Independence:8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsingindependence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah'sDay and Ilinden
Constitution:adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amendedNovember 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendmentsstrengthening minority rights
Legal system:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Vlado BUCKOVSKI (since 17December 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of allthe deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by thegovernment coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and BDIelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to beheld April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly; electionlast held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president onsecond-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Vlado BUCKOVSKI elected prime minister by theAssembly
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected bypopular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overallvote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all servefour-year terms)elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Together for Macedonia coalition 60 (SDSM 43, LDP 12, others 5),VMRO-DPMNE 33 (VMRO 28 and LDT 5), Democratic Union for Integration16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; ConstitutionalCourt - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican JudicialCouncil - the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA[Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [ArbenXHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC];Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic RepublicanUnion of Macedonia or DRUM [Dosta DIMOVSKA]; Democratic Union ofVlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integrationor BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV];Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party forMacedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE (including VMRO and LDT)[Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [BorisZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal MacedonianRevolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [VesnaJANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; LiberalDemocratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV];National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers'Party [Vejljo TANTAROV]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia orSDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia orSP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition(including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party forEmancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; Movement forMacedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]
International organization participation:ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063 FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093 consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 2 311-6180 FAX: [389] 2 311-7103
Flag description:a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges ofthe red field
Economy Macedonia
Economy - overview:At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the leastdeveloped of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of thetotal federal output of goods and services. The collapse ofYugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminatedadvantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absenceof infrastructure, UN sanctions on the down-sized Yugoslavia, one ofits largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a disputeabout the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economicgrowth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000.However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade,and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanianinsurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreasedtrade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending onsecurity needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in2002 to 0.9%, then rose by a moderate 3.4% in 2003, and is estimatedat 1.3% in 2004. Unemployment at one-third of the workforce remainsa critical economic problem. Much of the extensive grey marketactivity falls outside official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$14.4 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 26% services: 62.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:855,000 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:37.7% (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:30.2% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.198 billionexpenditures: $1.245 billion, including capital expenditures of $114million (2004 est.)
Public debt:20% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, corn, millet, cotton, sesame,mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Industries:coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, woodproducts, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:6.273 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.216 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:953 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:22,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-311 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.629 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:Serbia and Montenegro 31.4%, Germany 19.9%, Greece 8.9%, Croatia6.9%, US 4.9% (2004)
Imports:$2.677 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products,automobiles
Imports - partners:Greece 15.4%, Germany 13.1%, Serbia and Montenegro 10.4%, Slovenia8.6%, Bulgaria 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Romania 4.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$928 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.863 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$250 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:MKD
Exchange rates:Macedonian denars per US dollar - 49.41 (2004), 54.32 (2003), 64.35(2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:560,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:830,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 389
Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mk
Internet hosts:3,738 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Macedonia
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 8,684 kmpaved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)
Airports:17 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 2under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Military Macedonia
Military branches:Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes Air and AirDefense Command)
Military service age and obligation: conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript duty is 6 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (January 2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 498,259 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 411,156 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 16,686 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia
Disputes - international:ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundarywith Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia andMontenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject theuse of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001; most IDPs have returned)(2004)
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;although most criminal activity is thought to be domestic and not afinancial center, money laundering is a problem due to a mostlycash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or prosecutionsfor money laundering to date)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colonyin 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, freepresidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidentialrace, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, wasreturned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election wascontested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and MarcRAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. InApril 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA thewinner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 587,040 sq kmland: 581,540 sq kmwater: 5,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,828 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Climate:tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.07% permanent crops: 1.03% other: 93.91% (2001)
Irrigated land:10,900 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along MozambiqueChannel
People Madagascar
Population:18,040,341 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,051,832/female 4,038,837)15-64 years: 52.1% (male 4,657,346/female 4,745,971)65 years and over: 3% (male 247,146/female 299,209) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 17.46 yearsmale: 17.24 yearsfemale: 17.67 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:3.03% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:41.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 76.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 56.95 yearsmale: 54.57 yearsfemale: 59.4 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:7,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixedAfrican, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68.9%male: 75.5%female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Madagascarconventional short form: Madagascarlocal long form: Republique de Madagascarlocal short form: Madagascarformer: Malagasy Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held November 2006);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%,Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats;two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose memberswill be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of theseats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-yearterms)elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next tobe held NA 2006)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD5, others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or HauteCour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [PierrotRAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for NationalRecovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party orFP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [MarcRAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committeefor National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Councilof Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOAchancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526FAX: [1] (202) 483-7603consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITTembassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivotelephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a verticalwhite band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar hassince the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy ofprivatization and liberalization. This strategy has placed thecountry on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely lowlevel. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay ofthe economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP andemploying 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed inrecent years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States.Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as theprimary source of fuel are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANAhas worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpiecesof economic policy for the next few years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$14.56 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29.3% industry: 16.7% services: 54% (2004 est.)
Labor force:7.3 million (2000)
Population below poverty line:50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38.1 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $783.7 millionexpenditures: $1.079 billion, including capital expenditures of $331million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:840.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:781.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-281.9 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$868.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite,petroleum products
Exports - partners:US 35.8%, France 30.8%, Germany 7.7% (2004)
Imports:$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:France 17.2%, China 9.7%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Iran 6.4%, Mauritius6.2%, South Africa 5.6% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$500.3 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$354 million (2001)
Currency (code):Madagascar ariary (MGA)
Currency code:MGF
Exchange rates:Malagasy francs per US dollar - 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003),1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001), 1,353.5 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:59,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:279,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: system is above average for the regiondomestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,and tropospheric scatter links connect regionsinternational: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mg
Internet hosts:773 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:70,500 (2003)
Transportation Madagascar
Railways: total: 732 km narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:600 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWTby type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:116 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2004 est.)
Military Madagascar
Military branches:People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, andAeronaval (Navy and Air) Force; National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18 months(2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,542,797 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 2,218,662 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 187,000 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$44.6 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (2004)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international:claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juande Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) usedmostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Malawi
Introduction Malawi
Background:Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland becamethe independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades ofone-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the countryheld multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution,which came into full effect the following year. Current PresidentBingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after the previous presidentfailed to amend the constitution to permit another term, hasstruggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, who stillleads their shared political party. MATHARIKA's anti-corruptionefforts have led to several high-level arrests but no convictions.Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure onagricultural lands, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.
Geography Malawi
Location:Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 118,480 sq kmland: 94,080 sq kmwater: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May toNovember)
Terrain:narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, somemountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Shire River and internationalboundary with Mozambique 37 mhighest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits ofuranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 23.38% permanent crops: 1.49% other: 75.13% (2001)
Irrigated land:280 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's mostprominent physical feature
People Malawi
Population:12,158,924note: 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 (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,877,568/female 2,823,296)15-64 years: 50.4% (male 3,041,352/female 3,081,762)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 132,175/female 202,771) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.34 yearsmale: 16.04 yearsfemale: 16.65 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.06% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:43.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:23.39 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 103.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 107.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 99.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 41.43 yearsmale: 41.66 yearsfemale: 41.2 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.98 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:14.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:84,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Malawian(s)adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,Asian, European
Religions:Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%,Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 62.7%male: 76.1%female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Government Malawi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Malawiconventional short form: Malawiformer: British Central African Protectorate, NyasalandProtectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:multiparty democracy
Capital:Lilongwe
Administrative divisions:27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:18 May 1994
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent ofvote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%,Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%,Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by thepresident, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the JudicialService Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Malawi CongressParty or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [KampeloKALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [GeorgeMNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP,MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP) [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; Movement forGenuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; NationalDemocratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Partyor NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Congress for Democracy or NCD [HetherwickNTABA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People'sTransformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Partyor RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF[Bingu wa MUTHARIKA] - governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDEchancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires DavidGILMOURembassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Roadmailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawitelephone: [265] (1) 773 166FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with aradiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Economy Malawi
Economy - overview:Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developedcountries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted fornearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. Theperformance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth astobacco accounts for over 50% of exports. The economy depends onsubstantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the WorldBank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi wasapproved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)program. The government faces strong challenges, includingdeveloping a market economy, improving educational facilities,facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidlygrowing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors thatfiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, the anticorruptioncampaign championed by President MUTHARIKA may help encourageinvestment and economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$7.41 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 54.8% industry: 19.2% services: 26% (2004 est.)
Labor force:4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 90% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:55% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):10.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $536 millionexpenditures: $635.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:228.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:1.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:1.088 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.012 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-55.5 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$503.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,apparel
Exports - partners:South Africa 13.5%, US 12%, Germany 11.6%, Egypt 8.4%, UK 6.6%,Mozambique 4.5% (2004)
Imports:$521.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,transportation equipment
Imports - partners:South Africa 37.3%, India 8.1%, Mozambique 7.7%, Zimbabwe 7.2%,Tanzania 4.6%, Germany 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$160.5 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$3.129 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$540 million (1999)
Currency (code):Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:MWK
Exchange rates:Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 108.894 (2004), 97.433 (2003),76.687 (2002), 72.197 (2001), 59.544 (2000)
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 (2004)
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 (2004 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:Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,320,190 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 995,084 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$11.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2004)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international: disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 20 October, 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 kmland: 328,550 sq kmwater: 1,200 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% permanent crops: 17.61% other: 76.91% (2001)
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:23,953,136 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (male 4,067,006/female 3,837,758)15-64 years: 62.4% (male 7,488,367/female 7,447,047)65 years and over: 4.6% (male 490,334/female 622,624) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 23.92 yearsmale: 23.32 yearsfemale: 24.54 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.8% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:23.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 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 (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 20.49 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.24 yearsmale: 69.56 yearsfemale: 75.11 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.07 children born/woman (2005 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.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks insome locations (2004)
Nationality:noun: Malaysian(s)adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others7.8% (2004 est.)
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, Thainote: in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages arespoken, the largest are Iban and Kadazan
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: 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 Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah andSarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government;powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution;under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certainconstitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their ownimmigration controls); Sabah - 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 Mohamed NAJIB bin AbdulRazak (since 7 January 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among themembers of Parliament with consent of the 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 in 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 ministerelection results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku SyedPutra Jamalullail elected paramount ruler