Investment (gross fixed):12.3% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:55% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 90% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $528.1 millionexpenditures: $653.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:235.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:-1.6% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:769.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:715.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-58 million (2003)
Exports:$455 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,apparel
Exports - partners:South Africa 23.3%, US 13.4%, Germany 11.3%, Egypt 5.7%, Portugal4.8%, Japan 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2003)
Imports:$505 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,transportation equipment
Imports - partners:South Africa 53.7%, India 4.9%, Tanzania 3.9% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$132 million (2003)
Debt - external:$3.026 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$540 million (1999)
Currency:Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:MWK
Exchange rates:Malawian kwachas per US dollar - NA (2003), 76.6866 (2002), 72.1973(2001), 59.5438 (2000), 44.0881 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:85,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:135,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relaylinks, and radiotelephone communications stationsinternational: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a thirdstation held in standby status) (2001)
Radios:2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.mw
Internet hosts:18 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2002)
Internet users:36,000 (2003)
Transportation Malawi
Railways: total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 700 km note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River (2003)
Ports and harbors:Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Airports:42 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 6over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 15under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)
Military Malawi
Military branches:Army (including Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includingMobile Force Unit)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,691,881 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,381,607 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$11.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2003)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Malaysia
Introduction Malaysia
Background:During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain establishedcolonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; thesewere occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruledterritories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 whenthe former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysianstates of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joinedthe Federation. The first several years of the country's historywere marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippineclaims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in1965.
Geography Malaysia
Location:Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northernone-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, andthe South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,750 sq kmwater: 1,200 sq kmland: 328,550 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast(October to February) monsoons
Terrain:coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 5.48% other: 76.91% (2001) permanent crops: 17.61%
Irrigated land:3,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South ChinaSea
People Malaysia
Population:23,522,482 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.3% (male 4,033,037; female 3,806,451)15-64 years: 62.1% (male 7,326,068; female 7,289,783)65 years and over: 4.5% (male 469,499; female 597,644) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 23.8 yearsmale: 23.2 yearsfemale: 24.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.83% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:23.37 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegalimmigrants from other countries in the region (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 21.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.95 yearsmale: 69.29 yearsfemale: 74.81 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.1 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:52,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Malaysian(s)adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 24%, Indian 8%, others 10%(2000)
Religions:Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - inaddition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages:Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese,Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu,Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - in addition, in East Malaysiaseveral indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban andKadazan
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.7%male: 92%female: 85.4% (2002)
Government Malaysia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Federation of Malaysia
Government type:constitutional monarchynote: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore)formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left Federation on 9 August 1965);nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliamentconsisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melakaand Penang; those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in EastMalaysia have governors appointed by Malaysian Government; powers ofstate governments are limited by federal constitution; under termsof federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutionalprerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigrationcontrols); Sabah - currently holds 20 seats in House ofRepresentatives and will hold 25 seats after the next election;Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives
Capital:Kuala Lumpurnote: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah,Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, PulauPinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federalterritory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of KualaLumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Independence:31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts inthe Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibniAlmarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12December 2001)head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister NAJIB Tun Razak (since 7January 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among themembers of Parliament with consent of the paramount rulerelection results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku SyedPutra Jamalullail elected paramount rulerelections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulersof nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister designatedfrom among the members of the House of Representatives; followinglegislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a pluralityof seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or DewanNegara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointedby the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or DewanRakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199,DAP 12, PAS 6, Keadilan 1, independent 1elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (nextmust be held by 2009)
Judicial branch:Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on theadvice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN,consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Partyor PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti LiberalDemokratik - Sabah) or LDP [CHONG Kah Kiat]; Malaysian ChineseAssociation (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. SamyVELLU]; Parti Bersatu Pakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; PartiBersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti PesakaBumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; PartiRakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (PartiProgresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People'sParty (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam];United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH Ahmad Badawi];United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (PertubuhanPasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK];People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) orPPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP[William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (PartiTindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party ofMalaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang];People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAHWan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DANDUNG];opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BAconsists of PAS and PKR
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC,ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalidchancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 572-9882telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152 telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000 FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207
Flag description:14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white(bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side cornerbearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescentand the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was basedon the flag of the US
Economy Malaysia
Economy - overview:Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into anemerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively drivenby exports - particularly of electronics. As a result Malaysia washard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in theinformation technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001grew only 0.5% due to an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but asubstantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billionmitigated the worst of the recession and the economy rebounded in2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003,notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures fromSARS and the Iraq War led to caution in the business community.Healthy foreign exchange reserves and a relatively small externaldebt make it unlikely that Malaysia will experience a crisis similarto the one in 1997, but the economy remains vulnerable to a moreprotracted slowdown in Japan and the US, top export destinations andkey sources of foreign investment. The Malaysian ringgit is peggedto the dollar, and the Japanese central bank continues to interveneand prop up the yen against the dollar.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $207.8 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.3% industry: 33.5% services: 59.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:10.26 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 14.5%, industry 36%, services 49.5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $22.95 billionexpenditures: $27.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.4billion (2003 est.)
Public debt:45.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber,pepper; timber
Industries:Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing andmanufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin miningand smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging,petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleumproduction and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:9.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:75.33 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:68.4 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:690,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:460,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:230,200 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:3.729 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:53.66 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:31.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:22.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.23 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$13.38 billion (2003)
Exports:$98.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood andwood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 19.6%, Singapore 15.7%, Japan 10.7%, China 6.5%, Hong Kong 6.5%,Thailand 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$74.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,iron and steel products, chemicals
Imports - partners:Japan 17.3%, US 15.5%, Singapore 11.9%, China 8.8%, South Korea5.5%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$44.58 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$48.84 billion (2003 est.)
Currency:ringgit (MYR)
Currency code:MYR
Exchange rates:ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2003), 3.8 (2002), 3.8 (2001), 3.8(2000), 3.8 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:4,571,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:11,124,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system; international service excellentdomestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysiamainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radiorelay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domesticsatellite system with 2 earth stationsinternational: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, HongKong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 IndianOcean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Radios:10.9 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:10.8 million (1999)
Internet country code:.my
Internet hosts:107,971 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):7 (2000)
Internet users:8,692,100 (2003)
Transportation Malaysia
Railways:total: 2,418 km (207 km electrified)standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)narrow gauge: 2,361 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 65,877 kmpaved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways)unpaved: 15,942 km (1999)
Waterways:7,200 kmnote: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km(2004)
Pipelines:condensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refined products 114km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, LahadDatu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, George Town (Penang), Port Dickson,Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine:total: 360 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,389,397 GRT/7,539,178 DWTforeign-owned: China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 8, Indonesia 2, Japan2, South Korea 1, Liberia 1, Monaco 1, Norway 1, Philippines 2,Singapore 81, Vietnam 1registered in other countries: 75 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 59, cargo 100, chemical tanker 38, container 66,liquefied gas 25, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker56, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 8
Airports:117 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 38 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 79 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 72 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Malaysia
Military branches:Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force,Royal Malaysian Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,193,587 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,746,960 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 223,466 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.03% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Malaysia
Disputes - international:involved in complex dispute with China, Philippines, Taiwan,Vietnam and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" haseased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code ofconduct" desired by several of the disputants; disputes overdeliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's landreclamation, bridge construction, maritime boundaries, and PedraBranca Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist - parties agree to ICJarbitration on island dispute within three years; ICJ awardedLigitan and Sipadan islands off the coast of Sabah, also claimed byIndonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia; a 1 kilometer segment at themouth of the Golok River remains in dispute with Thailand;Philippines retains a now dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State innorthern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting thePhilippines Government power of attorney to pursue the Sultanate'ssovereignty claim; in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oilexploration in their offshore and deepwater seabeds untilnegotiations progress to an agreement over allocation of disputedareas; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is indispute
Illicit drugs:transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecutedvigorously and carries severe penalties
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Maldives
Introduction Maldives
Background:The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and thenunder British protection. They became a republic in 1968, threeyears after independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM- currently in his sixth term in office - has dominated the island'spolitical scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004,the president and his government have pledged to embark upondemocratic reforms, including a more representative political systemand expanded political freedoms. Tourism and fishing are beingdeveloped on the archipelago.
Geography Maldives
Location:Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwestof India
Geographic coordinates:3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 300 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the AdduAtoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:fish
Land use:arable land: 13.33%permanent crops: 16.67%other: 70% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands,plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategiclocation astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People Maldives
Population:339,330 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.4% (male 77,424; female 73,191)15-64 years: 52.6% (male 91,045; female 87,331)65 years and over: 3% (male 5,207; female 5,132) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 17.5 yearsmale: 17.4 yearsfemale: 17.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.86% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:36.06 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 58.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 59.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 57.43 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.68 yearsmale: 62.41 yearsfemale: 65.01 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.14 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Maldivian(s)adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:Sunni Muslim
Languages:Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.2%male: 97.1%female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
Government Maldives
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Maldivesconventional short form: Maldiveslocal short form: Dhivehi Raajjelocal long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Government type:republic
Capital:Male
Administrative divisions:19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-orderadministrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu,Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu,Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence:26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:adopted January 1998
Legal system:based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common lawprimarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentelections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nominationmust be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approvalmargin is required); president elected for a five-year term;election last held 17 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected inreferendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - MaumoonAbdul GAYOOM 90.3%cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidenthead of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of government
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected bypopular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50
Judicial branch:High Court
Political parties and leaders:although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Dr. Mohamed LATHEEFchancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador toSri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description:red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a verticalwhite crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist sideof the flag
Economy Maldives
Economy - overview:Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP andmore than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%of government tax revenue comes from import duties andtourism-related taxes. Fishing is a second leading sector. TheMaldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to theprivate sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations toallow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturingcontinue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by thelimited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domesticlabor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consistsmainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts,accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about theimpact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lyingcountry; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 20%industry: 18%services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:NEGL% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconutprocessing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sandmining
Industrial production growth rate:4.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:117 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:108.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$90 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, clothing
Exports - partners:US 32.1%, Thailand 17%, Sri Lanka 13.4%, Japan 10.7%, UK 9.8%,Indonesia 4.5% (2003)
Imports:$392 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Singapore 24.8%, Sri Lanka 13.8%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, UAE7.6%, Thailand 5.1% (2003)
Debt - external:$281 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA (1995)
Currency:rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code:MVR
Exchange rates:rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.2421 (2001),11.77 (2000), 11.77 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:28,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:41,900 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilitiesdomestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; allinhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax serviceinternational: country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:10,000 (1999)
Internet country code:.mv
Internet hosts:532 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:15,000 (2002)
Transportation Maldives
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Gan, Male
Merchant marine:total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,164 GRT/68,973 DWTregistered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1,short-sea/passenger 1foreign-owned: North Korea 1
Airports:5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Maldives
Military branches:National Security Service: comprising Security Branch (groundforces), Air Element; Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 81,221 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 45,142 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$43.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:8.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Maldives
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Mali
Introduction Mali
Background:The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a fewmonths, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamedMali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with atransitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democraticpresidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997,President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political andeconomic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali'stwo-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and wassucceeded by Amadou TOURE.
Geography Mali
Location:Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.24 million sq kmwater: 20,000 sq kmland: 1.22 million sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 7,243 kmborder countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,Senegal 419 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid,and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna insouth, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Senegal River 23 mhighest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources:gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropowernote: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits areknown but not exploited
Land use:arable land: 3.82%permanent crops: 0.03%other: 96.15% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,380 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurringdroughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate suppliesof potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and thenorthern, arid Saharan
People Mali
Population:11,956,788 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47.1% (male 2,835,378; female 2,801,578)15-64 years: 49.9% (male 2,862,075; female 3,101,009)65 years and over: 3% (male 163,927; female 192,821) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.3 yearsmale: 15.7 yearsfemale: 16.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.78% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:47.29 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:19.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 117.99 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 111.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 124.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 45.28 yearsmale: 44.7 yearsfemale: 45.87 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.58 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:12,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Malian(s)adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups:Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions:Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages:French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 46.4%male: 53.5%female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
Government Mali
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Maliconventional short form: Malilocal short form: Maliformer: French Sudan and Sudanese Republiclocal long form: Republique de Mali
Government type:republic
Capital:Bamako
Administrative divisions:8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial reviewof legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formallyestablished on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi MAIGA (since 30April 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held NAMay 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent ofvote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 14 July and 28 July 2002 (next to be held NAJuly 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE, partychairman]; Block of Alternative for the Renewal of Africa or BARA[Yoro DIAKITE]; Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [MamadouBakary SANGARE, chairman]; Hope 2002 [leader NA]; Movement for theIndependence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA[Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress forDemocratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party forDemocracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party forNational Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME,secretary general]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [AliGNANGADO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA,chairman]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Bonbasor KEITA, chairman];Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou BamouTOURE, secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progressor UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary general]; Union for Democracy andDevelopment or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement andFronts of Azawad or MFUA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki HUDDLESTONE embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] (2) 223-833 FAX: [223] (2) 223-712
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Mali
Economy - overview:Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of itsland area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequaldistribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to theriverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population isnomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming andfishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farmcommodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerableto fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, alongwith gold. The government has continued its successfulimplementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment programthat is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreigninvestment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 have pushed upeconomic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2002. Workerremittances and external trade routes have been jeopardized bycontinued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $10.53 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:64% average; 30% of the total population living in urban areas; 70%of the total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 1.8%highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:3.93 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.6% urban areas; 5.3% rural areas (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $764 millionexpenditures: $828 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2002 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA (FY96/97)
Electricity - production:480.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:446.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)