Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Marshall Islands:Communications
Telephones: 800 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: telex services domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Marshall Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports and harbors: Majuro
Merchant marine: total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,040,788 GRT/6,780,092 DWT ships by type: bulk carrier 44, cargo 5, combination ore/oil 1, container 21, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 16 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island ______________________________________________________________________
(overseas department of France)
@Martinique:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total : 1,100 sq km land: 1,060 sq km water: 40 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than six times the size ofWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 17% forests and woodland: 44% other : 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
@Martinique:People
Population: 402,984 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 46,906; female 45,800) 15-64 years: 67% (male 133,500; female 136,773) 65 years and over : 10% (male 16,890; female 23,115) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 16.69 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.88 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.98 years male: 76.21 years female: 81.83 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural) adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%,East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 92% female: 93% (1982 est.)
@Martinique:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Martinique conventional short form: Martinique local long form : Departement de la Martinique local short form: Martinique
Data code: MB
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA) head of government : President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Assembly - last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2 note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 3, PS 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [AndreLESUEUR]; Union for a Martinique of Progress or UMP; MartiniqueProgressive Party or PPM [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Socialist Federation ofMartinique or FSM [Jean CRUSOL]; Martinique Communist Party or PCM[George ERICHOT]; Martinique Patriots or PM; Union for FrenchDemocracy or UDF [Miguel LAVENTURE]; Martinique Independence Movementor MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Republican Party or PR [Jean BAILLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group orGAP; Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group or GRS; CaribbeanRevolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers orCSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers andPeasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste or PMS; Association for theProtection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.95 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 3.9% (1990)
Labor force: total: 160,000 by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 23.5% (1993)
Budget: revenues: $620 million expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $170 million (1992)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for rum
Exports: total value: $220 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
Imports: total value : $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
Debt - external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: substantial annual French aid
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Martinique:Communications
Telephones: 209,672 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequatedomestic: NAinternational: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, andSaint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 74,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
@Martinique:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,724 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1994)
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________
@Mauritania:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenSenegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total : 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of NewMexico
Land boundaries:total: 5,074 kmborder countries : Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland : 4% other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified : none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: most of the population concentrated along theSenegal River in the southern part of the country
@Mauritania:People
Population: 2,411,317 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 49% (male 586,972; female 580,408) 15-64 years: 49% (male 579,071; female 612,343) 65 years and over : 2% (male 22,098; female 30,425) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.17% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 46.55 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 14.82 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 80 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.49 years male : 46.52 years female: 52.58 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
@Mauritania:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah
Data code: MR
Government type: republic
National 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, and state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 2 January 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 12 April 1996 (next to be held NA 1998); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
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; Action for Change (AC), Messoud OuldBOULKHEIR
Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bilal Ould WERZEG chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US: 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 description: 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
Economy
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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1995)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1995)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 31% services: 44% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6.5% (1995)
Labor force: total: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980) by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1991 est.)
Budget: revenues: $256 million expenditures : $269 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1995)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)
Electricity - capacity: 105,000 kW (1991)
Electricity - production: 135 million kWh (1991)
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep; fish products
Exports: total value: $483 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold partners : Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg
Imports: total value: $365 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods partners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy
Debt - external: $2.3 billion (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 141.230 (December 1996), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993), 87.027 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mauritania:Communications
Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made) domestic : mostly cable and open-wire lines international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 300,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 50,000 (1992 est.)
@Mauritania:Transportation
Railways: total: 704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company standard gauge : 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 7,600 km paved: 851 km unpaved: 6,749 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 24 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 518,212 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 253,047 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $33 million (1995)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Mauritius:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: World
Area: total: 1,860 sq km land: 1,850 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
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 mountains encircling central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point : Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire 828 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 49% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 22% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues: water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Mauritius:People
Population: 1,154,272 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 155,779; female 151,964) 15-64 years : 67% (male 387,406; female 391,167) 65 years and over: 6% (male 27,719; female 40,237) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.21% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 18.81 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.71 years male: 66.88 years female : 74.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,Bojpoori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male : 87.1% female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
@Mauritius:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form : Mauritius
Data code: MP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National 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) and Vice President Rabindranath GHURBURRUN (since 1 July 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27 December 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held NA June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly election results : Cassam UTEEM elected president and Rabindranath GHURBURRUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62 popularly elected, 4 appointed; members serve five-year terms); note - the election commission appoints four members from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/RMM 20%, other 15%; seats by party - MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1, Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:government coalition : MLP/MMM alliance, consisting of Mauritian LaborParty or MLP [Navin RAMGOOLAM] and Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM[Paul BERENGER]opposition: MSM/MSR alliance consisting of the Militant SocialistMovement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] and the Mauritian MilitantRenaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING]; Organization of thePeople of Rodrigues or OPR [Louis Serge CLAIR]; Mauritius SocialDemocrat Party or PMSD [Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Hizbullah [Imam MustaphaBEEHARRY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL (8 July 1996) embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: International Mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US Mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone : [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767 FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
Economy
Economy - overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial services, 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 25% 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 1991-96 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,300 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.3% industry : 31.6% services: 59.1% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6% (1995)
Labor force: total : 479,500 (1993 est.) by occupation: construction and industry 37%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 15%, trade, restaurants, hotels 14%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3%
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1991 est.)
Budget: revenues: $732 million expenditures: $550 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1992)
Electricity - capacity: 235,000 kW (1991)
Electricity - production: 425 million kWh (1991)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 393 kWh (1991 est.)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: total value: $1.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: clothing and textiles 67%, sugar 25% partners: UK 34%, France 21%, US 15%, Germany 6%, Italy 4%
Imports: total value: $1.98 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities : manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% partners: France 20%, India 8%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 6%, Germany 5%
Debt - external: $996.8 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 18.528 (January 1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Mauritius:Communications
Telephones: 65,000 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 395,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.) note: two new subscription channels began operation in 1995
Televisions: 151,096 (1991 est.)
@Mauritius:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,877 km paved: 1,746 km (including 29 km of expressways) unpaved : 131 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 221,147 GRT/309,513 DWT ships by type : bulk 1, cargo 9, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 4 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitarySpecial Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, andNational Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 333,029 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 169,129 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $11.2 million (FY92/93)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.4% (FY92/93)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims the island of Diego Garcia inUK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claimsFrench-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems ______________________________________________________________________
(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
Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total : 375 sq km land: 375 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 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
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other : NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: part of Comoro Archipelago
@Mayotte:People
Population: 104,715 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 26,101; female 25,877) 15-64 years: 48% (male 25,684; female 24,661) 65 years and over: 2% (male 1,171; female 1,221) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.76% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 47.42 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 9.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population : 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 59.14 years male: 56.82 years female: 61.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.56 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups: NA
Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy: NA
@Mayotte:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte
Data code: MF
Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
National 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 of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1977) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 1997) election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPM 12, RPR 4, independents 3 note: Mayotte elects 1 member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPM 1; Mayotte also elects 1 member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held as a special election on 25 May - 1 June 1997); results - percent of vote by party - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats by party - DF-CDS 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM[Younoussa BAMANA]; Mahoran Rally for the Republic or RPR [SoibahadineIbrahim RAMADAM]; Democratic Front or Front Democrate [YoussoufMOUSSA]; Association for French Mayotte or Association Pour MayotteFrancaise [Didier BEOUTIS]
International organization participation: FZ
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54 million (1993 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $NA expenditures: $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
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra
Exports: total value: $3.64 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra partners : France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Imports: total value: $131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: building materials, machinery and transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour partners : France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 20%
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note : exhaustive French financial assistance
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mayotte:Communications
Telephones: 450
Telephone system: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic : NA international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications 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.)
@Mayotte:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Comoros ______________________________________________________________________
@Mexico:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf ofMexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North PacificOcean, between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 1,972,550 sq km land: 1,923,040 sq km water : 49,510 sq km
Area - comparative: 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 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert
Elevation extremes: 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% permanent pastures: 39% forests and woodland: 26% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 61,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and Caribbean coasts
Environment - current issues: natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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 : none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location on southern border of US
@Mexico:People
Population: 97,563,374 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 36% (male 17,849,251; female 17,236,639) 15-64 years: 60% (male 28,241,361; female 29,883,766) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,982,329; female 2,370,028) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.84% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 25.8 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.52 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population : 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 70.39 years female: 77.78 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.97 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.6% male : 91.8% female: 87.4% (1995 est.)
@Mexico:Government
Country name: conventional long form : United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico
Data code: MX
Government type: federal republic operating under a centralized government
National 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: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon elected president; percent of vote - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.049%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats, expanded from 64 seats at the last election; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats); Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 August 1994 (next to be held 6 July 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party in expanded Senate - PRI 93, PRD 25, PAN 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PT 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate
Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) InstitutionalRevolutionary Party (PRI), Humberto ROQUE Villanueva; National ActionParty (PAN), Felipe CALDERON Hinojosa; Popular Socialist Party (PPS),Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), AndresManuel LOPEZ Obrador; 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
Political pressure groups and leaders: 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,BIS (pending member), 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, UNU, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the 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), Laredo, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James R. JONES embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087 telephone : [52] (5) 211-0042 FAX: [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373 consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo
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
Economy
Economy - overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The Mexican economy enters 1997 in the midst of an economic recovery that began to pick up steam in mid-1996. After plummeting more than 6% in 1995 in the aftermath of the peso crisis, economic activity in Mexico grew by an estimated 5.1% in 1996. Many private forecasters who had scoffed at the ZEDILLO administration's 3% growth target for 1996 are now projecting economic expansion of 4-5% for 1997. Strong export growth continues to drive the economy; total exports were up roughly 16% in 1996 compared to 1995. By the end of 1996, however, Mexican government statistics showed that increased domestic consumption and investment spending were also beginning to contribute to the recovery. Despite these positive economic trends, structural problems and vulnerabilities remain. Low savings rates will keep Mexico dependent on foreign capital; national savings as a share of GDP plunged from a peak of 25% in 1983 to less than 14% in 1994. Additionally, Mexico City is still struggling to bail out a banking sector burdened with bad debts. Mexico's international trade continues to be highly dependent on the US market. The US/Mexico trade balance has shifted over the last two years because of the peso's rapid devaluation in late 1994, which made Mexican exports much more attractive. In 1995 and 1996, the US ran trade deficits with Mexico, a large turnaround from 1994's trade surplus of about $1.3 billion.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $777.3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.1% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,100 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 8% industry: 28% services: 63% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 28% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 36.3 million (November 1996) 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% (1996 est.) plus considerable underemployment
Budget: revenues: $73.8 billion expenditures: $74 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 11% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 40.502 million kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 142.344 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,206 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports: total value: $95 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.), includes in-bond industries commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics partners: US 80%, Canada 5.2%, Japan 1.8% (1996 est.)