Airports - with paved runways: total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 101
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 56
under 914 m: 43 (2000 est.)
Madagascar 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: 3,640,554 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,159,767 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 153,856 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $29 million (FY94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1% (FY94)
Madagascar Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
======================================================================
@Malawi
Malawi Introduction
Background: Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following year. National multiparty elections were held again in 1999.
Malawi Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 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: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season(May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, 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, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 7% (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, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
Malawi People
Population: 10,548,250
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.43% (male 2,348,940; female 2,337,290)
15-64 years: 52.78% (male 2,741,622; female 2,825,966)
65 years and over: 2.79% (male 119,283; female 175,149) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.5% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 37.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 22.81 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 121.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 37.08 years
male: 36.61 years
female: 37.55 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.18 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 15.96% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 800,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 70,000 (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%, indigenous beliefs
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 72.8%
female: 43.4% (1999 est.)
Malawi Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
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; note - there may be three new districts named Balaka,Likoma, and Phalombe
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Constitution: 18 May 1994
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 government
head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: 36-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected president; percent of vote - Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD 15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 94, MCP 66, AFORD 29, others 4
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: Alliance for Democracy or AFORD[Chakufwa CHIHANA, president]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [GwandaCHAKUAMBA, president, John TEMBO, vice president]; Malawi DemocraticParty or MDP [Kampelo KALUA, president]; National IndependenceParty; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eston KAKHOME, president];United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI] - governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
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, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorPaul Tony Steven KANDIERO
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorRoger A. MEECE
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] 773 166
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note: the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Malawi Economy
Economy - overview: Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 37% of GDP and 85% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to fully develop a market economy, to improve educational facilities, to face up to environmental problems, and to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $900 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 37%
industry: 29%
services: 34% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54% (FY90/91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29.5% (2000)
Labor force: 3.5 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 86% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $490 million
expenditures: $523 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)
Industries: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.025 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.44%
hydro: 97.56%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 950 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats
Exports: $416 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products
Exports - partners: South Africa 16%, Germany 16%, US 15%,Netherlands 7%, Japan (1999)
Imports: $435 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
Imports - partners: South Africa 43%, Zimbabwe 14%, UK 5%, Germany 5%, Zambia, Japan, US (1999)
Debt - external: $2.9 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $427 million (1999)
Currency: Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code: MWK
Exchange rates: Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 80.0946 (December 2000), 59.5438 (2000), 44.0881 (1999), 31.0727 (1998), 16.4442 (1997), 15.3085 (1996)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Malawi Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 7,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1999)
Televisions: 0 (1999)
Internet country code: .mw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (2001)
Internet users: 10,000 (2000)
Malawi Transportation
Railways: total: 789 km
narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 16,451 km
paved: 3,126 km
unpaved: 13,325 km (1997)
Waterways: 144 km
note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire Riverall
Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota,Chilumba
Airports: 44 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 23 (2000 est.)
Malawi Military
Military branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,466,708 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,265,893 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $9.5 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.76% (FY00/01)
Malawi Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary inLake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
======================================================================
@Malaysia
Malaysia Introduction
Background: Malaysia was created in 1963 through the merging of Malaya (independent in 1957) and the former British Singapore, both of which formed West Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak in north Borneo, which composed East Malaysia. The first three years of independence were marred by hostilities with Indonesia. Singapore separated from the union in 1965.
Malaysia Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast(October to February) monsoons
Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,941 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding, landslides
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
Malaysia People
Population: 22,229,040 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.5% (male 3,943,324; female 3,724,634)
15-64 years: 61.35% (male 6,828,670; female 6,808,623)
65 years and over: 4.15% (male 404,042; female 519,747) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.96% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 24.75 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.11 years
male: 68.48 years
female: 73.92 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.42% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,900 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups: Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 27%, Indian 8%, others 7% (2000)
Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism; note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages: Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects(Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil,Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - in addition, in EastMalaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest ofwhich are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 89.1%
female: 78.1% (1995 est.)
Malaysia Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaysia
Government type: constitutional monarchy
note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); nominally headed by the paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah - holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - holds 28 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable; there may be a new federal territory named Putrajaya
Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution: 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKUSALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin AlamShah (since 26 April 1999); Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZANZainal Abidin ibni A-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 8 January 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibniAl-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected paramount ruler;Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin ibni A-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-MuktafiBillah Shah elected deputy paramount ruler
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (193 seats; members elected by popular vote weighted toward the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 29 November 1999 (next must be held by 20 December 2004)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NF 56%, other 44%; seats by party - NF 148, PAS 27, DAP 10, NJP 5, PBS 3
Judicial branch: Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders: Alternative Coalition or BarisanAlternatif-BA (includes the following parties: Party IslamSe-Malaysia or PAS [FADZIL Mohamad Noor], National Justice Party orNJP [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismail], Democratic Action Party or DAP [LIM KitSiang], and Malaysian People's Party or PRM [SYED HUSIN]); NationalFront or NF (ruling coalition dominated by the United MalaysNational Organization or UMNO [MAHATHIR bin Mohammad], includes thefollowing parties: Malaysian Indian Congress or MIC [S. Samy VELLU],Malaysian Chinese Association or MCA [LING Liong Sik], GerakanRakyat Malaysia or Gerakan [LIM Keng Yaik], Parti Pesaka BumiputraBersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud], Parti AngkatanKeadilan Rakyat Bersatu or Akar [PANDIKAR Amin Mulia], Parti BangsaDayak Sarawak or PBDS [Leo MOGGIE], Sarawak United People's Party orSUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam], Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [CHONGKah Kiat], Sabah Progressive Party or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee], People'sProgressive Party or PPP [M. KAYVEAS], Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah orPBRS [Joseph KURUP], Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Amar JamesWONG], Parti Demokratik Sabah or PDS [leader NA], and United PasokMomogun Kadazan Organization or UPKO (state level only) [BernardDOMPOK]); Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; PartiBersekutu [HARRIS Salleh]; State Reform Party of Sarawak or STAR[PATAU Rubis]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN,BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorGHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2700
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorB. Lynn PASCOE
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US
Malaysia Economy
Economy - overview: GDP grew at 8.6% in 2000, mainly on the strength of double-digit export growth and continued government fiscal stimulus. As an oil exporter, Malaysia also benefited from higher petroleum prices. Higher export revenues allowed the country to register a current account surplus, but foreign exchange reserves have been declining - from a peak of $34.5 billion in April 2000 to $29.7 billion by December - as foreign investors pulled money out of the country. Despite this development, Kuala Lumpur is unlikely to abandon its currency peg soon. An economic slowdown in key Western markets, especially the United States, and lower world demand for electronics products will slow GDP growth to 3%-6% in 2001, according to private forecasters. Over the longer term, Malaysia's failure to make substantial progress on key reforms of the corporate and financial sectors clouds prospects for sustained growth and the return of critical foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $223.7 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 8.6% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,300 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14%
industry: 44%
services: 42% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 6.8% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 20.4% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2000)
Labor force: 9.6 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: local trade and tourism 28%, manufacturing 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, services 10%, government 10%, construction 9% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $16.4 billion
expenditures: $17.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $43 billion (2000 est.)
Industries: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate: 12.1% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 59.044 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.61%
hydro: 8.39%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 54.872 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 50 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 11 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper; timber
Exports: $97.9 billion (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, chemicals, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
Exports - partners: US 21%, Singapore 18%, Japan 13%, Hong Kong 5%,Netherlands 4%, Taiwan 4%, Thailand 3% (2000 est.)
Imports: $82.6 billion (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food, fuel and lubricants
Imports - partners: Japan 21%, US 17%, Singapore 14%, Taiwan 6%,South Korea 5%, Thailand 4%, China 4% (2000 est.)
Debt - external: $41.8 billion (2000 est.)
Currency: ringgit (MYR)
Currency code: MYR
Exchange rates: ringgits per US dollar - 3.8000 (January 2001), 3.8000 (2000), 3.8000 (1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Malaysia Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 4.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.698 million (1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 56, FM 31 (plus 13 repeater stations), shortwave 5 (1999)
Radios: 10.9 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 27 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (1999)
Televisions: 10.8 million (1999)
Internet country code: .my
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (2000)
Internet users: 1.5 million (2000)
Malaysia Transportation
Railways: total: 1,801 km
narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (2000)
Highways: total: 64,672 km
paved: 48,707 km (including 1,192 km of expressways)
unpaved: 15,965 km
note: in addition to these national and main regional roads, Malaysia has thousands of kilometers of local roads that are maintained by local jurisdictions (1999)
Waterways: 7,296 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat,Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson,Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine: total: 362 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,103,657 GRT/7,574,999 DWT
ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 110, chemical tanker 35, container 60, liquefied gas 20, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 6 (2000 est.)
Airports: 115 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 33
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 7 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 73 (2000 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2000 est.)
Malaysia Military
Military branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, RoyalMalaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police,Sarawak Border Scouts
Military manpower - military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,800,456 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,514,023 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 196,042 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.03% (FY00)
Malaysia Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: involved in a complex dispute over theSpratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, andpossibly Brunei; Philippines have not fully revoked claim to SabahState; Pulau Batu Putih (Pedra Branca Island) disputed withSingapore; Sipadan and Ligitan Islands in dispute with Indonesia
Illicit drugs: transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties
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@Maldives
Maldives Introduction
Background: The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Maldives Geography
Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November toMarch); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 84% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Maldives People
Population: 310,764 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.63% (male 72,920; female 68,895)
15-64 years: 51.37% (male 81,506; female 78,149)
65 years and over: 3% (male 4,806; female 4,488) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.01% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 38.15 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 63.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.56 years
male: 61.39 years
female: 63.8 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 93.3%
female: 93% (1995 est.)
Maldives Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type: republic
Capital: Male
Administrative divisions: 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural)and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa,Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, HaaDhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu,Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution: adopted January 1998
Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then that nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required); president elected for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
Maldives Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $594 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.6% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 67,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Budget: revenues: $166 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $192 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1999 est.)
Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production: 101 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 93.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports: $88 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: fish, clothing
Exports - partners: US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Imports: $372 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Debt - external: $237 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code: MVR
Exchange rates: rufiyaa per US dollar - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Maldives Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,290 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 10,000 (1999)
Internet country code: .mv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 2,000 (2000)
Maldives Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Gan, Male
Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,604 GRT/81,451 DWT
ships by type: cargo 16, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Airports: 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.)
Maldives Military
Military branches: National Security Service
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 71,856 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 40,006 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Maldives Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
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@Mali
Mali Introduction
Background: The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional government, and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election was held. Since his reelection in 1997, President KONARE has continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In 1999 he indicated he would not run for a third term.
Mali Geography
Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Land use: arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked
Mali People
Population: 11,008,518 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.2% (male 2,612,215; female 2,583,370)
15-64 years: 49.73% (male 2,610,142; female 2,864,127)
65 years and over: 3.07% (male 158,486; female 180,178) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.97% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 48.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 18.71 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 121.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.02 years
male: 45.84 years
female: 48.24 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.81 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.03% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 100,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 9,900 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%,Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write