Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy ———-
Economic 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54 million (1993 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $600 (1993 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1985 est.)
Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: NA kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture: vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra
Exports: $2.9 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Imports: $87.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice,clothing, flourpartners: France 63%, South Africa 11%, Thailand 9%, Singapore
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Ports: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 450
Telephone system: small system administered by French Departmentof Posts and Telecommunicationsdomestic: NAinternational: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephonecommunications to Comoros and other international connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 30,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 3,500 (1994 est.)
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Mexico ———
Map —-
Location: 23 00 N, 102 00 W — Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Flag ——
Description: 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
Geography ————-
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
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 border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 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 (Frenchpossession)
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
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 extremesoutheast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers inurban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centersalong US-Mexico bordernatural 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,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Geographic note: strategic location on southern border of US
People ———
Population: 95,772,462 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (male 17,732,725; female 17,125,562)15-64 years: 59% (male 27,562,285; female 29,165,138)65 years and over: 5% (male 1,911,968; female 2,274,784) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 1.87% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 26.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.58 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.67 years male: 70.07 years female: 77.45 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mexican(s)adjective: Mexican
Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian orpredominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian9%, other 1%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 89.6%male: 91.8%female: 87.4%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: United Mexican Statesconventional short form: Mexicolocal long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanoslocal short form: Mexico
Data code: MX
Type of government: federal republic operating under a centralized government
Capital: Mexico
Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular - estado)and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, BajaCalifornia, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua,Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango,Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo,Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga,Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, 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 notenforced)
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLOPonce de Leon (since 1 December 1994) was elected for a six-yearterm by popular vote; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to beheld NA 2000); 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 was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de laUnion)Senate (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 21 August 1994(next to be held NA July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats); 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 10Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 24August 1994 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - percent ofvote by party NA; seats - (500 total) PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PT 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema deJusticia), judges are appointed by the president with consent of theSenate
Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) InstitutionalRevolutionary Party (PRI), Santiago ONATE Laborde; National ActionParty (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; Democratic Forum Party(PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Green Ecologist Party (PVEM),Jorge GONZALEZ Torres; Workers Party (PT), Alberto ANYA Gutierrez
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)
International organization participation: AG (observer), APEC,BCIE, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11,G-15, G-19, G-24, 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,OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNU, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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, Phoenix, 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, 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
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Mexico entered 1996 on the heels of its worst recession since the 1930s. Economic activity contracted about 7% in 1995 in the aftermath of the peso devaluation in late 1994. Although Mexico City was able to correct imbalances in its external accounts, meet international payments obligations, and dramatically improve its trade balance in 1995, the domestic economy suffered harshly as the ZEDILLO administration stuck to a strict austerity program. The tight monetary and fiscal policies helped prevent spiraling inflation and kept government spending under control but drove interest rates to record heights, making it difficult for most Mexicans to service their debts. At the same time, consumers' reduced purchasing power made buying even necessities difficult for some. Many small- and medium-sized firms were unable to survive under the twin burdens of high interest rates and depressed domestic demand for their goods. Business closures and cutbacks fueled unemployment; more than 1 million Mexicans lost their jobs. According to the government and most private sector observers, the recession bottomed out in the third quarter of 1995, but the difficult year fed growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party, led to a crisis of confidence in President ZEDILLO'S ability to lead, and spurred increased tensions within the ruling party. While the ZEDILLO administration is optimistic that 1996 will bring some recovery - the government is forecasting 3% growth and 21% inflation - Mexico will face several key vulnerabilities, including the financial health of the banking sector, shaky investor confidence that could be easily jarred by more political or economic shocks, and increasingly emboldened dissenters within the ruling party.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $721.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -6.9% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $7,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 8.5% industry: 28.4% services: 63.1%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 52% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 33.6 million (1994) by occupation: services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 28%, commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%, transportation 4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%
Unemployment rate: 10% (1995 est.) plus considerableunderemployment
Budget:revenues: $56 billion (1995 est.)expenditures: $54 billion (1995 est.), including capitalexpenditures of $NA
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -7.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 28,780,000 kW production: 122 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,239 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of increasing government eradication; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; increasingly involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine
Exports: $80 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.), includes in-bondindustriescommodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motorvehicles, cotton, consumer electronicspartners: US 85%, Japan 1.6%, EU 4.6% (1994 est.)
Imports: $72 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.), includes in-bondindustriescommodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products,agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts forassembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraftpartspartners: US 69%, Japan 6%, EU 12% (1994 est.)
External debt: $155 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $85 million (1993)note: US commitments, (Emergency Stabilization Fund), $13.5 billion;IMF, $13 billion (1995-96)
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 7.6647 (December 1995), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994), 3.1156 (1993), 3,094.9 (1992), 3,018.4 (1991) note: the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new peso = 1,000 old pesos
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 20,567 kmstandard gauge: 20,477 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)
Highways:total: 245,433 kmpaved: 88,601 km (including 4,286 km of expressways)unpaved: 156,832 km (1993 est.)
Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km;natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, LaPaz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz,Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 875,314 GRT/1,245,932DWTships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4, liquefiedgas tanker 7, oil tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-offcargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 1,411with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 88with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 66with paved runways under 914 m: 815with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 50with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 358 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990 domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in November 1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 679, FM 0, shortwave 22
Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 238
Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy(includes Naval Air and Marines)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 23,945,962 males fit for military service: 17,451,706 males reach military age (18) annually: 1,057,538 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.24 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1996)
======================================================================
@Micronesia, Federated States of ———————————————-
Map —-
Location: 6 55 N, 158 15 E — Oceania, island group in the NorthPacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii toIndonesia
Flag ——
Description: light blue with four white five-pointed starscentered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, aboutthree-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 702 sq kmland area: 702 sq kmcomparative area: four times the size of Washington, DCnote: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands,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 islandsto low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, andTruklowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Totolom 791 m
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,Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
Geographic note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People ———
Population: 125,377 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: 35% (est.) 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.34% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: NA male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: NA male(s)/female15-64 years: NA male(s)/female65 years and over: NA male(s)/femaleall ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 35.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.99 years male: 66.02 years female: 69.99 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (1996 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 est.)total population: 89%male: 91%female: 88%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesiaconventional short form: noneformer: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory ofthe Pacific Islands)abbreviation: FSM
Data code: FM
Type of government: constitutional government in free associationwith the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3November 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 ofMicronesia, 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) and Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991) wereelected by the Congress from among the four Senators-at-Large;election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999);results - Bailey OLTER reelected to a second term as president;Jacob NENA reelected to a second term as vice presidentcabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress: elections last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO,IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO,WMO
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 EU embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; thestars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy ———-
Economic 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $205 million (1994 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
GDP real growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,700 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1994 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Budget:revenues: $45 millionexpenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY94/95 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft itemsfrom shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 18,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 380 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Exports: $29.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam
Imports: $141.1 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,beveragespartners: US, Japan, Australia
External debt: $129 million
Economic aid:recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the USwill provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 226 km paved: 39 km unpaved: 187 km
Ports: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 5with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 960
Telephone system:domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (usedmostly for government purposes)international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6
Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Midway Islands ———————
(territory of the US)
Map —-
Location: 28 13 N, 177 22 W — Oceania, atoll in the North PacificOcean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Flag ——
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, aboutone-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 5.2 sq kmland area: 5.2 sq kmcomparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall inWashington, DCnote: 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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 4 m
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
Geographic note: a coral atoll; closed to the public
People ———
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 USmilitary personnel (July 1995 est.)
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Data code: MQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US formerly 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 undergoing transfer of accountability and responsibility to the US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the flag of the US is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy is based on providing support services for remaining activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity: supplied by US Military
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 32 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports: Sand Island
Airports:total: 2with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Moldova ———-
Map —-
Location: 47 00 N, 29 00 E — Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Flag ——
Description: same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total area: 33,700 sq kmland area: 33,700 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii
Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine - including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land use:arable land: 50%permanent crops: 13%meadows and pastures: 9%forest and woodland: 0%other: 28%
Irrigated land: 2,920 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, includingbanned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil andgroundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methodsnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change;signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 4,463,847 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 592,245; female 573,452)15-64 years: 64% (male 1,381,017; female 1,496,428)65 years and over: 10% (male 155,908; female 264,797) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.18% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.91 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.14 years male: 60.77 years female: 69.73 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic divisions: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%,Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7%(1989 figures)note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in theDniester region and Gagauz Turks in the south
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991) note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian
Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanianlanguage), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)total population: 96%male: 99%female: 94%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: none former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Data code: MD
Type of government: republic
Capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new constitution in 1994
Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991
Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces oldSoviet constitution of 1979
Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and OSCE documents
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mircea SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990) waselected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - MirceaSNEGUR ran unopposed and won 98.17% of vote; note - President SNEGURwas named executive president by the Supreme Soviet on 3 September1990 and was confirmed by popular election on 8 December 1991head of government: Prime Minister Andrei SANGHELI (since 1 July1992; reappointed 5 April 1994 after elections for new legislature)was appointed by Parliament; First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU(since NA April 1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president onrecommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament: elections last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (104 total)PDAM 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and IntellectualsBloc 11, FPCDM 9; note - seats as of June-July 1995 were as follows:PDAM 45, PSM/UN 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, PRCM 11,FPCDM 9note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Popular Front(FPCDM - formerly Moldovan Popular Front), Iurie ROSCA, chairman;Socialist Unity Faction (US) of the Socialist Party of Moldova(PSM), Vladimir SOLONARI, leader; Social Democratic Party of Moldova(PSDM), Anatol TARAN, chairman; Agrarian Democratic Party of Moldova(PDAM), Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc,Mihai GHIMPU, leader; Liberal Party of Modova (PLM), Mircea RUSU,chairman; Socialist Party of Moldova (PSM), Valeriu SENIC and VictorMOREV, cochairmen; Party of Rivival and Conciliation of Moldova(PRCM), Mircea SNEGUR, chairman; Moldovan Party of Democratic Forces(PFDM), Valeriu MATEI, chairman; Party for Social Progress (PPSM),Eugen SOBOR, chairman; Communist Party (PCM), Vladimir VORONIN,first chairman; Yedinstvo Intermovement, Vladimir SOLONARI,chairman, note - this party may not be in existence now
Other political or pressure groups: United Council of Labor Collectives (UCLC), Igor SMIRNOV, chairman; The Ecology Movement of Moldova (EMM), G. MALARCHUK, chairman; The Christian Democratic League of Women of Moldova (CDLWM), L. LARI, chairman; National Christian Party of Moldova (NCPM), D. TODIKE, M. BARAGA, V. NIKU, leaders; The Peoples Movement Gagauz Khalky (GKh), S. GULGAR, leader; The Democratic Party of Gagauzia (DPG), G. SAVOSTIN, chairman; The Alliance of Working People of Moldova (AWPM), G. POLOGOV, president; Christian Alliance for Greater Romania; Stefan the Great Movement; Liberal Convention of Moldova; Association of Victims of Repression; Christian Democratic Youth League
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS,EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE,PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae TAUchancery: Suites 329, 333, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 783-3012FAX: [1] (202) 783-3342
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John Todd STEWART embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevich #103, Chisinau 277014 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72 FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44
Flag: same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas. Energy shortages have contributed to sharp production declines since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has been making steady progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda, and the IMF has called Moldova a model for the region. As part of its reform efforts, Chisinau has introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed their steady privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. Chisinau appears strongly committed to continuing these reforms in 1996. Published estimates probably overstated the decline in output in 1991-94; the $2,310 per capita figure for GDP thus is a minimum estimate.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (1995 estimate extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,310 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 36% services: 31% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 2.03 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture 34.4%, industry 20.1%, other 45.5% (1985 figures)
Unemployment rate: 1.2% (includes only officially registeredunemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NAnote: budget deficit for 1995 approximately 5% of GDP
Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -6% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 3,000,000 kW production: 8.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,830 kWh (1994)
Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; meat, milk
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Exports: $720 million (1995)commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear,machinery, chemicalspartners: Russia, Kazakstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany
Imports: $822 million (1995)commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, foodstuffs,automobiles, and other consumer durablespartners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany
External debt: $550 million (of which $250 million to Russia)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)note: commitments, $1,335 million ($500 million disbursements),1992-95
Currency: the leu (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993
Exchange rates: lei per US$1 - 4.5460 (January 1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994), 3.6400 (1993), 0.4145 (1992), 0.0017 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 1,328 km broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways: total: 14,508 km paved: 12,346 km unpaved: 2,162 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 424 km (1994)
Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
Ports: none
Airports:total: 26with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 3with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5with unpaved runways under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 577,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunication system not well developed;215,000 unsatisfied requests for telephone service (1991 est.)domestic: NAinternational: international connections to other former Sovietrepublics by landline and microwave radio relay through Ukraine andto other countries by leased connections to the Moscow internationalgateway switch; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave NA (1994)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one national and one private) (1995)
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, RepublicSecurity Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,125,538 males fit for military service: 888,757 males reach military age (18) annually: 37,183 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 203 million lei, 2.5% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Monaco ———
Map —-
Location: 43 44 N, 7 24 E — Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Flag ——
Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
Geography ————-
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on thesouthern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 1.9 sq kmland area: 1.9 sq kmcomparative area: about three times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border country: France 4.4 km
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Lawof the Sea
Geographic note: second smallest independent state in world (afterHoly See); almost entirely urban
People ———
Population: 31,719 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 2,737; female 2,685)15-64 years: 63% (male 9,746; female 10,318)65 years and over: 20% (male 2,288; female 3,945) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.59% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.66 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 12.11 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.87 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.07 years male: 74.38 years female: 81.93 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Monacan(s) or Monegasque(s) adjective: Monacan or Monegasque
Ethnic divisions: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: NA
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Principality of Monacoconventional short form: Monacolocal long form: Principaute de Monacolocal short form: Monaco
Data code: MN
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Monaco
Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Independence: 1419 (rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday: National Day, 19 November
Constitution: 17 December 1962
Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since NA November 1949) is ahereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre LouisPierre (born 14 March 1958)head of government: Minister of State Jaques DUPONT (since NA 1995)was appointed by the prince from a list of three candidatespresented by the French Governmentcabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the prince
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council (Conseil National): elections last held 24 and 31 January 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Campora List 15, Medecin List 2, independent 1