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: 98,552,776 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 17,883,007; female 17,193,082) 15-64 years: 60% (male 28,932,074; female 30,511,443) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,808,581; female 2,224,589) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.77% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 25.49 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.91 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.63 years male: 68.62 years female: 74.79 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.91 children born/woman (1998 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, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages
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 with consent of the Senate elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held in July or August 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; half are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and half are allocated or on basis of each party's popular vote) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200 seats are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote, also for a three-year term) elections: Senate-last held 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats; Chamber of Deputies-last held 6 July 1997 (the next legislative elections will coincide with the presidential election in July or August 2000) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PRI 77, PAN 33, PRD 16, PVEM 1, PT 1; note-the distribution of seats as of May 1998 is as follows-PRI 77, PAN 31, PRD 15, PT 1, independents 4; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party-PRI 39%, PAN 27%, PRD 26%; seats by party-PRI 239, PRD 125, PAN 121, PVEM 8, PT 7; note-the distribution of seats as of May 1998 is as follows-PRI 237, PRD 127, PAN 120, PT 7, PVEM 6, independents 3
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), Mariano PALACIOS Alocer; National ActionParty (PAN), Felipe CALDERON Hinojosa; Party of the DemocraticRevolution (PRD), Andres Manuel LOPEZ Obrador; Cardenist Front for theNational Reconstruction Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes;Democratic Forum Party (PFD), Rosalia RAMIREZ; Mexican Green EcologistParty (PVEM), Jorge GONZALEZ Torres; Workers Party (PT), Alberto ANAYAGutierrez
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 REYES HEROLES Gonzalez Garza chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Boston, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Laredo, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge Charles BRAYSHAW 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
@Mexico: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 number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to fewer than 200 in 1998. The ZEDILLO administration is privatizing and expanding competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. The Mexican economy is in its third year of recovery from the recession of 1995, which was touched off by a financial crisis. After declining 6.2% in 1995, real GDP grew 5.1% in 1996 and 7.3% in 1997 and is expected to rise by 5% in 1998. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996 and 1997. Private consumption spending in 1998 probably will rise by at least 4% on the strength of increased employment and rising real wages, and the troubled banking sector is likely to increase lending for the first time in three years. Despite the spillover from the Asian crisis, the medium-term outlook for Mexico remains positive, with government and private sector economists projecting average annual growth of 4% to 5% through the year 2000. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income distribution is very unequal with the top 20% of income earners accounting for 55% of income. The inefficient agricultural sector employs 20% to 25% of the labor force but produces only 8% of GDP. Trade with the United States and Canada has nearly doubled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is pursuing additional trade agreements with most countries in Latin America and with the European Union to lessen its dependence on the United States, which accounts for 80% of Mexico's total trade.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$694.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 7.3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$7,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 33% services: 59% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 36.6 million (1996) by occupation: services 28.8%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 21.8%, commerce 17.1%, manufacturing 16.1%, construction 5.2%, public administration and national defense 4.4%, transportation and communications 4.1%
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1997 est.) urban; plus considerable underemployment
Budget: revenues: $92 billion expenditures: $94 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 35.466 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 145.199 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,533 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports: total value: $110.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.), includes in-bond industries commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics partners: US 85%, Canada 2.1%, Japan 1%, Spain 1%, Chile 1%, Brazil 1% (1997 est.)
Imports: total value: $109.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.), includes in-bond industries commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts partners: US 74.8%, Japan 4.1%, Germany 3.5%, Canada 1.8%, South Korea 1.4%, Italy 1.2%, France 1.1% (1997 est.)
Debt-external: $162 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $85 million (1993)
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1-8.1798 (January 1998), 7.9141 (1997), 7.5994(1996), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994), 3.1156 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened to competition January 1997 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 800, FM 500, shortwave 17
Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 238
Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)
@Mexico:Transportation
Railways: total: 20,567 km standard gauge: 20,477 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified) narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 252,000 km paved: 94,248 km (including 6,740 km of expressways) unpaved: 157,752 km (1996 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 and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada,Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso,Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine: total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 899,224 GRT/1,312,505 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 29, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 1,810 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 231 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 94 914 to 1,523 m: 78 under 914 m: 25 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1,579 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 472 under 914 m: 1,040 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Mexico:Military
Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army and AirForce), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 25,114,890 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 18,280,523 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 1,077,800 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $2.2 billion (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.3% (1997)
@Mexico:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 1997-4,000 hectares, a 22% decrease from 1996; potential production-46 metric tons, about a 15% decrease from 1996) and cannabis continues in spite of increased 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 methamphetamines
______________________________________________________________________
@Micronesia, Federated States of:Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
Area-comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography-note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
@Micronesia, Federated States of:People
Population: 129,658 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.31% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 27.55 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.34 years male: 66.38 years female: 70.34 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Micronesia, Federated States of:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) abbreviation: FSM
Data code: FM
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
National capital: Palikir
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UNTrusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)
Constitution: 10 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note-because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999) election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote-NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state-to serve four-year terms and 10-elected from single-member districts delineated by population-to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held NA March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano 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)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl A. MARTIN 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 description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
@Micronesia, Federated States of:Economy
Economy-overview: Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$220 million (1996 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
GDP-real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,760 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Budget: revenues : $58 million expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7 million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 38,500 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Exports: total value: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam
Imports: total value: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages partners: US, Japan, Australia
Debt-external: $129 million
Economic aid: recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will 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
Communications
Telephones: 960
Telephone system: domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly 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.)
@Micronesia, Federated States of:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Micronesia, Federated States of:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Micronesia, Federated States of:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Midway Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 6.2 sq km land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
Area-comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 4 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: a coral atoll; closed to the public
@Midway Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
Population growth rate: 0% (1998 est.)
@Midway Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Data code: MQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a Presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
National capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Midway Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy is based on providing support services for any remaining activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity-capacity: NA kW
Electricity-production: NA kWh
@Midway Islands:Transportation
Highways: total: 32 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Midway Islands:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Midway Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Moldova:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 33,700 sq km land: 33,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: 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)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 53% permanent crops: 14% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 13% other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: landlocked
@Moldova:People
Population: 4,457,729 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 568,609; female 548,837) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,394,604; female 1,514,749) 65 years and over: 10% (male 159,972; female 270,958) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.04% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 14.35 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.42 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.72 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.32 years male: 59.61 years female: 69.27 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: 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 theNistru 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 Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 99% female: 94% (1989 est.)
@Moldova:Government
Country name: 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
Government type: republic
National capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new constitution of 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 Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU (since NA April 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was elected president; percent of vote-LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997 and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (104 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held 22 March 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDAM 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 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 9 note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Popular Front orFPCDM (formerly Moldovan Popular Front) [Iurie ROSCA, chairman];Socialist Unity Faction or US of the Socialist Party of Moldova orPSM; Social Democratic Party of Moldova or PSDM [Oazu NANTOI,chairman]; Agrarian Democratic Party of Moldova or PDAM [DumitruMOTPAN, chairman]; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc [Lidia ISTRATI,chairwoman]; Liberal Party of Moldova or PLM [Mircea RUSU, chairman];Socialist Party of Moldova or PSM [Valeriu SENIC and Victor MOREV,cochairmen]; Party of Rivival and Conciliation of Moldova or PRCM[Mircea SNEGUR, chairman]; Moldovan Party of Democratic Forces or PFDM[Valeriu MATEI, chairman]; Party for Social Progress or PPSM [EugenSOBOR, chairman]; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONTIN, firstchairman]; Civic Unity [Vladimir SOLONARI]; Moldovan National PeasantParty or PNTM [Simeon CERTAN]; Party of People's Social Justice[Maricica LITVITCHI]; Party for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova orPMDP [Dumitru DIACOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders: The Ecology Movement of Moldovaor EMM [Alecu RENITSA, chairman]; The Christian Democratic League ofWomen of Moldova or CDLWM [Lidia ISTRATI, chairwoman]; NationalChristian Party of Moldova or NCPM [V. NIKU, leader]; The PeoplesMovement Gagauz Khalky or GKh [S. GULGAR, leader]; The DemocraticParty of Gagauzia or DPG [G. SAVOSTIN, chairman]; The Alliance ofWorking People of Moldova or AWPM [G. POLOGOV, president]; LiberalConvention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party); Association of Victimsof Repression [Alexander USATIUC]; Christian Democratic YouthOrganization [Valeriu BARBA]; National Youth League [ValeriuSTRELETS]; Union of Youth of Moldova [Petru GAVTON]
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE,CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae TAU chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Todd STEWART embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie #103, Chisinau 277014 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address-American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080 telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72, RNX 548 (plus extension) FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44
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
@Moldova:Economy
Economy-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, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The IMF has suspended payment on Moldova's Extended Fund Facility since November 1997, due to concerns about the budget deficit and money supply growth. In late December Parliament agreed to a lower 1998 budget deficit to address IMF and World Bank concerns.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$10.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -2% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 36% services: 22% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 11.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.42 million (1995) by occupation: agriculture 46.1%, industry 13.9%, other 40.0% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 1.4% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (March 1997)
Budget: revenues: $570 million expenditures: $641 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 2.906 million kW (1997)
Electricity-production: 1.5 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 324 kWh (1996 est.)
Agriculture-products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; meat, milk
Exports: total value: $816 million (1997) commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery partners: Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany
Imports: total value: $1.16 billion (1997) commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, foodstuffs, automobiles, and other consumer durables partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany
Debt-external: more than $1 billion (1997)
Economic aid: recipient: IMF and World Bank, $512 million (1992-97)
Currency: the Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993
Exchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period)-4.6870 (January 1997), 4.6628 (1997), 4.6743 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994), 3.6400 (1993), 0.4145 (1992); period average-4.6758 (January 1998), 81.6637 (1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 600,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunication system not well developed; 215,000 unsatisfied requests for telephone service (1991 est.); since 1997, Chisinau has been considering privatizing its state-owned telephone company domestic: NA international: international connections to other former Soviet republics by landline and microwave radio relay through Ukraine and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat; first fiber optic cable installed between Moldova and Romania
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave NA (1994)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one national and one private) (1995)
Televisions: NA
@Moldova:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,328 km broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways: total: 12,300 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved: 1,562 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 424 km (1994)
Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 26 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)
@Moldova:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, RepublicSecurity Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,145,260 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 902,238 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 38,082 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 203 million lei (1995); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Moldova:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: certain territory of Moldova andUkraine-including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina-are considered byBucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory wasincorporated into the former Soviet Union following theMolotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and Russia
______________________________________________________________________
@Monaco:Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about three times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: second smallest independent state in world (after HolySee); almost entirely urban
@Monaco:People
Population: 32,035 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 2,730; female 2,659) 15-64 years: 64% (male 9,934; female 10,463) 65 years and over: 19% (male 2,300; female 3,949) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.4% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 10.71 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 11.86 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.41 years male: 74.79 years female: 82.21 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: NA
@Monaco:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco
Data code: MN
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National 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 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958) head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3 February 1997) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the prince elections: none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; minister of state appointed by the prince from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 and 31 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-National and Democratic Union 15, other 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named by the prince on the basis of nominations by the National Council
Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union or UND[Jean-Louis CAMPORA]
International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM,IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s): New York honorary consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) honorary consulate(s): Dallas, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
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
@Monaco:Economy
Economy-overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$800 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$25,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 30,540 (1 January 1994)
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1994)
Budget: revenues: $623.3 million expenditures: $638.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 10,000 kW standby note: electricity imported from France
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: none
Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 53,180 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 24,000 (1994 est.)
@Monaco:Transportation
Railways: total: 1.7 km standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Monaco
Merchant marine: none
Airports: linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
@Monaco:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Monaco:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Mongolia:Geography
Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 1.565 million sq km land: 1.565 million sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 80% forests and woodland: 9% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland fires
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal and the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: landlocked; strategic location between China andRussia
@Mongolia:People
Population: 2,578,530 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37% (male 483,795; female 468,700) 15-64 years: 59% (male 764,665; female 764,825) 65 years and over: 4% (male 41,488; female 55,057) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.54% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 23.56 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.19 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 66.34 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.46 years male: 59.4 years female: 63.61 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.75 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups: Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of communist regime
Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 88.6% female: 77.2% (1988 est.)
@Mongolia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia