Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); HeirApparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born 16 April 1955)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July1984)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch, responsibleto the Chamber of Deputieselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and viceprime minister appointed by the monarch but are responsible to theChamber of Deputies
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre desDeputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by 13 June 1999)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CSV21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and PensionRights 5, Greens 5note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 memberswho are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views areconsidered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure deJustice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch;Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges areappointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group,Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marie MURRAY embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy—overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$13.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$32,700 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 22% services: 77% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)
Labor force: 226,500 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.46 billionexpenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals,metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.158 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 90.12% hydro: 9.88% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 5.381 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 5.8 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports—commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubberproducts, glass, aluminum, other industrial products
Exports—partners: Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%,Netherlands 5%
Imports: $9.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports—commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, qualityconsumer goods
Imports—partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%,Netherlands 4%
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $65 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note—centimes no longer in use
Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1—34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994); note—the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 279,736 (1997)
Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 275 kmstandard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 kmdouble track) (1995)
Highways:total: 5,137 kmpaved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways)unpaved: 51 km (1996 est.)note: one source lists roads 2,863 km; expressways 115 km
Waterways: 37 km; Moselle
Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
Ports and harbors: Mertert
Merchant marine:total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,045 GRT/1,480,023DWTships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas tanker 13,oil tanker 6, passenger 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, vehicle carrier1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 108,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 88,813 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 2,452 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $124 million (FY97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.8% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Macau ——-
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 21 sq kmland: 21 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 98% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements:party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridgesconnect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula onmainland
People
Population: 437,312 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (male 54,456; female 50,912)15-64 years: 69% (male 142,575; female 158,132)65 years and over: 7% (male 12,547; female 18,690) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.86% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 9.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.88 years male: 78.79 years female: 85.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Macanese (singular and plural)adjective: Macau
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90%male: 93%female: 86% (1981 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau
Data code: MC
Dependency status: Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; note—scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999
Government type: NA
Capital: Macau
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular—concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau'sfuture constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China'sNational People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20December 1999
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March1996)head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA(since 20 March 1991)cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members—fiveappointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, fiveelected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and tworepresent economic interests), and three statutory memberselections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for afive-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguesepresident after consultation with the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—APPEM 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistratesincluding the president; lower court judges appointed for three-yearterms by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progressonote: there are no formal political parties, but civic associationsare used instead
Political pressure groups and leaders: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration
International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territoryunder Portuguese administration)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices inMacau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General inHong Kong
Flag description: the flag of Portugal is used
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries—toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. Macau is scheduled to revert to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$6.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -0.1% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 40% services: 59% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1997)
Labor force: 277,676 (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: industry 28%, restaurants and hotels 28%, other services 44%
Unemployment rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.3 billionexpenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear,tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.522 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 3 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 400 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, vegetables
Exports: $2.14 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement, footwear, machinery
Exports—partners: US 45%, EU 24%, Hong Kong 8%, China 6% (1997)
Imports: $2.075 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods,fuels, lubricants
Imports—partners: China 29%, Hong Kong 25%, EU 12.4%, Japan 9%(1997)
Debt—external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1—7.74 (1998), 7.99 (1997), 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note—linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: fairly modern communication facilitiesmaintained for domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access tointernational communications carriers provided via Hong Kong andChina; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 135,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts) (1997)
Televisions: 34,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Macau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces, Police Force
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 121,355 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 66,744 (1999 est.)
Military—note: defense is currently the responsibility ofPortugal, but will become the responsibility of China on 20 December1999
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of —————————————————————
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 25,333 sq kmland: 24,856 sq kmwater: 477 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:total: 748 kmborder countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km,Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins andvalleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; countrybisected by the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vardar River 50 mhighest point: Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten,nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 25%forests and woodland: 39%other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Environment—current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: landlocked; major transportation corridor fromWestern and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe toWestern Europe
People
Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.)note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put thepopulation at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likelyundercounted
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491)15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923)65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.05 years male: 70.93 years female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,Gypsies 3%, other 2%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%,Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republika Makedonijalocal short form: Makedonijaabbreviation: FYROM
Data code: MK
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular—opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: 8 September
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30November 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of allthe deputies in the Assembly; note—cabinet formed by the governmentcoalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPAelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent ofvote—Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats—85members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists ofcandidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that partiesgain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be heldNA 2002)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VMRO49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by theJudicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are electedby the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance ofpresident]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization—Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
International organization participation: BIS (pending member),CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field
Economy
Economy—overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,050 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20.4% industry: 38.6% services: 41% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
Labor force—by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note—many employed workersare, in fact, furloughees
Budget:revenues: $1.06 billionexpenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107million (1996 est.)
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel,textiles, wood products, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 19.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machineryand transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%
Exports—partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics,Germany, Italy
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%,fuels 12%
Imports—partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany,Bulgaria, Italy, Austria
Debt—external: $1.06 billion (June 1997)
Economic aid—recipient: ODA, $100 million (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni
Exchange rates: denars per US$1—52.156 (January 1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 125,000
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 922 km standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)
Highways:total: 10,591 kmpaved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways)unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 2under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 6914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, PoliceForce
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 539,329 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 17,291 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $71 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for regional autonomy
Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe
======================================================================
@Madagascar —————
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 587,040 sq kmland: 581,540 sq kmwater: 5,500 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobathexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt,quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:arable land: 4%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 41%forests and woodland: 40%other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment—current issues: soil erosion results fromdeforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface watercontaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; severalspecies of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic locationalong Mozambique Channel
People
Population: 14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056)15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209)65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.24 years male: 52.01 years female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arabancestry—Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French,Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 80%male: 88%female: 73% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Madagascarconventional short form: Madagascarlocal long form: Republique de Madagascarlocal short form: Madagascarformer: Malagasy Republic
Data code: MA
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo,Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditionalMalagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO(since NA 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); primeminister appointed by the president from a list of candidatesnominated by the National Assemblyelection results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent ofvote—Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms); note—the legislature is scheduled tobecome a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate;two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regionalassemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; theremaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president;the total number of seats will be determined by the NationalAssembly; all members will serve four-year termselections: National Assembly—last held 17 May 1998 (next to be heldNA 2002)election results: National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6,MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents34
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); HighConstitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth ofRAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence orand Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/IloafoRAZANAMASY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council ofChristian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires BiclairHenri ANDRIANANTOANDROchancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T.PERLOWembassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivomailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) andgreen with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy
Economy—overview: Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 32% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 13% services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1997)
Labor force: 7 million (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $477 millionexpenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264million (1996 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1993 est.)
Electricity—production: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 41.18% hydro: 58.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish,sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
Exports—partners: France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%,Reunion 5.7% (1996)
Imports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports—commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
Imports—partners: France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%,Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)
Debt—external: $4.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $298.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1—5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 34,000 (1994)
Telephone system: system is above average for Africa domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.74 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 36 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 280,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and smallportions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga,Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWTships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1,oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 133 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes InterventionForces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces—includes Navy and AirForce), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 3,415,726 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 144,779 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $29 million (1994)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island,Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (alladministered by France)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wildvarieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment pointfor heroin
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@Malawi ———
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 118,480 sq kmland: 94,080 sq kmwater: 24,400 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season(May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, roundedhills, some mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m
Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium,coal, and bauxite
Land use:arable land: 18%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 20%forests and woodland: 39%other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography—note: landlocked
People
Population: 10,000,416 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 2,265,526; female 2,246,135)15-64 years: 52% (male 2,580,125; female 2,637,464)65 years and over: 3% (male 112,813; female 158,353) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 23.84 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 132.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.3 years male: 36.49 years female: 36.11 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga,Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%,traditional indigenous beliefs
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), otherlanguages important regionally
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 56.4%male: 71.9%female: 41.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Malawiconventional short form: Malawiformer: Nyasaland
Data code: MI
Government type: multiparty democracy
Capital: Lilongwe
Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe,Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba,Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima,Thyolo, Zomba
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6July (1966)
Constitution: 18 May 1995
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);note—the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);note—the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet named by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)election results: Bakili MULUZI elected president; percent of vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (177 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UDF84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note—because of defections andbyelections, the distribution of seats in the National Assembly hadchanged at the end of the 1996 as follows: UDF 84, MCP 47, AFORD 34,independents 8, and vacant 4note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing theage at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years,provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to theexisting National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU,OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008