population: 72,751 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (female 6,462; male 6,833)15-64 years: 64% (female 23,219; male 23,348)65 years and over: 18% (female 7,759; male 5,130) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.99% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.73 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 12.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.53 years male: 73.78 years female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Manxman, Manxwoman adjective: Manx
Ethnic divisions: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,Society of Friends
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 25,864 (1981) by occupation: NA
@Man, Isle Of:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Isle of Man
Digraph: IM
Type: British crown dependency
Capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshal Sir LaurenceJONES (since NA 1990)head of government: President of the Legislative Council Sir CharlesKERRUISH (since NA 1990)cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: bicameral TynwaldLegislative Council: consists of a 10-member body composed of the LordBishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 othersnamed by the House of KeysHouse of Keys: elections last held NA 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);results - percent of vote NA; seats - (24 total) independents 24
Judicial branch: Court of Tynwald
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and members sit as independents
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
Flag: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used
@Man, Isle Of:Economy
Overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking now contributes about 45% to GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to European Union markets.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $780 million (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $10,800 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $130.4 millionexpenditures: $114.4 million, including capital expenditures of $18.1million (1985 est.)
Exports: $NAcommodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lambpartners: UK
Imports: $NAcommodities: timber, fertilizers, fishpartners: UK
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 61,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,965 kWh (1992)
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Agriculture: cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Manx pound (#M) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Manx pounds (#M) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Man, Isle Of:Transportation
Railroads: total: 60 km (36 km electrified)
Highways: total: 640 km paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine:total: 68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,810,355 GRT/3,183,773DWTships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container 9,liquefied gas tanker 8, oil tanker 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9,vehicle carrier 2note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 9 ships, Switzerland 2,Denmark 1, Netherlands 1
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
@Man, Isle Of:Communications
Telephone system: 24,435 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 4televisions: NA
@Man, Isle Of:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
@Marshall Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North PacificOcean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 181.3 sq kmland area: 181.3 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DCnote: includes the atolls of Bikini, Eniwetak, and Kwajalein
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims US territory of Wake Island
Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: inadequate supplies of potable waternatural hazards: occasional typhoonsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Eniwetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range
@Marshall Islands:People
Population: 56,157 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 51% (female 13,950; male 14,547)15-64 years: 47% (female 12,801; male 13,470)65 years and over: 2% (female 740; male 649) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.86% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 46.03 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.49 years male: 61.94 years female: 65.11 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.89 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic divisions: Micronesian
Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language),two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family,Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population: 93%male: 100%female: 88%
Labor force: 4,800 (1986)by occupation: NA
@Marshall Islands:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islandsconventional short form: Marshall Islandsformer: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the PacificIslands)
Digraph: RM
Type: constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UNtrusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the MarshallIslands, 1 May (1979)
Constitution: 1 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Amata KABUA (since1979); election last held 6 January 1992 (next to be held NA); results- President Amata KABUA was reelectedcabinet: Cabinet; president selects from the parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Nitijela): elections last held 18 November 1991 (next to be held November 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total) independents 33
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties; President KABUA ischief political (and traditional) leader
Member of: AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wilfred I. KENDALL chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David C. FIELDS embassy: address NA, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379 telephone: [692] 247-4011 FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
@Marshall Islands:Economy
Overview: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. The US Government provides about 70% of the budget.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $75 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1992)
National product per capita: $1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget:revenues: $106 millionexpenditures: $128.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1993)
Exports: $3.9 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities: coconut oil, fish, live animals, trichus shellspartners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: $62.9 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages andtobacco, fuelspartners: US, Japan, Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 42,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,840 kWh (1990)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and pearls; offshore banking (embryonic)
Agriculture: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits, pigs, chickens
Economic aid:recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the USis to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Marshall Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:total: NAnote: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwisestone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports: Majuro
Merchant marine:total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,205,275 GRT/4,263,247DWTships by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 1, combination ore/oil 1, oiltanker 12
Airports:total: 16with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 5with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
@Marshall Islands:Communications
Telephone system: 570 telephones (Majuro) and 186 telephones (Ebeye);telex serviceslocal: NAintercity: islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly forgovernment purposes)international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations; USGovernment satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Marshall Islands:Defense Forces
Branches: no regular military forces; Police
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
________________________________________________________________________
(overseas department of France)
@Martinique:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 1,100 sq kmland area: 1,060 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than six times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 290 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June toOctober)
Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 26% other: 26%
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (anaverage of one major natural disaster every five years)international agreements: NA
@Martinique:People
Population: 394,787 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (female 44,960; male 46,512)15-64 years: 67% (female 134,439; male 130,642)65 years and over: 10% (female 22,058; male 16,176) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.1% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.67 years male: 75.94 years female: 81.53 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic divisions: African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%,Caucasian 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)total population: 93%male: 92%female: 93%
Labor force: 100,000by occupation: service industry 31.7%, construction and public works29.4%, agriculture 13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%
@Martinique:Government
Names:conventional long form: Department of Martiniqueconventional short form: Martiniquelocal long form: Departement de la Martiniquelocal short form: Martinique
Digraph: MB
Type: overseas department of France
Capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)head of government: Prefect Michel MORIN (since NA); President of theGeneral Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of theRegional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameralRegional AssemblyGeneral Council: elections last held 25 September and 8 October 1988(next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(44 total) number of seats by party NA; note - a leftist coalitionobtained a one-seat marginRegional Assembly: elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to beheld by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(41 total) RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be heldNA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) UDF 1,PPM 1French National Assembly: elections last held NA June 1993 (next to beheld NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4total) RPR 3, FSM 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), StephenBAGOE; Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP); MartiniqueProgressive Party (PPM), Aime CESAIRE; Socialist Federation ofMartinique (FSM), Michel YOYO; Martinique Communist Party (PCM);Martinique Patriots (PM); Union for French Democracy (UDF), JeanMARAN; Martinique Independence Movement (MIM), Alfred MARIE-JEANNE;Republican Party (PR), Jean BAILLY
Other political or pressure groups: Proletarian Action Group (GAP);Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group (GRS); CaribbeanRevolutionary Alliance (ARC); Central Union for Martinique Workers(CSTM), Marc PULVAR; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers andPeasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste (PMS); Association for theProtection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)
Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation: the post closed in August 1993 (overseas department of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
@Martinique:Economy
Overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 10%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration. Banana workers launched protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and fears of greater competition in the European market from other producers.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.9 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 32.1% (1990)
Budget:revenues: $610 millionexpenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1991)
Exports: $247 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
Imports: $1.75 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 113,100 kW production: 700 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,677 kWh (1993)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 10% of GDP; principal crops - pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for rum; dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound forthe US and Europe
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1970-89), $10.1 billion
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Martinique:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,680 km paved: 1,300 km unpaved: gravel, earth 380 km
Ports: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Martinique:Communications
Telephone system: 68,900 telephones; domestic facilities are adequatelocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: interisland microwave radio relay links to Guadeloupe,Dominica, and Saint Lucia; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 10televisions: NA
@Martinique:Defense Forces
Branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
@Mauritania:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenSenegal and Western Sahara
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 1,030,700 sq kmland area: 1,030,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than three times the size of NewMexico
Land boundaries: total 5,074 km, Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km,Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: boundary with Senegal in dispute
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 38% forest and woodland: 5% other: 56%
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosionaggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; verylimited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which isthe only perennial rivernatural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blowsprimarily in March and April; periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River inthe southern part of the country
@Mauritania:People
Population: 2,263,202 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (female 544,674; male 551,099)15-64 years: 49% (female 574,282; male 542,762)65 years and over: 3% (female 28,955; male 21,430) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.17% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 47.32 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 15.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 83.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)