International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known asSulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and greenare traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red ismore commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;design dates to 1912
Economy Morocco
Economy - overview:Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries -restraining government spending, reducing constraints on privateactivity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economicgrowth. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF,the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fullyconvertible for current account transactions. Reforms of thefinancial sector are being contemplated. Droughts depressed activityin the key agricultural sector and contributed to a stagnant economyin 2002. Morocco reported large foreign exchange inflows from thesale of a mobile telephone license, and partial privatization of thestate-owned telecommunications company and the state tobaccocompany. Favorable rainfall in 2003 led to a growth of 6%.Formidable long-term challenges include: preparing the economy forfreer trade with the EU and US, improving education, and attractingforeign investment to boost living standards and job prospects forMorocco's youth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $128.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.9% industry: 35.5% services: 41.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:19% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:39.5 (1998-99)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:10.84 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 40%, industry 15%, services 45% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:19% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $13.8 billionexpenditures: $14 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:76.2% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries:phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leathergoods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:13.35 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:14.61 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:2.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:167,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:900,000 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:665.4 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$963 million (2003)
Exports:$8.466 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,vegetables
Exports - partners:France 26.5%, Spain 16.7%, UK 7.2%, Germany 5.2%, Italy 5%, US 4%(2003)
Imports:$12.75 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:France 20.6%, Spain 12.4%, Italy 7.1%, Germany 5.2%, Saudi Arabia5%, Russia 4.9%, US 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$14.08 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$17.32 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$565.6 million (1995)
Currency:Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:MAD
Exchange rates:Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002),11.303 (2001), 10.6256 (2000), 9.8044 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:1,219,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,332,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;however, density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each100 personsdomestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, andmicrowave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; nationalnetwork nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved ruralservice employs microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 212; 7 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant inMedarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria andTunisia (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ma
Internet hosts:3,627 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:800,000 (2003)
Transportation Morocco
Railways: total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 57,707 kmpaved: 32,547 km (including 481 km of expressways)unpaved: 25,160 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia,Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta andMelilla
Merchant marine:total: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 236,131 GRT/252,367 DWTby type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 7, container 7, petroleum tanker1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 5, short-sea/passenger 2foreign-owned: France 1, Germany 2, Greece 1, Hong Kong 1,Netherlands 2, Norway 2, United Kingdom 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:64 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 382,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 10under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)914 to 1,523 m: 15
Heliports:1 (2003 est.)
Military Morocco
Military branches:Royal Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 8,788,971 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,529,267 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 352,711 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2,297.2 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Morocco
Disputes - international:claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remainsunresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect sinceSeptember 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed andparties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Moroccoprotests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon deAlhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; Morocco alsorejected Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from theCanary Islands in 2002 to set limits to undersea resourceexploration and refugee interdiction, but agreed in 2003 to discussa comprehensive maritime delimitation; Morocco serves as one of theprimary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from NorthAfrica
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directedto Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South Americadestined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Mozambique
Introduction Mozambique
Background:Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close withindependence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economicdependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civilwar hindered the country's development. The ruling Front for theLiberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxismin 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided formultiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiatedpeace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique NationalResistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANOsteped down after 18 years in office. His newly elected successor,Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economicpolicies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Geography Mozambique
Location:South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, betweenSouth Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 801,590 sq kmwater: 17,500 sq kmland: 784,090 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 4,571 kmborder countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:2,470 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical to subtropical
Terrain:mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus innorthwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use: arable land: 5.1% permanent crops: 0.3% other: 94.6% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in centraland southern provinces
Environment - current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile partof the country
People Mozambique
Population:18,811,731note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2004est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.6% (male 4,126,178; female 4,074,759)15-64 years: 53.6% (male 4,944,416; female 5,145,167)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 215,418; female 305,793) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.2 yearsmale: 17.8 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.22% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:36.06 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:23.86 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: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 137.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 131.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 142.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 37.1 yearsmale: 37.83 yearsfemale: 36.34 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:12.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1.3 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:110,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, plague, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Mozambican(s)adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, andothers), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, numerous other indigenous languages,Portuguese (official; spoken by 27% of population as a secondlanguage)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 47.8%male: 63.5%female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mozambique
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Mozambiqueconventional short form: Mozambiquelocal short form: Mocambiqueformer: Portuguese East Africalocal long form: Republica de Mocambique
Government type:republic
Capital:Maputo
Administrative divisions:10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*;Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*,Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:30 November 1990
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February2004)cabinet: Cabinetelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December2009); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote- Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secretballot to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December2009)election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 62%, Renamo29.7%; seats by party - Frelimo 160, Renamo 90
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professionaljudges are appointed by the president and some are elected by theAssembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customscourts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courtsnote: although the constitution provides for the creation of aseparate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; inits absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao deMocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, president];Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia NacionalMocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia)or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa,chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz eCidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dosDireitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights andDevelopment (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [ArtemisiaFRANCO, secretary general]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC,ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSONembassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputomailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputotelephone: [258] (1) 492797FAX: [258] (1) 490448
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow witha red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band isedged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointedstar bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on anopen white book
Economy Mozambique
Economy - overview:At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorestcountries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarkedon a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize theeconomy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and withpolitical stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, haveled to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflationwas reduced to single digits during the late 1990s although itreturned to double digits in 2000-03. Fiscal reforms, including theintroduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service,have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. Inspite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreignassistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of thepopulation remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculturecontinues to employ the vast majority of the country's workforce. Asubstantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of theMOZAL aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investmentproject to date has increased export earnings. Additional investmentprojects in titanium extraction and processing and garmentmanufacturing should further close the import/export gap.Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced throughforgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted PoorCountries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at amanageable level.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $21.23 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.1% industry: 27.3% services: 52.7% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):47.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:39.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):14% (2003 est.)
Labor force:9.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:21% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.089 billionexpenditures: $1.269 billion, including capital expenditures of$479.4 million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;beef, poultry
Industries:food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:3.4% (2000)
Electricity - production:7.193 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.39 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:5.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:500 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:63.71 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-566 million (2003)
Exports:$795 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulkelectricity
Exports - partners:Belgium 26%, South Africa 14.4%, Italy 9.6%, Spain 9.5%, Germany8.3%, Zimbabwe 4.7% (2003)
Imports:$1.142 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:South Africa 26.3%, Australia 9.2%, US 3.9% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$990 million (2003)
Debt - external:$966 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$632.8 million (2001)
Currency:metical (MZM)
Currency code:MZM
Exchange rates:meticais per US dollar - 23,782.3 (2003), 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6(2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999)note: effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as theweighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of alltransactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:83,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:428,900 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system but not available generally(telephone density is only 16 telephones for each 1,000 persons)domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunkconnection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatterinternational: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:67,600 (2000)
Internet country code:.mz
Internet hosts:3,249 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2002)
Internet users:50,000 (2002)
Transportation Mozambique
Railways: total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora BassaLake) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 649 km; refined products 292 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT by type: cargo 3 foreign-owned: Belgium 2 (2004 est.)
Airports: 158 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 136 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 87 (2004 est.)
Military Mozambique
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,335,294 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,485,197 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$101.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Mozambique
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asianheroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for theEuropean and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for localconsumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa);corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking systemvulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developedfinancial infrastructure limits the country's utility as amoney-laundering center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Namibia
Introduction Namibia
Background:South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa duringWorld War I and administered it as a mandate until after World WarII, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-WestAfrica People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a warof independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it wasnot until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration inaccordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia wonits independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since.Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in alandslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country duringits first 14 years of self rule.
Geography Namibia
Location:Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angolaand South Africa
Geographic coordinates:22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 825,418 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 825,418 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 3,936 kmborder countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:1,572 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert ineast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources:diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fishnote: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use:arable land: 0.99%permanent crops: 0%other: 99.01% (2001)
Irrigated land:70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues:very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:first country in the world to incorporate the protection of theenvironment into its constitution; some 14% of the land isprotected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
People Namibia
Population:1,954,033note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.4% (male 419,700; female 409,156)15-64 years: 54% (male 527,553; female 528,386)65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,427; female 38,811) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 18 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.25% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:33.51 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:21.02 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: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 69.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 72.65 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 40.53 yearsmale: 42.36 yearsfemale: 38.64 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:21.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:210,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:16,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Namibian(s)adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups:black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions:Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs10% to 20%
Languages:English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of thepopulation and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 84%male: 84.4%female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Government Namibia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Namibiaconventional short form: Namibiaformer: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:republic
Capital:Windhoek
Administrative divisions:13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence:21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution:ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since November 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August2002)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent ofvote - NA%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats;two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-yearterms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, todetermine members of the National Council, held 15-16 November 2004(next to be held November 2009); National Assembly - last held 15-16November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)note: the National Council is primarily an advisory bodyelection results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, UDF 3, MAG 1, other 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on therecommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic TurnhalleAlliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; MonitorAction Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People'sOrganization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United DemocraticFront or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag description:a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper leftsection and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower rightsection; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that iscontrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
Economy Namibia
Economy - overview:The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processingof minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Richalluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source forgem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter ofnonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer ofuranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin,silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of thepopulation while about half of the population depends on subsistenceagriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50%of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are amajor problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to theregion, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearlyone-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 inconstant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibianeconomy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollarpegged to the South African rand. Privatization of severalenterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreigninvestment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fishproduction led growth in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $13.85 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 29.8% services: 58.7% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:70 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.3% (2003)
Labor force:760,000 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:35% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $1.434 billionexpenditures: $1.62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003)
Public debt:35.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Industries:meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond,lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:26.95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:603.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:31.15 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$123 million (2003)
Exports:$1.09 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processedfish, karakul skins
Exports - partners:EU 79%, US 4% (2001)
Imports:$1.371 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,chemicals
Imports - partners:US 50%, EU 31% (2001)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$325.2 million (2003)
Debt - external:$1.04 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $160 million (2000 est.)
Currency:Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates:Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002),8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:127,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:223,700 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100personsdomestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radiorelay links major towns; connections to other populated places areby open wire; 100% digitalinternational: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to SouthAfrica, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links toother neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and SouthAfrican Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa;satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:60,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.na
Internet hosts:3,164 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:65,000 (2003)
Transportation Namibia
Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine:none (2004 est.)
Airports:136 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1152,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 22914 to 1,523 m: 71under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)
Military Namibia
Military branches:Namibian Defense Force: Army (including Naval Wing, Air Wing),Police
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 468,934 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 279,755 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$111.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (2003)
Transnational Issues Namibia
Disputes - international:commission established with Botswana to resolve small residualdisputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlandsalong the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia'splanned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on PopaFalls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of theboundary in the Orange River; Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, andZimbabwe boundary convergence is not clearly defined or delimited;Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Nauru
Introduction Nauru
Background:Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20thcentury by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied byAustralian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallestindependent republic.
Geography Nauru
Location:Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the MarshallIslands
Geographic coordinates:0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 21 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 21 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:30 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November toFebruary)
Terrain:sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs withphosphate plateau in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources:phosphates, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collectrainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalinationplant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainlyby a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% ofNauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati andMakatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
People Nauru
Population:12,809 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.2% (male 2,516; female 2,372)15-64 years: 60% (male 3,782; female 3,898)65 years and over: 1.9% (male 128; female 113) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 19.9 yearsmale: 19.5 yearsfemale: 20.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.87% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:25.61 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.95 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 62.33 yearsmale: 58.78 yearsfemale: 66.06 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.29 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: Nauruan(s)adjective: Nauruan
Ethnic groups:Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religions:Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Languages:Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), Englishwidely understood, spoken, and used for most government andcommercial purposes
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Nauru
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nauruconventional short form: Nauruformer: Pleasant Island
Government type:republic
Capital:no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Administrative divisions:14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada,Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UNtrusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution:29 January 1968
Legal system:acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 26 October 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentelections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;election last held 23 October 2004 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: Ludwig SCOTTY was unopposed in the parliamentaryelections for presidentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof Parliamenthead of government: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 26 October 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve three-year terms)elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May2006)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Nauru First Party 3,independents 15
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; NauruParty (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leaderNA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN officeat 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone:(212) 937-0074consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fijiis accredited to Nauru
Flag description:blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center anda large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side;the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator(the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 originaltribes of Nauru