Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; membersare 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 - NAnote: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections lastheld 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007); results- percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Mayotte alsoelects one member to the French National Assembly; elections lastheld 16 June 2002 (next to be held as a special election on NA June2005); results - percent of vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.08%, UDF44.92%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movementor MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR [MansourKAMARDINE]; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [MouhoutarSALIM]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French PartiSocialiste) [Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; 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
Economy Mayotte
Economy - overview:Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector,including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is notself-sufficient and must import a large portion of its foodrequirements, mainly from France. The economy and future developmentof the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance,an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is anobstacle 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:48,800 (2000)
Unemployment rate:38% (1999)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $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: 0% hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0%
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 (2000)
Imports:$141.3 million f.o.b. (1997)
Imports - commodities:food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals,chemicals
Imports - partners:France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (2000 est.)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$107.7 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (1995)
Currency:euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998),5.8367 (1997)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mayotte
Telephones - main lines in use:12,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: small system administered by French Departmentof Posts and Telecommunicationsdomestic: NAinternational: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephonecommunications to Comoros (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:3 (2001)
Televisions:3,500 (1994)
Internet country code:.yt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Mayotte
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Mayotte
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of Frenchforces stationed on the island
Transnational Issues Mayotte
Disputes - international: claimed by Comoros
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Mexico
Introduction Mexico
Background:The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came underSpanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence earlyin the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threwMexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in overhalf 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, inequitableincome distribution, and few advancement opportunities for thelargely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the 1910Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party ingovernment, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOXof the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.
Geography Mexico
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 kmland: 1,923,040 sq kmwater: 49,510 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,353 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km
Coastline: 9,330 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:varies from tropical to desert
Terrain:high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 13.2% permanent crops: 1.1% other: 85.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:65,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructiveearthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts
Environment - current issues:scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urbanmigration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted innorth, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extremesoutheast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers inurban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution inthe national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; landsubsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletionnote: the government considers the lack of clean water anddeforestation national security issues
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize), one ofthe world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated inMexico
People Mexico
Population:104,907,991 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32.3% (male 17,298,964; female 16,617,728)15-64 years: 63.1% (male 32,217,513; female 33,932,603)65 years and over: 4.6% (male 2,145,252; female 2,695,931) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 23.8 years male: 22.9 years female: 24.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.43% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:21.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 20.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 26.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.3 yearsmale: 69.26 yearsfemale: 75.49 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:150,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,200 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mexican(s)adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups:mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantlyAmerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
Languages:Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenouslanguages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.2%male: 94%female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
Government Mexico
Country name:conventional long form: United Mexican Statesconventional short form: Mexicolocal short form: Mexicolocal long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Mexico (Distrito Federal)
Administrative divisions:31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*(distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja CaliforniaSur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima,Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco,Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca,Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi,Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave,Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence:16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution:5 February 1917
Legal system:mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicialreview of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vicente FOX Quesada (since 1 December2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentelection results: Vicente FOX Quesada elected president; percent ofvote - Vicente FOX Quesada (PAN) 42.52%, Francisco LABASTIDA Ochoa(PRI) 36.1%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 16.64%, other 4.74%elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA July 2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment ofattorney general requires consent of the Senatehead of government: President Vicente FOX Quesada (since 1 December2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of theSenate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 are elected by popularvote to serve six-year terms, and 32 are allocated on the basis ofeach party's popular vote) and the Federal Chamber of Deputies orCamara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directlyelected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote,also for three-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PRI 60, PAN 46, PRD 15, PVEM 5, PT 1, CD 1; Chamber ofDeputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRI 224,PAN 153, PRD 95, other 28elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2000 for all of the seats (nextto be held NA 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 July 2003(next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges areappointed by the president with consent of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:Convergence for Democracy or CD [Dante DELGADO Ranauro];Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Dulce Maria SAURIRiancho]; Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM [Jorge EmilioGONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action Party or PAN [Luis Felipe BRAVOMena]; Party of the Democratic Revolution or PRD [Amalia GARCIAMedina]; Party of the Nationalist Society or PSN [Gustavo RIOJASSantana]; Social Alliance Party or PAS [Guillermo CALDERONDominguez]; Workers Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX;Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation ofMexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National Chambers ofCommerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade BusinessOrganizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing Goods andServices or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation Industriesor CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; National Unionof Workers or UNT; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers orCROM; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants or CROC;Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation:APEC, BCIE, BIS, Caricom (observer), CDB, CE (observer), EBRD,ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM(observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN SecurityCouncil (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC,UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Jose BREMER MartinoFAX: [1] (202) 728-1698consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico(California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas(Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis(Indiana), Las Vegas, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Omaha,Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon),Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Saint Louis, Salt Lake City, SanBernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma (Arizona)consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, SanAntonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZAembassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,Distrito Federalmailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-0900telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000FAX: [52] (55) 5080-2005, 5080-2834consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuanaconsulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in itsbeak) is centered in the white band
Economy Mexico
Economy - overview:Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern andoutmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by theprivate sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition inseaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gasdistribution, and airports. Income distribution remains highlyunequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since theimplementation of NAFTA in 1994. Following 6.9% growth in 2000, realGDP fell 0.3% in 2001, recovering to only a plus 1% in 2002, withthe US slowdown the principal cause. Mexico implemented free tradeagreements with Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the EuropeanFree Trade Area in 2001, putting more than 90% of trade under freetrade agreements. Foreign direct investment reached $25 billion in2001, of which $12.5 billion came from the purchase of Mexico'ssecond-largest bank, Banamex, by Citigroup.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $924.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 26% services: 69% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 41.1% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:53.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:39.8 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 24%, services 56% (1998)
Unemployment rate:urban - 3% plus considerable underemployment (2002)
Budget:revenues: $136 billionexpenditures: $140 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum,mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:198.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.7% hydro: 14.2% other: 2.9% (2001) nuclear: 4.2%
Electricity - consumption:186.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:77 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:2.068 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:3.59 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.507 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:1.881 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:374,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:25.03 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:36.87 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:38.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:254 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.967 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:969.2 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports: $158.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:US 82.7%, Canada 5.4%, Japan 1.1% (2002)
Imports:$168.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery,electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motorvehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Imports - partners:US 70.6%, Germany 3.5%, Japan 2.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$150 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$1.166 billion (1995)
Currency:Mexican peso (MXN)
Currency code:MXN
Exchange rates:Mexican pesos per US dollar - 9.66 (2002), 9.34 (2001), 9.46(2000), 9.56 (1999), 9.14 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mexico
Telephones - main lines in use:12.332 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.02 million (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: low telephone density with about 12 main linesper 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; the opening tocompetition in January 1997 improved prospects for developmentdomestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network;considerable use of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, and mobilecellular serviceinternational: satellite earth stations - 32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad(giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America,and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications),numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations; linked to Central AmericanMicrowave System of trunk connections; high capacity Columbus-2fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands,Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, and Italy (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 851, FM 598, shortwave 16 (2000)
Radios:31 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:25.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:.mx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):51 (2000)
Internet users:3.5 million (2002)
Transportation Mexico
Railways: total: 19,510 km standard gauge: 19,510 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 329,532 kmpaved: 108,087 km (including 6,429 km of expressways)unpaved: 221,445 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,900 kmnote: navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines:crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports and harbors:Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz,Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz,Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 636,271 GRT/933,686 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, combinationore/oil 1, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 26, roll on/roll off 8,short-sea passenger 3note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Canada 2, Denmark 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:1,823 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 231over 3,047 m: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 28914 to 1,523 m: 82under 914 m: 27 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 83
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1,592under 914 m: 1,067 (2002)over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4541,524 to 2,437 m: 69
Heliports:2 (2002)
Military Mexico
Military branches:National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) (including Army and AirForce), Navy Secretariat (including Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of agenote: starting in 2000, females were allowed to volunteer formilitary service (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 27,751,539 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 20,123,970 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 1,093,752 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Mexico
Disputes - international: prolonged regional drought in the border region with the US has strained water-sharing arrangements
Illicit drugs:illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 2001 - 4,400hectares; potential heroin production - 7 metric tons) and ofcannabis (in 2001 - 4,100 hectares); government eradication effortshave been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier ofheroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamineto the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country forUS-bound cocaine from South America; major drug syndicates controlmajority of drug trafficking throughout the country; growingproducer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-launderingcenter
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Micronesia, Federated States of
Introduction Micronesia, Federated States of
Background:In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territoryunder US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association withthe US. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment,overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
Geography Micronesia, Federated States of
Location:Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, aboutthree-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 702 sq kmnote: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,and Kosrae (Kosaie)water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)land: 702 sq km
Area - comparative:four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:6,112 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the easternislands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt withoccasionally severe damage
Terrain:islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low,coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources:forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:arable land: 5.71%permanent crops: 45.71%other: 48.58% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People Micronesia, Federated States of
Population:108,143 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.4% (male 21,163; female 20,335)15-64 years: 58.5% (male 31,746; female 31,477)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,558; female 1,864) (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:0.04% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:26.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 32.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 35.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.13 yearsmale: 67.39 yearsfemale: 70.95 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.5 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: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages:English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89%male: 91%female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government Micronesia, Federated States of
Country name:conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesiaconventional short form: noneabbreviation: FSMformer: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of thePacific Islands)
Government type:constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986;economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated
Capital:Palikir
Administrative divisions:4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:10 May 1979
Legal system:based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003);Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both thechief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is boththe chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinetelections: president and vice president elected by Congress fromamong the four senators at large for four-year terms; election lastheld 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposedconstitutional amendment to establish popular elections forpresident and vice president failedelection results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent ofCongress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percentof Congress vote - NA%
Legislative branch:unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote;four - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms; and 10- elected from single-member districts delineated by population toserve two-year terms)elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003(next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seatslast held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:no formal parties
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate),IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Larry M. DINGER embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the starsare arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming andfishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a touristindustry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequatefacilities, and limited air connections hinder development. InNovember 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in futurerevenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement withthe US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial andtechnical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. The country'smedium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to thereduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of theprivate sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developedinfrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $277 millionnote: $277 million $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid,averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate:16% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries:tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture,craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% hydro: 0%
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Agriculture - products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Exports:$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY 99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports:$149 million f.o.b. (FY 99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external:$53.1 million (FY 02/03 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used 1
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:11,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (usedmostly for government purposes)international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)(2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:.fm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine:nonenote: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Micronesia, Federated States of
Military - note:Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governingstate in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent onthe US for its defense
Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Midway Islands
Introduction Midway Islands
Background:The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying ofthe trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, broughtthe first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was usedas a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victoryover a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turningpoints of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a navalstation until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a nationalwildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to thepublic. It is now temporarily closed.
Geography Midway Islands
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of theway from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates:28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 6.2 sq kmnote: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Islandwater: 0 sq kmland: 6.2 sq km
Area - comparative:about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:15 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain:low, nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to thepublic for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlifeobservation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scubadiving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization atpresent (2003)
People Midway Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up thestaff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperatorliving at the atoll (July 2003 est.)
Government Midway Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered fromWashington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationallyclosed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through apresidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of theatoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the USDepartment of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refugesystem
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Midway Islands
Economy - overview:The economy is based on providing support services for the nationalwildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food andmanufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation Midway Islands
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways:none
Pipelines:7.8 km
Ports and harbors:Sand Island
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Military Midway Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Midway Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Moldova
Introduction Moldova
Background:Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Unionat the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSRsince 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory eastof the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population,mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria"republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became thefirst former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in2001.
Geography Moldova
Location:Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 33,843 sq kmwater: 472 sq kmland: 33,371 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use: arable land: 54.08% permanent crops: 12.1% other: 33.82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:3,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment - current issues:heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticidessuch as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soilerosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks andminerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People Moldova
Population:4,439,502 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.1% (male 477,063; female 459,992)15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,465,248; female 1,584,402)65 years and over: 10.2% (male 168,068; female 284,729) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 32 yearsmale: 29.8 yearsfemale: 34.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:14.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 41.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 38.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 44.81 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.88 yearsmale: 60.63 yearsfemale: 69.35 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Moldovan(s)adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%,Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.1%male: 99.6%female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
Government Moldova
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Moldovaconventional short form: Moldovalocal short form: noneformer: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavialocal long form: Republica Moldova
Government type:republic
Capital:Chisinau
Administrative divisions:9 counties (judetele, singular - judetul), 1 municipality*(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit** (unitate teritorialaautonoma), and 1 territorial unit*** (unitate teritoriala); Balti,Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Edinet, Gagauzia**, Lapusna, Orhei,Soroca, Stinga Nistrului***, Tighina, Ungheni
Independence:27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Sovietconstitution of 1979
Legal system:based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality oflegislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it isunclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but acceptsmany UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE) documents
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since NA 2002),Deputy Prime Minister Stefan ODAGIU (since NA 2002)cabinet: selected by prime minister, subject to approval ofParliamentelections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term;election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note -presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament'sfailure to chose a new president in December 2000 led to earlyparliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designatedby the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - within15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must requesta vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her workprogram and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001,cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001election results: Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentaryvotes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CHRISTEA3; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes ofconfidence - 75 of 101
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties andelectoral blocs, as well as independent candidates, elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - PCM 50.1%, BraghisAlliance 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCM71, Braghis Alliance 19, PPCD 11
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority forconstitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:Braghis Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Communist Party or PCM[Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian DemocraticParty or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Social Democratic Union (composed ofBraghis Alliance and the Democratic Party of Moldova) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU,OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008