Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.54 years male: 45.66 years female: 51.54 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic divisions: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof(official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1988)total population: 35%male: 46%female: 25%
Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980) by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
@Mauritania:Government
Names:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritaniaconventional short form: Mauritanialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyahlocal short form: Muritaniyah
Digraph: MR
Type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular - region);Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh echChargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarzanote: there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Col. Maaouya OuldSid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); election last held NA January1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - President Col.Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA electedcabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh): elections last held 15 April 1994 (nex to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (56 total, with 17 up for election every two years) PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1 National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) UFD/NE 67, PMR 1, RDU 1, independents 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed 12July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emergingparties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led byPresident Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of DemocraticForces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly forDemocracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social andDemocratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Partyfor Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party(PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center(PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI
Other political or pressure groups: Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
Member of: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU,CAEU, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ismail Ould IYAHI (since 22 September1994)chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS embassy: address NA, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63 FAX: [222] (2) 515-92
Flag: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
@Mauritania:Economy
Overview: A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are gloomy because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $1,110 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1991 est.)
Budget:revenues: $280 millionexpenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $61million (1989 est.)
Exports: $401 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: iron ore, fish and fish productspartners: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg
Imports: $378 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capitalgoodspartners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy
External debt: $1.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for almost 30% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 110,000 kW production: 135 million kWh consumption per capita: 61 kWh (1993)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river valley; crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish products number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $277 million; Arab Development Bank(1991), $20 million
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 125.910 (January 1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993),87.027 (1992), 81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mauritania:Transportation
Railroads:total: 690 km (single track); note - owned and operated by governmentmining companystandard gauge: 690 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:total: 7,525 kmpaved: 1,685 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km;unimproved earth 4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)
Inland waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 28with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
@Mauritania:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; poor system of cable and open-wirelines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radio communicationsstations (improvements being made)local: NAintercity: mostly cable and open wire linesinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 ARABSAT earthstations, with six planned
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Mauritania:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard,National Police, Presidential Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 483,916; males fit for militaryservice 236,323
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 2.7% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Mauritius:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Map references: World
Area:total area: 1,860 sq kmland area: 1,850 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 10.5 times the size ofWashington, DCnote: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (SaintBrandon), and Rodrigues
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago,which includes the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered BritishIndian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter(May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountainsencircling central plateau
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 54% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7%
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: water pollutionnatural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completelysurrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazardsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection
@Mauritius:People
Population: 1,127,068 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (female 152,892; male 158,891)15-64 years: 66% (female 376,049; male 372,910)65 years and over: 6% (female 39,088; male 27,238) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.89% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 18.91 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.84 years male: 66.9 years female: 74.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic divisions: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,Bojpoori
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population: 80%male: 85%female: 75%
Labor force: 335,000by occupation: government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%,manufacturing 22%, other 22%
@Mauritius:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Mauritiusconventional short form: Mauritius
Digraph: MP
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; AgalegaIslands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka,Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements ofEnglish common law in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992); VicePresident Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June1982); Deputy Prime Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September 1990)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president onrecommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be held by 15 September 1996); results - MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%; seats - (66 total) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2), MLP/PMSD 4 (MLP 3, PMSD 1); note - the Supreme Court denied the assignment of 3 seats to the MSM
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: government coalition: Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH; Mauritian Militant Resurgence (RMM), Prem NABABSING (less 10 legislators under the leadership of Paul BERENGER, now voting with the opposition); Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), X. DUVAL; Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR; Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO opposition: Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN; MMM-Berenger Faction, Paul BERENGER; Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio MICHEL
Other political or pressure groups: various labor unions
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anund Priyay NEEWOOR chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [230] 208-9763 through 9767 FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
@Mauritius:Economy
Overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to middle income diversified economy with growing industrial and tourist sectors. For most of the period annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-93 continued strong with solid real growth and low unemployment.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.3 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4.7% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $8,600 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1991 est.)
Budget:revenues: $653 millionexpenditures: $567 million, including capital expenditures of $143million (FY92/93 est.)
Exports: $1.32 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10% partners: EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%
Imports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% partners: EC, US, South Africa, Japan
External debt: $996.8 million (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1992); accounts for 25% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 340,000 kW production: 920 million kWh consumption per capita: 777 kWh (1993)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in sugarcane; other products - tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses, cattle, goats, fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drugtrade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million;Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communistcountries (1970-89), $54 million
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 17.755 (January 1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992), 15.652 (1991), 14.839 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Mauritius:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,800 km paved: 1,640 km unpaved: earth 160 km
Ports: Port Louis
Merchant marine:total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 191,703 GRT/297,347 DWTships by type: bulk 5, cargo 8, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1,passenger-cargo 1
Airports:total: 5with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Mauritius:Communications
Telephone system: over 48,000 telephones; small system with goodservicelocal: NAintercity: utilizes primarily microwave radio relayinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station; new microwavelink to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to several countries
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 4televisions: NA
@Mauritius:Defense Forces
Branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary SpecialMobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National CoastGuard)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 321,947; males fit for militaryservice 163,904 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11.2 million, 0.4%of GDP (FY92/93)
________________________________________________________________________
(territorial collectivity of France)
@Mayotte:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 375 sq kmland area: 375 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 185.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Comoros
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain: generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season international agreements: NA
Note: part of Comoro Archipelago
@Mayotte:People
Population: 97,088 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 49% (female 23,910; male 24,120)15-64 years: 48% (female 22,824; male 23,935)65 years and over: 3% (female 1,165; male 1,134) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.8% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 48.44 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.46 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.27 years male: 56.04 years female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.71 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic divisions: NA
Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA
@Mayotte:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotteconventional short form: Mayotte
Digraph: MF
Type: territorial collectivity of France
Capital: Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)head of government: Prefect Jean-Jacques DERACQ (since NA); Presidentof the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1976)
Legislative branch: unicameralGeneral Council (Conseil General): elections last held NA March 1994(next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(19 total) MPM 12, RPR 4, independents 3French Senate: elections last held on 24 September 1989 (next to beheld NA September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats- (1 total) MPM 1French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993(next to be held NA 1998); results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats -(1 total) UDF-CDS 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM),Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM),Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RPR), MansourKAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center ofSocial Democrats (CDS),
Member of: FZ
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity ofFrance)
US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity ofFrance)
Flag: the flag of France is used
@Mayotte:Economy
Overview: Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $54 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1985 est.)
Exports: $4 million (f.o.b., 1984)commodities: ylang-ylang, vanillapartners: France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%
Imports: $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984)commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice,clothing, flourpartners: France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: NA kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh
Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Agriculture: most important sector; provides all export earnings;crops - vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share offood needs
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1970-89), $402 million
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
@Mayotte:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 42 km paved: bituminous 18 km unpaved: 24 km
Ports: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Mayotte:Communications
Telephone system: 450 telephones; small system administered by FrenchDepartment of Posts and Telecommunicationslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: radio relay and high-frequency radio communications forlinks to Comoros and international communications
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Mayotte:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
@Mexico:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf ofMexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North PacificOcean, between Guatamala and the US
Map references: North America
Area:total area: 1,972,550 sq kmland area: 1,923,040 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total 4,538 km, Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US3,326 km
Coastline: 9,330 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: claims Clipperton Island (French possession)
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus,and desert
Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 39% forest and woodland: 24% other: 24%
Irrigated land: 51,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted innorth, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast;raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas;deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious airpollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexicobordernatural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, destructiveearthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf andCaribbean coastsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -Desertification
Note: strategic location on southern border of US
@Mexico:People
Population: 93,985,848 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37% (female 17,028,091; male 17,631,110)15-64 years: 59% (female 28,429,663; male 26,866,886)65 years and over: 4% (female 2,184,998; male 1,845,100) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 1.9% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 26.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.34 years male: 69.74 years female: 77.11 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican
Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%, other 1%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population: 88%male: 90%female: 85%
Labor force: 26.2 million (1990)by occupation: services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, andfishing 28%, commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%,transportation 4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%
@Mexico:Government
Names:conventional long form: United Mexican Statesconventional short form: Mexicolocal long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanoslocal short form: Mexico
Digraph: MX
Type: federal republic operating under a centralized government
Capital: Mexico
Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California,Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila deZaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero,Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, NuevoLeon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San LuisPotosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala,Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution: 5 February 1917
Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Poncede Leon (since 1 December 1994); election last held on 21 August 1994(next to be held NA); results - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI)50.18%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ deCevallos (PAN) 26.69%; other 6.049%cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la Union)
Senate (Camara de Senadores): elections last held on 21 August 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats in full Senate - (128 total; Senate expanded from 64 seats at the last election) PRI 93, PRD 25, PAN 10 Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held on 24 August 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (500 total) PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PFCRN 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) InstitutionalRevolutionary Party (PRI), Maria de los Angeles MORENO; NationalAction Party (PAN), Carlos CASTILLO; Popular Socialist Party (PPS),Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD),Porfirio MUNOZ Ledo; Cardenist Front for the National ReconstructionParty (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Authentic Party of theMexican Revolution (PARM), Rosa Maria MARTINEZ Denagri; DemocraticForum Party (PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Green Ecologist Party(PVEM), Jorge GONZALEZ Torres
Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM); Confederation of IndustrialChambers (CONCAMIN); Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce(CONCANACO); National Peasant Confederation (CNC); RevolutionaryWorkers Party (PRT); Revolutionary Confederation of Workers andPeasants (CROC); Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM);Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX);National Chamber of Transformation Industries (CANACINTRA);Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations (COECE);Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services (FESEBES)
Member of: AG (observer), APEC, BCIE, CARICOM (observer), CCC, CDB,CG, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, GATT, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECD, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus SILVA HERZOG Flores chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Loredo, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador James R. JONESembassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,Distrito Federalmailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087telephone: [52] (5) 211-0042FAX: [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuanaconsulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band
@Mexico:Economy
Overview: Mexico, under the guidance of new President Ernesto ZEDILLO, entered 1995 in the midst of a severe financial crisis. Mexico's membership in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Canada, its solid record of economic reforms, and its strong growth in the second and third quarters of 1994 - at an annual rate of 3.8% and 4.5% respectively - seemed to augur bright prospects for 1995. However, an overvalued exchange rate and widening current account deficits created an imbalance that ultimately proved unsustainable. To finance the trade gap, Mexico City had become increasingly reliant on volatile portfolio investment. A series of political shocks in 1994 - an uprising in the southern state of Chiapas, the assassination of a presidential candidate, several high profile kidnappings, the killing of a second high-level political figure, and renewed threats from the Chiapas rebels - combined with rising international interest rates and concerns of a devaluation to undermine investor confidence and prompt massive outflows of capital. The dwindling of foreign exchange reserves, which the central bank had been using to defend the currency, forced the new administration to change the exchange rate policy and allow the currency to float freely in the last days of 1994. The adjustment roiled Mexican financial markets, leading to a 30% to 40% weakening of the peso relative to the dollar. ZEDILLO announced an emergency economic program that included federal budget cuts and plans for more privatizations, but it failed to restore investor confidence quickly. While the devaluation is likely to help Mexican exporters, whose products are now cheaper, it also raises the specter of an inflationary spiral if domestic producers increase their prices and workers demand wage hikes. Although strong economic fundamentals bode well for Mexico's longer-term outlook, prospects for solid growth and low inflation have deteriorated considerably, at least through 1995.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $728.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $7,900 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $96.99 billion (1994 est.)expenditures: $96.51 billion (1994 est.), including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Exports: $60.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.), includes in-bondindustriescommodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motorvehicles, cotton, consumer electronicspartners: US 82%, Japan 1.4%, EC 5% (1993 est.)
Imports: $79.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.), includes in-bondindustriescommodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products, agriculturalmachinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair partsfor motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft partspartners: US 74%, Japan 4.7%, EC 11% (1993 est.)
External debt: $128 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 28,780,000 kW production: 122 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,239 kWh (1993)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP; large number of small farms at subsistence level; major food crops - corn, wheat, rice, beans; cash crops - cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of government eradication program; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine and marijuana from South America; increasingly involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.1 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $7.7 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $110 million
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 6.736 (average in March 1995), 5.5133 (January 1995), 3.3751 (1994), 3.1156 (1993), 3,094.9 (1992), 3,018.4 (1991), 2,812.6 (1990) note: the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new peso = 1,000 old pesos
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mexico:Transportation
Railroads:total: 24,500 kmstandard gauge: 24,410 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 93 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:total: 242,300 kmpaved: 84,800 km (including 3,166 km of expressways)unpaved: gravel and earth 157,500 km
Inland waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; naturalgas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz,Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Tampico,Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:total: 59 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 949,271 GRT/1,340,595 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, container 7,liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:total: 2,055with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 75with paved runways under 914 m: 1,262with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 60with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 539
@Mexico:Communications
Telephone system: 6,410,000 telephones; highly developed system withextensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990local: adequate phone service for business and government, but, at adensity of less than 7 telephones/100 persons, the population ispoorly servedintercity: includes 120 domestic satellite terminals and an extensivenetwork of microwave radio relay linksinternational: 5 INTELSAT (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earthstations; connected into Central America Microwave System; launchedSolidarity I satellite in November 1993
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 679, FM 0, shortwave 22radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 238televisions: NA
@Mexico:Defense Forces
Branches: National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy (includes Marines)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 23,354,445; males fit for military service 17,029,788; males reach military age (18) annually 1,054,513 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 702 sq kmland area: 702 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than four times the size ofWashington, DCnote: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: typhoons (June to December)international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Lawof the Sea
Note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
@Micronesia, Federated States Of:People
Population: 122,950 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.35% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 28.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.81 years male: 65.84 years female: 69.81 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%
Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian,Yapese, Kosrean
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population: 89%male: 91%female: 88%
Labor force: NAby occupation: two-thirds are government employeesnote: 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65
@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Government
Names:conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesiaconventional short form: noneformer: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory ofthe Pacific Islands)
Abbreviation: FSM
Digraph: FM
Type: constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
Capital: Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in thePalikir valley
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UNTrusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia,10 May (1979)
Constitution: 10 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 Bailey OLTER (since21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991); electionlast held 11 May 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - BaileyOLTER elected president; Jacob NENA elected vice-presidentcabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress: elections last held 5 March 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
Member of: AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC,SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador March Fong EUembassy: address NA, Koloniamailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States ofMicronesia 96941telephone: [691] 320-2187FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; thestars are arranged in a diamond pattern
@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Economy
Overview: Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $160 million (1990est.)note: GDP was supplemented by approximately $100 million in grant aidin 1990
National product real growth rate: 4% (1994)
National product per capita: $1,500 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Budget:revenues: $45 millionexpenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY94/95 est.)
Exports: $3.2 million (f.o.b., 1990)commodities: fish, copra, bananas, black pepperpartners: Japan, US
Imports: $91.2 million (c.i.f., 1990)commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,beveragespartners: US, Japan, Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 18,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 380 kWh (1990)
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Agriculture: mainly a subsistence economy; black pepper; tropicalfruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs,chickens
Economic aid:recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US willprovide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 226 km paved: 39 km (on major islands) unpaved: stone, coral, laterite 187 km
Ports: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 6with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Communications
Telephone system: 960 telephones on Kolonia and Truklocal: NAintercity: islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly forgovernment purposesinternational: 4 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1radios: 16,000
Television:broadcast stations: 6televisions: 1,125 (1987 est.)
@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
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(territory of the US)
@Midway Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 5.2 sq kmland area: 5.2 sq kmcomparative area: about 9 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: a coral atoll; closed to the public
@Midway Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US military personnel (July 1995 est.)
@Midway Islands:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Midway Islands
Digraph: MQ
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993 and is currently being transferred from Pacific Fleet to Naval Facilities Engineering Command via a Memorandum of Understanding
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the US flag is used
@Midway Islands:Economy
Overview: The economy is based on providing support services for US naval operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity: supplied by US Military
@Midway Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 32 km paved: NA
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports: Sand Island
Airports:total: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1