Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Georges ERICHOT]; MartiniqueIndependence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; MartiniqueProgressive Party or PPM [Pierre SUEDILE]; Martinique SocialistParty or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats andEcologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA];Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; SocialistRevolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for FrenchDemocracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union forMartinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
International organization participation:UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a whitecross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag ofFrance is used for official occasions
Economy Martinique
Economy - overview:The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and lightindustry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the smallindustrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with mostof the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exportsare increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable,and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronictrade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid fromFrance. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has becomemore important than agricultural exports as a source of foreignexchange.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $6.117 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6%industry: 11%services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.9% (1990)
Labor force:165,900 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate:27.2% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $900 millionexpenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140million (1996)
Agriculture - products:pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Industries:construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:1.151 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$250 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples (2001 est.)
Exports - partners:France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)
Imports:$2 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials,vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US 3% (2000)
Debt - external:$180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - substantial annual aid from France (1998)
Currency:euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995(1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use:172,000 est (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:319,900 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic facilities are adequatedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 596; microwave radio relay toGuadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:40,000 (2002)
Transportation Martinique
Highways: total: 2,105 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine:none
Airports:2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Martinique
Military branches:no regular military forces; Gendarmerie
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Martinique
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US andEurope
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Mauritania
Introduction Mauritania
Background:Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southernthird of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, butrelinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisarioguerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Oppositionparties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Twomultiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen asflawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections weregenerally free and open. Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-partystate. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions betweenits black population and the dominant Moor (Arab-Berber) populace.
Geography Mauritania
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenSenegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,030,700 sq kmland: 1,030,400 sq kmwater: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 5,074 kmborder countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:754 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use: arable land: 0.48% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.51% (2001)
Irrigated land:490 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March andApril; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by droughtare contributing to desertification; very limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennialriver; locust infestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott andNouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of thecountry
People Mauritania
Population:2,998,563 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45.9% (male 689,371; female 686,486)15-64 years: 51.9% (male 767,551; female 788,520)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 27,106; female 39,529) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.9 yearsmale: 16.7 yearsfemale: 17.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.91% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:41.79 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:12.74 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 72.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 69.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 75.22 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 52.32 yearsmale: 50.15 yearsfemale: 54.56 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.01 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, Rift Valley feveroverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Mauritanian(s)adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:Muslim 100%
Languages:Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 41.7%male: 51.8%female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritania
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritaniaconventional short form: Mauritanialocal short form: Muritaniyahlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Nouakchott
Administrative divisions:12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, HodhEch Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, TirisZemmour, Trarza
Independence:28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:12 July 1991
Legal system:a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12December 1984)head of government: Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK (since 6July 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be held NA 2009); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelectedfor a third term with 60.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh(56 seats, a part of the seats up for election every two years;members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) andthe National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (81 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2002 (next to be held NAApril 2004); National Assembly - last held 19 and 26 October 2001(next to be held NA 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PRDS 54, RFD 1, UNDD 1; National Assembly - percent of voteby party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%;seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Alliance forJustice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE]; Democratic and SocialRepublican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Maaouya Ould SidAhmed TAYA]; Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde or PMRC[Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; National Union for Democracy andDevelopment or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality andJustice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih OuldCHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Messoud OuldBOULKHEIR]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [MohamedMahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress Force Union or UFP [Mohamed OuldMAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH];Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Unionfor Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]note: the Action for Change party was banned in January 2002although its members were permitted to keep their seats in theNational Assembly; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders:Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; General Confederation of MauritanianWorkers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general];Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [SamoryOuld BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed ElyOuld BRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould KERIMchancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663 FAX: [222] 25-25-92
Flag description:green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontalcrescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent,star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Mauritania
Economy - overview:Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock fora livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmerswere forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which accountfor nearly 40% of total exports. The decline in world demand forthis ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation'scoastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, butoverexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue.The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986.In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in abuildup of foreign debt. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified fordebt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donorand lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. In2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicatedpotential extraction at current world oil prices. A new investmentcode approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for directforeign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involveproblems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. Substantial oilproduction and exports probably will not begin until 2005. Meantimethe government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement ofhealth and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $5.195 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 50%, industry 10%, services 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:21% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $421 millionexpenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Industries:fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:157.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:146.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$541 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners:Japan 12.5%, France 12.1%, Spain 11.4%, Italy 10.4%, Belgium 7.8%,Germany 7.4%, Russia 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2%, Netherlands 4% (2003)
Imports:$860 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 16.8%, Spain 7.7%, China 6.3%, Belgium 5.1%, Germany 4.9%,Japan 4.3%, UK 4.1%, US 4% (2003)
Debt - external:$2.5 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$220 million (2000)
Currency:ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code:MRO
Exchange rates:ouguiyas per US dollar - NA (2003), 271.739 (2002), 255.629 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:31,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:300,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communicationsstations (improvements being made)domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completeddomestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott withregional capitalsinternational: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:410,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:98,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.mr
Internet hosts:25 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Mauritania
Railways: 717 km standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 7,720 km paved: 830 km unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
Waterways:some ferry traffic on Senegal River (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine:none
Airports:24 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Mauritania
Military branches:Army, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force, NationalGendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard(BSSP)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 686,629 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 332,633 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$40.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.7% (2003)
Transnational Issues Mauritania
Disputes - international: Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Mauritius
Introduction Mauritius
Background:Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was subsequentlyheld by the Dutch, French, and British before independence wasattained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections anda positive human rights record, the country has attractedconsiderable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa'shighest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugarprices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests overstandards of living in the Creole community.
Geography Mauritius
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 2,040 sq kmnote: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (SaintBrandon), and Rodrigueswater: 10 sq kmland: 2,030 sq km
Area - comparative:almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:177 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (Mayto November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encirclingcentral plateau
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 49.26% permanent crops: 2.96% other: 47.78% (2001)
Irrigated land:200 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards:cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefsthat may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the main island, from which the country derives its name, is ofvolcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs
People Mauritius
Population:1,220,481 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.8% (male 152,424; female 149,908)15-64 years: 68.8% (male 418,836; female 420,411)65 years and over: 6.5% (male 31,104; female 47,798) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 30.1 yearsmale: 29.3 yearsfemale: 31.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.81% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:15.85 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 18.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.09 yearsmale: 68.11 yearsfemale: 76.13 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.97 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mauritian(s)adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian2%
Religions:Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%),Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages:English (official), Creole, French (official), Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,Bhojpuri
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.6%male: 88.6%female: 82.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritius
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Mauritiusconventional short form: Mauritius
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Port Louis
Administrative divisions:9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses,Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system with elements of English commonlaw in certain areas
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February2002)head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 30 September2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly for five-year terms; election last held 25 February 2002(next to be held NA 2007); prime minister and deputy prime ministerappointed by the president, responsible to the National Assemblyelection results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUNelected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly -NA; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (66 seats; 62 elected by popular vote,4 appointed by the election commission from the losing politicalparties to give representation to various ethnic minorities; membersserve five-year terms)elections: last held on 11 September 2000 (next to be held NASeptember 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD36.9%, OPR 10.8%; seats by party - MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian Labor Party or MLP[Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [PaulBERENGER] - in coalition with MSM; Mauritian Social Democrat Partyor PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement orMSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] - governing party; Rodrigues Movement or MR[Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR[Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:various labor unions
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC,ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAHFAX: [1] (202) 966-0983telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICEembassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louismailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; USmail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington,DC 20521-2450telephone: [230] 202-4400FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description:four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
Economy Mauritius
Economy - overview:Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from alow-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-incomediversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and touristsectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the orderof 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in moreequitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, loweredinfant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. Sugarcane isgrown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25%of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers onexpanding local financial institutions and building a domesticinformation telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attractedmore than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in Indiaand South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone hasreached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sectorand responsible fiscal management, has been well poised to takeadvantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP:purchasing power parity - $13.85 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.1% industry: 30.3% services: 63.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37 (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:560,000 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and industry 36%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, finance 3%, other services 24% (1995)
Unemployment rate:9.8% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.122 billionexpenditures: $1.461 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003)
Public debt:31.9% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Industries:food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing;chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectricalmachinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:1.311 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.219 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:21,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$289 million (2003)
Exports:$1.965 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Exports - partners:UK 31%, France 21.3%, US 17.6%, Madagascar 6.3% (2003)
Imports:$2.136 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleumproducts, chemicals
Imports - partners:South Africa 12.1%, France 12%, China 8.4%, India 8.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.598 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$1.75 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$42 million (1997)
Currency:Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code:MUR
Exchange rates:Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 27.9015 (2003), 29.962 (2002),29.1293 (2001), 26.2496 (2000), 25.1858 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:348,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:462,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: small system with good servicedomestic: primarily microwave radio relay trunk systeminternational: country code - 230; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HFradiotelephone links to several countries; fiber optic submarinecable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:258,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mu
Internet hosts:3,985 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:150,000 (2003)
Transportation Mauritius
Highways:total: 1,926 kmpaved: 1,868 km (including 44 km of expressways)unpaved: 58 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Port Louis
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,946 GRT/27,102 DWTforeign-owned: Belgium 1, India 4, Switzerland 2 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 1, combination bulk 4, passenger/cargo 1,refrigerated cargo 2
Airports:5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Mauritius
Military branches:National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special MobileForce or SMF and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 342,482 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 172,157 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$11.2 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Mauritius
Disputes - international:Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered BritishIndian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who residechiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right torepatriation in 2001; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs:minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia;small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significantoffshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering,but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appearsgenerally to be committed to regulating its banking industry
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Mayotte
Introduction Mayotte
Background:Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of theComoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelagothat voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and foregoindependence.
Geography Mayotte
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-halfof the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 374 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 374 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:185.2 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeasternmonsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain:generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: NApermanent crops: NAother: NA (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
People Mayotte
Population:186,026 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.4% (male 43,301; female 42,934)15-64 years: 51.9% (male 52,534; female 44,100)65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,579; female 1,578) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.9 yearsmale: 18.1 yearsfemale: 15.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:4.09% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:42.19 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.11 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:6.78 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: 1.19 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 64.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 57.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 70.42 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 60.99 yearsmale: 58.85 yearsfemale: 63.2 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.98 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups:NA
Religions:Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages:Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by35% of the population
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Mayotte
Country name:conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotteconventional short form: Mayotte
Dependency status:territorial collectivity of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions:none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence:none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Paul KIHL (since 17 January 2005)elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Councilelected by the members of the General Council for a six-year termhead of government: President of the General Council YounoussaBAMANA (since NA 1977)cabinet: NA
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:UPU
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 - $466.8 million (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 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.)
Agriculture - products:vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Industries:newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
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 - 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mayotte
Telephones - main lines in use:10,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:21,700 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: small system administered by French Departmentof Posts and Telecommunicationsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 269; microwave radio relay and HFradiotelephone communications 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
Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Ports and harbors:Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine:none
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
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 10 February, 2005
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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:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
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: 12.99% permanent crops: 1.31% other: 85.7% (2001)