GDP:purchasing power parity - $21.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $48,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 30%services: 69% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:262,300 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarilyfrom France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:services 90.1%, industry 8%, agriculture 1.9% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.5 billionexpenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $760million (2002 est.)
Industries:banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metalproducts, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:457 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% other: 17.5% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:6.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:744 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:6.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:865 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Exports: $10.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubberproducts, glass
Exports - partners:Germany 23.9%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Italy 6.1%,Spain 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$13.25 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:Belgium 29.7%, Germany 23%, France 13.2%, Taiwan 6.7%, Netherlands4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $160 million (1999)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:215,741 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed, completely automated andefficient system, mainly buried cablesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cableinternational: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable(Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1999)
Televisions:285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.lu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2001)
Transportation Luxembourg
Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 5,189 kmpaved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:37 km (on the Moselle)
Pipelines:gas 155 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Mertert
Merchant marine:total: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,507,258 GRT/2,118,597 DWTships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 12, container 8, liquefiedgas 18, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 8note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 21, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Monaco 1,Netherlands 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 9, United States 3 (2002est.)
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:Army, Grand Ducal Police
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 114,326 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 93,994 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 2,636 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$147.8 million (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.8% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was thefirst European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreementsigned by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became theMacau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced inMacau and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in allmatters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 25.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline:41 km
Maritime claims:not specified
Climate:subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:generally flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the twoislands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People Macau
Population:469,903 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.9% (male 51,078; female 47,118)15-64 years: 71.8% (male 159,500; female 178,043)65 years and over: 7.3% (male 13,930; female 20,234) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 33.1 yearsmale: 32.9 yearsfemale: 33.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.72% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:12.07 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:8.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.87 yearsmale: 79.05 yearsfemale: 84.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Chineseadjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry),Portuguese, other
Religions:Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%male: 97.2%female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Macaulocal short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); RegiaoAdministrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebratedas Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People'sCongress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residentsliving in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limitedto organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currentlyregistered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)elections: chief executive chosen by a 200-member selectioncommittee for up to two five-year termscabinet: Executive Council consists of all five governmentsecretaries, three legislators, and two businessmenhead of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20December 1999)
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected bypopular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chiefexecutive; members serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc -Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:there are no formal political parties, however, there are civicassociations that, for purposes of legislative voting, join togetherto form political blocs
Political pressure groups and leaders:Catholic Church [Domingos LAM, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourismand Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union forDemocracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation:ESCAP (associate), IHO, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO(correspondent), UNESCO (associate), WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by theUS Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and waterin white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one largein center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:Macau's economy four years after reversion to China remains one ofthe most open in the world. The territory's net exports of goods andservices account for 39% of GDP with tourism and apparel exports asthe mainstays. Although the territory was hit hard by the 1998 Asianfinancial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grewan estimated 9.5% in 2002. A rapid rise in the number of mainlandvisitors because of China's easing of restrictions on travel drovethe recovery. The budget also returned to surplus in 2002 because ofthe surge in visitors from China and a hike in taxes on gamblingprofits, which generated about 63% of government revenue. Theliberalization of Macao's gambling monopoly may contribute to GDPgrowth, as the three companies awarded gambling licenses havepledged to invest $2.2 billion - roughly 33% of GDP - in theterritory. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainlandas the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may haveto rely more on gambling and trade-related services to generategrowth. Growth fell to 4% in 2003, according to early governmentforecasts, with the drop in large measure due to concerns over theSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
GDP:purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $18,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 12%services: 87% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-2.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:214,000 (2002)
Labor force - by occupation: restaurants and hotels 12%, manufacturing 20%, other services and agriculture 68% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.3% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $1.41 billionexpenditures: $1.19 billion, including capital expenditures of $194million (2002)
Industries:tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.611 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.688 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:193 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, livestock
Exports:$2.36 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:clothing, textiles, footwear, cement, machines, and parts
Exports - partners:US 48.6%, China 15.5%, Germany 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Imports:$2.53 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:clothing, textiles, yarn, foodstuffs, fuel, automobiles, capitalgoods
Imports - partners:China 41.7%, Hong Kong 14.5%, Japan 6.7%, Taiwan 6.6%, South Korea5%, France 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$255 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:pataca (MOP)
Currency code:MOP
Exchange rates:patacas per US dollar - 8.03 (2002), 8.03 (2001), 8.03 (2000), 7.99(1999), 7.98 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:176,902 (November 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:158,251 (November 2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: fairly modern communication facilitiesmaintained for domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access tointernational communications carriers provided via Hong Kong andChina; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2003)
Televisions:49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:101,000 (2002)
Transportation Macau
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 271 km paved: 271 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Macau
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Macau
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; responsibility for defensereverted to China on 20 December 1999; there is a local police force
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 130,228 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 71,826 (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic
Introduction Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Background:International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 wasdelayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what itconsidered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted itstrade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalizerelations, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of"Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnicAlbanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status ofneighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Geography Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Location:Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 25,333 sq kmwater: 477 sq kmland: 24,856 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:total: 766 kmborder countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters withheavy snowfall
Terrain:mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; threelarge lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected bythe Vardar River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vardar River 50 mhighest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources:chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade ironore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.59% permanent crops: 1.85% other: 74.56% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and CentralEurope to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Population:2,063,122note: a census was taken 1-15 November 2002, but results are not yetavailable (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.9% (male 235,102; female 217,574)15-64 years: 67.5% (male 700,929; female 691,552)65 years and over: 10.6% (male 96,039; female 121,926) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 32.5 yearsmale: 31.4 yearsfemale: 33.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:13.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.49 yearsmale: 72.23 yearsfemale: 76.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Macedonian(s)adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb1.8%, other 2.3% (1994)
Religions:Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages:Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other3%
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Country name:conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republika Makedonijaabbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.local short form: Makedonija
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Skopje
Administrative divisions:123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac,Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila,Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska,Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo,Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo,Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste,Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor,Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo,Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste,Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis,Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, MakedonskaKamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila,Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo,Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica,Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman,Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnica, Srbinovo,Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica,Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo,Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas,Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovcinote: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parenthesescollectively constitute "greater Skopje"
Independence:8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsingindependence (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah'sDay and Ilinden
Constitution:adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Parliament approved aseries of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Legal system:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 1November 2002)elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October2004); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-roundballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI46.2%; Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected prime minister by Parliament with72% of the votecabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of allthe deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by thegovernment coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and DUI (or BDI)
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - 85 members are electedby popular vote, 35 members come from lists of candidates submittedby parties based on the percentage that a party gains from theoverall vote; all serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Together for Macedonia coalition (SDSM and LDP) 60, VMRO-DPMNE 33,Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic Party of Albanians7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2, National Democratic Party 1,Socialist Party of Macedonia 1elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court - Parliament appoints the judges; ConstitutionalCourt - Parliament appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council- Parliament appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president];Democratic Union for Integration or DUI (also BDI) [Ali AHMETI];Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH [Arben XHAFERI, president];Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party forMacedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI,president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-TrueMacedonian Reform Option or VMRO-VMRO [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; InternalMacedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV];Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [StojanANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Kastriot HAXHIREXHA];Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD [Abdurrahman HALITI];Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI,president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV,president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM andLDP) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Union of Romanies of Macedonia or SRM[leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence Edward BUTLER embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 116-180 FAX: [389] 117-103
Flag description:a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges ofthe red field
Economy Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Economy - overview:At independence in November 1991, Macedonia was the least developedof the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federaloutput of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia endedtransfer payments from the center and eliminated advantages frominclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence ofinfrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largestmarkets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about thecountry's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growthuntil 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However,the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, andregional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanianinsurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreasedtrade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending onsecurity needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in2002 to 0.3%, then rose to 2.8% in 2003. Unemployment at one-thirdof the workforce remains the most critical economic problem. Buteven this issue is overshadowed by the fragile political situation.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $10.57 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 31% services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:24% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.1 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:37% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.13 billionexpenditures: $1.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, woodproducts, tobacco, food processing, buses
Industrial production growth rate:-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:6.465 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:6.112 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports:$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:Germany 19.2%, Italy 9.2%, US 6.7%, Croatia 5.5%, Greece 4.6% (2002)
Imports:$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products
Imports - partners:Greece 19.4%, Germany 14.4%, Bulgaria 7.5%, Slovenia 6.9%, Italy6.9%, Turkey 5.9%, Ukraine 5%, Austria 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$150 million (2001 est.)
Currency:Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:MKD
Exchange rates:Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9(2000), 56.9 (1999), 54.46 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Telephones - main lines in use:408,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12,362 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2001)
Transportation Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 8,684 kmpaved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders
Pipelines:gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 2under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 8914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Military branches:Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 553,988 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 446,726 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 17,909 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Disputes - international:the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights ofethnic Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. while continuing to seek regionalcooperation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo continue to protest 2000F.Y.R.O.M.-Serbia and Montenegro boundary treaty, which transferssmall tracts of land to F.Y.R.O.M.; dispute with Greece overcountry's name persists
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;while money laundering is a problem on a local level due toorganized crime activities, the lack of a well-developed financialinfrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-launderingcenter
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colonyin 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, freepresidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidentialrace, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, wasreturned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election wascontested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and MarcRAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. InApril 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA thewinner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 587,040 sq kmwater: 5,500 sq kmland: 581,540 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Climate:tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4.41% permanent crops: 0.93% other: 94.66% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:10,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage andother organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique tothe island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along MozambiqueChannel
People Madagascar
Population:16,979,744 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 3,822,823; female 3,807,958)15-64 years: 51.9% (male 4,366,748; female 4,452,686)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 243,411; female 286,118) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17.4 yearsmale: 17.2 yearsfemale: 17.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:3.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:42.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:11.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 80.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 71.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 88.63 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 56.14 yearsmale: 53.82 yearsfemale: 58.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:22,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:870 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixedAfrican, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68.9%male: 75.5%female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Madagascarconventional short form: Madagascarlocal short form: Madagascarformer: Malagasy Republiclocal long form: Republique de Madagascar
Government type:republic
Capital:Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November2006); prime minister appointed by the president from a list ofcandidates nominated by the National Assemblyelection results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 40.89%,Marc RAVALOMANANA 46.21%; note - on 29 April 2002, the HighConstitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner by 51.5%after a recount; RATSIRIKA's prime minister was put under housearrest on 27 May 2002, and SYLLA was appointed the new primeminister by President RAVALOMANANA
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats;members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms); note - the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameralParliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of theseats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whosemembers will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third ofthe seats will be appointed by the president; the total number ofseats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members willserve four-year termselections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next tobe held NA 2006)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD5, others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or HauteCour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant];Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery orLEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; I Love Madagascar or TIM[leader NA]; National Union or FP [leader NA]; Renewal of the SocialDemocratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOAconsulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 483-7603telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITTembassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivotelephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a verticalwhite band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar hassince the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy ofprivatization and liberalization, which has placed the country on aslow and steady growth path. Agriculture, including fishing andforestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for one-fourth ofGDP and employing four-fifths of the population. Export earningsprimarily are earned in the small industrial sector, which featurestextile manufacturing and agriculture processing. Deforestation anderosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source offuel are serious concerns. The separatist political crisis of 2002undermined macroeconomic stability, with the estimated drop inoutput being subject to a wide margin of error. Poverty reductionwill be the centerpiece of economic policy for the next few years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $12.59 billion (2002)
GDP - real growth rate:-11.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 12% services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:71% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38.1 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:7.3 million (2000)
Unemployment rate:5.9% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $553 millionexpenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries:meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:830.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:772.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $700 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite,petroleum products
Exports - partners:France 34%, US 24.6%, Netherlands 6%, Germany 5.9%, Mauritius 4%(2002)
Imports:$985 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:France 17.2%, Iran 11%, Mauritius 10.6%, Bahrain 9.4%, Hong Kong6.9%, South Africa 5.9%, China 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$838 million (1997)
Currency:Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code:MGF
Exchange rates:Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,831.96 (2002), 6,588.49 (2001),6,767.48 (2000), 6,283.77 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:55,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:63,100 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: system is above average for the regiondomestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,and tropospheric scatter links connect regionsinternational: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Oceanregion)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:35,000 (2002)
Transportation Madagascar
Railways: total: 732 km narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:of local importance only
Ports and harbors:Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWTships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2002est.)
Airports:121 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 92 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 46 under 914 m: 44 (2002)