Area:total: 1,860 sq kmland: 1,850 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmnote: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (SaintBrandon), and Rodrigues
Area—comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, drywinter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountainsencircling central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:arable land: 49%permanent crops: 3%permanent pastures: 3%forests and woodland: 22%other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment—current issues: water pollution
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,182,212 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 156,616; female 153,698)15-64 years: 68% (male 398,557; female 402,674)65 years and over: 6% (male 28,586; female 42,081) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.18% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 67.21 years female: 74.96 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%,Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu,Hakka, Bojpoori
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.9%male: 87.1%female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Mauritiusconventional short form: Mauritius
Data code: MP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*;Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq,Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis,Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements ofEnglish common law in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and VicePresident Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27December 1995)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (nextto be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime ministerappointed by the president and are responsible to the NationalAssemblyelection results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and AngidiVerriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by theNational Assembly—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats—62elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission fromthe losing political parties to give representation to variousethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held byDecember 2000)election results: percent of vote by party—MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%,other 15%; seats by party—MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM onRodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1,Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:RAMGOOLAM]Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD
Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
Economy
Economy—overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-98 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$11.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 29% services: 63% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 10.6% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1997)
Labor force: 514,000 (1995)
Labor force—by occupation: construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $824 million (FY94/95)expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $198million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1992)
Electricity—production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: clothing and textiles 55%, sugar 24% (1995)
Exports—partners: UK 34.4%, France 19.5%, US 13.0%, Germany 5.6%,Italy 4.0% (1996)
Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: manufactured goods 37%, capital equipment19%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% (1995)
Imports—partners: South Africa 12.0%, France 11.1%, India 8.9%,UK 6.5%, Germany 4.7%, (1996)
Debt—external: $1.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $5.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1—24.099 (January 1999), 22.803 (1998), 20.561 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 107,000 (1993)
Telephone system: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 399,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 242,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 1,860 kmpaved: 1,732 km (including 30 km of expressways)unpaved: 128 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine:total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,846 GRT/236,308 DWTships by type: cargo 6, combination bulk 2, container 6, liquefiedgas tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 339,218 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 171,705 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $11.2 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.4% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claims the Chagos Archipelago inUK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claimsFrench-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the internationaldrug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems
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@Mayotte ———-
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 375 sq kmland: 375 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size ofWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 185.2 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season duringnortheastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May toNovember)
Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancientvolcanic peaks
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: part of Comoro Archipelago
People
Population: 149,336 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47% (male 34,838; female 34,798)15-64 years: 52% (male 42,073; female 35,068)65 years and over: 1% (male 1,257; female 1,302) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 46.12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.02 years male: 57.61 years female: 62.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups: NA
Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotteconventional short form: Mayotte
Data code: MF
Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity ofFrance)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA)head of government: President of the General Council YounoussaBAMANA (since NA 1977)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Councilelected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General(19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-yearterms)elections: last held 23 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; note—only nine of the19 seats were subjected to voting in March 1997; after the election,seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, independents 5, PS 1note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections lastheld 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001);results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—MPM 1; Mayottealso elects one member to the French National Assembly; electionslast held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a specialelection on NA May 2002); results—percent of vote by party—UDF/FD51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party—UDF/FD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPMBEOUTIS]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French PartiJEAN-BAPTISTE]
International organization participation: FZ
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorialcollectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorialcollectivity of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy—overview: Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$85 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$600 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 38% (1991 est.)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1991 est.)
Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Exports: $3.64 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports—commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra
Exports—partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Imports: $131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports—commodities: building materials, machinery and transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour
Imports—partners: France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 20%
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $107.7 million (1995); note?extensiveFrench financial assistance
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 450
Telephone system: small system administered by French Departmentof Posts and Telecommunicationsdomestic: NAinternational: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephonecommunications to Comoros and other international connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 30,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 3,500 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claimed by Comoros
======================================================================
@Mexico ———
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and theGulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the NorthPacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:total: 1,972,550 sq kmland: 1,923,040 sq kmwater: 49,510 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,538 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km
Coastline: 9,330 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; 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 of Mexico and Caribbean coasts
Environment—current issues: natural fresh water resources scarceand polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center andextreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents pollutingrivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion;desertification; serious air pollution in the national capital andurban centers along US-Mexico border
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: strategic location on southern border of US
People
Population: 100,294,036 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (male 17,987,500; female 17,289,875)15-64 years: 61% (male 29,610,813; female 31,216,342)65 years and over: 4% (male 1,873,986; female 2,315,520) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.73% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 24.99 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.83 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72 years male: 68.98 years female: 75.17 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1999 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 regionalindigenous languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.6%male: 91.8%female: 87.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: United Mexican Statesconventional short form: Mexicolocal long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanoslocal short form: Mexico
Data code: MX
Government type: federal republic operating under a centralized government
Capital: Mexico
Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular—estado)and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, BajaCalifornia, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua,Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango,Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo,Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga,Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas,Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution: 5 February 1917
Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but notenforced)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1December 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmenthead of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1December 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of theSenateelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held in July or August2000)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 DECEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.05%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso de laUnion consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; halfare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and half areallocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Chamberof Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members aredirectly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms;remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party'spopular vote, also for three-year terms)elections: Senate—last held 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of theseats; Chamber of Deputies—last held 6 July 1997 (the nextlegislative elections will coincide with the presidential electionin July or August 2000)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—PRI 77, PAN 33, PRD 16, PVEM 1, PT 1; note—the distribution ofseats 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—PRI39%, 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 asfollows—PRI 237, PRD 127, PAN 120, PT 7, PVEM 6, independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema deJusticia (judges are appointed by the president with consent of theSenate)
Political parties and leaders: recognized parties—Institutional
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of IndustrialChambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerceor CONCANACO; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; RevolutionaryWorkers Party or PRT; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers andPeasants or CROC; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or CROM;Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX;National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA;Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE;Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES;National Union of Workers or UNT
International organization participation: APEC, BCIE, BIS,Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-11,G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA(observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer),NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, 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 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffery DAVIDOWembassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,Distrito Federalmailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuanaconsulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The 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. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, private consumption became the leading driver of growth, which was accompanied by increased employment and higher wages. The government expects the economy to slow in 1999 because of low commodity prices, tighter international liquidity, and slacker demand for exports. 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. Trade with the US 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 EU to lessen its dependence on the US.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$815.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,300 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 26% services: 68% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 27% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 36.6% 1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.6% (1998)
Labor force: 37.5 million (1998)
Labor force—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: 2.6% (1998) urban; plus considerableunderemployment
Budget:revenues: $117 billionexpenditures: $123 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 154.395 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 71.46% hydro: 20.16% nuclear: 4.85% other: 3.53% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 154.448 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 1.263 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 1.316 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton,coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports: $117.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bondindustries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)
Exports—commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver,engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics
Exports—partners: US 87.5%, Canada 1.3%, Japan 0.8%, Spain 0.6%,Chile 0.6%, Brazil 0.5% (1998 est.)
Imports: $111.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bondindustries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)
Imports—commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Imports—partners: US 74.2%, Japan 3.7%, Germany 3.7%, Canada 1.8%, South Korea 1.5%, Italy 1.3%, France 1.2% (1998 est.)
Debt—external: $154 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $1.166 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1—10.1104 (January 1999), 9.1360 (1998), 7.9141 (1997), 7.5994(1996), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed system with extensivemicrowave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened tocompetition January 1997domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay networkinternational: satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Oceanand 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in November1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improvedaccess to South America, Central America and much of the US as wellas enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central AmericanMicrowave System of trunk connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 824 (1999 est.), FM 500 (1998 est.),shortwave 19 (1999 est.)
Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 236 (not including repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 31,048 kmstandard gauge: 30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:total: 252,000 kmpaved: 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: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,004 GRT/1,236,475DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4,liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 28, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3,short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,805 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 232over 3,047 m: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 271,524 to 2,437 m: 91914 to 1,523 m: 78under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1,573over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 63914 to 1,523 m: 468under 914 m: 1,040 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army and Air Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 25,675,266 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 18,675,524 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 1,085,042 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $6 billion (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.3% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 1998—5,500 hectares; potential production—60 metric tons) and cannabis cultivation in 1998—4,600 hectares; government eradication efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamines
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@Micronesia, Federated States of ———————————————-
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 702 sq kmland: 702 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: 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 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in theeastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt withoccasionally severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islandsto low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, andTruk
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Totolom 791 m
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%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
People
Population: 131,500 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.48 years male: 66.52 years female: 70.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (1999 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 writetotal population: 89%male: 91%female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesiaconventional short form: noneformer: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory ofthe Pacific Islands)abbreviation: FSM
Data code: FM
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
Capital: Palikir
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae,Pohnpei, Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UNTrusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States ofMicronesia, 10 May (1979)
Constitution: 10 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM(since 9 May 1997); note—the president is both the chief of stateand head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became actingpresident in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered astroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; asprovided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER stillunable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's termhead of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NAJuly 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM(since 9 May 1997); note—the president is both the chief of stateand head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became actingpresident in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered astroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; asprovided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER stillunable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's termcabinet: Cabinetelections: president and vice president elected by Congress fromamong the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election lastheld 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note—because of thevacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left tobecome acting president, a new election to fill the position of vicepresident for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent ofCongress vote—NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent ofCongress 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 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held 3 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, OPCW, 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 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941
Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
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%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Budget:revenues: $58 millionexpenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft itemsfrom shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Exports: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports—commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports—partners: Japan, US, Guam
Imports: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports—commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports—partners: US, Japan, Australia
Debt—external: $129 million
Economic aid—recipient: $77.4 million (1995); note?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 (usedmostly for government purposes)international: satellite earth stations—4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)
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 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@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 kmland: 6.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Area—comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, 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: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving