Death rate: 6.39 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.41 years
male: 79.11 years
female: 77.69 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 92%
female: 93% (1982 est.)
Martinique Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC ofFrance (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA)
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Assembly - last held on 15 March 1998 (next to be held by March 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR-UDF 14, MIM 13, PPM 7, left parties 4, PMS 3
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1998 (next to be held September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPM 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Martinique Independence Movement orMIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM[Camille DARSIERES]; Martinique Socialist Party or PMS [ErnestWAN-AJOUHU]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Unionfor French Democracy or UDF (replaced by Martinique Forces ofProgress) [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for theProtection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist) [Garcin MALSA];Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union forMartinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP;Socialist Revolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Martinique Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.39 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)
Labor force: 170,000 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 27.2% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $900 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140 million (1996)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.1 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.023 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Exports - partners: France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (1997)
Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%,US 3% (1997)
Debt - external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - substantial annual aid fromFrance
Currency: French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)
Currency code: FRF; EUR
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Martinique Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 170,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 66,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 5,000 (2000)
Martinique Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,105 km (2000)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)
Airports: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Martinique Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Martinique Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Mauritania
Mauritania Introduction
Background: Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as being flawed; Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black minority population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.
Mauritania Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of NewMexico
Land boundaries: total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
Mauritania People
Population: 2,747,312 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46.14% (male 634,940; female 632,654)
15-64 years: 51.59% (male 698,433; female 718,883)
65 years and over: 2.27% (male 25,840; female 36,562) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 42.95 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 13.65 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.14 years
male: 49.06 years
female: 53.29 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.22 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.8% (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,600 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 610 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official), French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.7%
male: 53.4%
female: 40% (1998 est.)
Mauritania Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Government type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular - region)and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou,Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri,Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould SidAhmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheik El Avia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 17 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90.9% of the vote
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders: Action for Change or AC [Messoud OuldBOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDIBABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party)[President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]; Mauritanian Party forRenewal and Concorde or PMRC [Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; NationalUnion for Democracy and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Partyfor Liberty, Equality and Justice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA];Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular ProgressAlliance or APP [Mohamed El Hafed Ould ISMAEL]; Popular Social andDemocratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress ForceUnion or UFP [Mohamed Ould MOLOUD]; Union for Progress and Democracyor UNDD [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]
note: parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991; however, politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders: Arab nationalists;Ba'athists; General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM[Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; IndependentConfederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE];Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely OuldBRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pendingmember), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorAhmed Ben Khalifa BEN JIDOU
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJohn W. LIMBERT
embassy: Rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63
Flag description: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Mauritania Economy
Economy - overview: A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for half of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In March 1999, the government signed an agreement with a joint World Bank-IMF mission on a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF). Mauritania withdrew its membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2000. Privatization and debt relief are in full swing, and the rate of economic growth appears to be accelerating, especially in the construction, telecommunication, and information sectors. Diamonds and petroleum are beginning to be explored and exploited.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 44% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 750,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 39%, industry 14%
Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $329 million
expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (1999)
Electricity - production: 151 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 82.78%
hydro: 17.22%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 140.4 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Exports: $333 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners: Japan 18%, France 17%, Italy 16%, Spain 11% (1998)
Imports: $305 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 27%, Benelux 9%, Germany 7%, Spain 7% (1998)
Debt - external: $2.1 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $300 million (1998)
Currency: ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code: MRO
Exchange rates: ouguiyas per US dollar - 250.870 (December 2000), 238.923 (2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Mauritania Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 26,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 360,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 87,000 (1998)
Internet country code: .mr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (2000)
Internet users: 3,500 (2000)
Mauritania Transportation
Railways: total: 750 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company
standard gauge: 750 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996)
Waterways: note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)
Airports: 26 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)
Mauritania Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 624,375 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 302,699 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $41 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY97/98)
Mauritania Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
======================================================================
@Mauritius
Mauritius Introduction
Background: Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Mauritius Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: World
Area: total: 1,860 sq km
land: 1,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: 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, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Mauritius People
Population: 1,189,825 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.53% (male 153,691; female 150,094)
15-64 years: 68.24% (male 404,940; female 407,056)
65 years and over: 6.23% (male 29,588; female 44,456) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.88% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 16.5 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.25 years
male: 67.26 years
female: 75.31 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.08% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%,Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,Bojpoori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
Mauritius Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; AgalegaIslands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port,Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere duRempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements ofEnglish common law in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 September 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 17 September 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 September 2000 (next to be held by September 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD 36.9%, OPR 10.8%; seats by party - MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH];Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; MauritianMilitant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM;Mauritian Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING];Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL];Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] -governing party; Rodrigues Movement or OPR [Joseph (Nicholas) VonMALLY]
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, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorUsha JEETAH
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorMark W. ERWIN
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
Mauritius 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, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in 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 foreign investment. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Economic performance since 1991 has continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10%
industry: 29%
services: 61% (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): 5.3% (2000 est.)
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: 6.4% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.26 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.27%
hydro: 8.73%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.172 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Exports - partners: UK 32%, France 19%, US 15%, Germany 6%, Italy 4% (1999 est.)
Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)
Imports - partners: France 14%, South Africa 11%, India 8%, UK 5% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $1.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $42 million (1997)
Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code: MUR
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 27.900 (January 2001), 26.250 (2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997), 17.948 (1996)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Mauritius Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 223,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 37,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: 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 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 258,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 55,000 (2000)
Mauritius Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,910 km
paved: 1,834 km (including 36 km of expressways)
unpaved: 76 km (1998)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 61,909GRT/87,313 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, combination bulk 2, container 2, liquefied gas 1, refrigerated cargo 2
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: India 1 (2000 est.)
Airports: 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Mauritius Military
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitarySpecial Mobile Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 339,473 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 171,206 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $11 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.3% (FY97/98)
Mauritius Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims the Chagos Archipelago(UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claimsFrench-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally
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@Mayotte
Mayotte Introduction
Background: Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other Comoros in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forgo independence.
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: 374 sq km
land: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 185.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
Mayotte People
Population: 163,366 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46.59% (male 38,188; female 37,920)
15-64 years: 51.73% (male 46,132; female 38,378)
65 years and over: 1.68% (male 1,361; female 1,387) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.58% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 44.39 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 8.84 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.28 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: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.83 years
male: 57.77 years
female: 61.96 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.24 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups: NA
Religions: Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population
Literacy: definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Mayotte Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity ofMayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte
Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday: Bastille Day, 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 May 1995), represented by Prefect Pierre BAYLE (since 15 July 1998)
head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1977)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPM 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a special election on NA May 2002); results - percent of vote by party - UDF/FD 51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party - UDF/FD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Front or FD [YoussoufMOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Younoussa BAMANA]; MahoranRally for the Republic or RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Movement forDepartment Status Mayotte or MDM [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]; SocialistParty or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste) [IbrahimABUBACAR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: FZ
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Mayotte 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: 45% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $NA
expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
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
Agriculture - products: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Exports: $3.44 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon
Exports - partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Imports: $141.3 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports - commodities: food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners: France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (1997)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $107.7 million (1995); note - extensiveFrench financial assistance
Currency: French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)
Currency code: FRF; EUR
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Mayotte Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9,314 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: small system administered byFrench Department of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros and other international connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 3,500 (1994)
Internet country code: .yt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Internet users: NA
Mayotte Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 93 km
paved: 72 km
unpaved: 21 km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)
Airports: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Mayotte Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island
Mayotte Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Comoros
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@Mexico
Mexico Introduction
Background: The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.
Mexico Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km