Labor force:160,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 5%, industry 24%, services 71% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:7% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.27 billionexpenditures: $2.549 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cutflowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries:tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; foodand beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:2.15 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-241 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.625 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:US 15.7%, France 15.5%, Singapore 14.5%, UK 11.2%, Germany 10.8%(2004)
Imports:$3.407 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured andsemi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners:Italy 25.4%, France 13.1%, UK 12%, Germany 8.9%, US 5.2%, Singapore4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.865 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$130 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:MTL
Exchange rates:Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3444 (2004), 0.3773 (2003), 0.4337(2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:208,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:290,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirementsdomestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islandsinternational: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (2000)
Televisions:280,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mt
Internet hosts:7,156 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2002)
Internet users:120,000 (2002)
Transportation Malta
Highways: total: 2,222 km paved: 2,000 km unpaved: 222 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:total: 1,140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWTby type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 438, cargo 303, chemicaltanker 70, combination ore/oil 2, container 54, liquefied gas 8,livestock carrier 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 13, petroleumtanker 162, refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 26, specializedtanker 1, vehicle carrier 13foreign-owned: 1,080 (Austria 3, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 3, Belgium12, British 1, Bulgaria 18, Canada 9, China 15, Croatia 10, Cyprus2, Czech Republic 2, Estonia 2, Finland 1, France 5, Germany 51,Greece 527, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 7, Iran 4, Israel 26, Italy 17,Japan 2, Latvia 30, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands3, Norway 42, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 4, Romania 5, Russia64, Slovenia 3, South Korea 4, Sweden 3, Switzerland 32, Syria 6,Taiwan 1, Turkey 87, Ukraine 25, UAE 5, United Kingdom 8, UnitedStates 3)registered in other countries: 3 (2005)
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Malta
Military branches:Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements)(2005)
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: 90,651 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 74,525 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$31.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2004)
Transnational Issues Malta
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to WesternEurope
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Man, Isle of
Introduction Man, Isle of
Background:Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13thcentury when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under theBritish crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almostextinct Manx Gaelic language.
Geography Man, Isle of
Location:Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain andIreland
Geographic coordinates:54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 572 sq kmland: 572 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:160 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about one-thirdof the time
Terrain:hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Natural resources:none
Land use:arable land: 9%permanent crops: 0%other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)(2002)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary airpollution
Geography - note:one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is abird sanctuary
People Man, Isle of
Population:75,049 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.4% (male 6,681/female 6,365)15-64 years: 65.5% (male 24,693/female 24,482)65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,163/female 7,665) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 39.48 yearsmale: 38.16 yearsfemale: 40.89 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.52% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:11.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:5.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.34 yearsmale: 74.98 yearsfemale: 81.87 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups:Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions:Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Societyof Friends
Languages:English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Man, Isle of
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man
Dependency status:British crown dependency
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Douglas
Administrative divisions:none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as definedby the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each withits own elections
Independence:none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution:unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does notembody the unwritten Manx Constitution
Legal system:English common law and Manx statute
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Ian MACFADYEN (since 26October 2002)head of government: Chief Minister Donald GELLING (since 14 December2004)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointedby the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is electedby the Tynwald; election last held 14 December 2004 (next to be heldDecember 2010)election results: Donald GELLING elected chief minister by theTynwald; note - Richard CORKILL resigned 2 December 2004
Legislative branch:bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (an 11-memberbody composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodorand Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by theHouse of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Keys - last held 22 November 2001 (next to beheld November 2006)election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - ManLabor Party 17.3%, Alliance for Progressive Government 14.6%; seatsby party - Man Labor Party 2, Alliance for Progressive Government 3,independents 19
Judicial branch:High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the LordChancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)
Political parties and leaders: Man Labor Party [leader NA]; Alliance for Progressive Government [leader NA]; Man Nationalist Party [leader NA] note: most members sit as independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center;the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; inorder to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag,a two-sided emblem is used
Economy Man, Isle of
Economy - overview:Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of theeconomy. The government's policy of offering incentives tohigh-technology companies and financial institutions to locate onthe island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities inhigh-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, oncethe mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP.Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access toEU markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.113 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2000 est.)
Labor force:39,690 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture, forestry and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%,construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale andretail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%,public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%,entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10%
Unemployment rate:0.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (March 2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $485 millionexpenditures: $463 million, including capital expenditures of NA(FY00/01 est.)
Agriculture - products:cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Industries:financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3.2% (FY96/97)
Exports:$NA
Exports - commodities:tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Exports - partners:UK (2000)
Imports:$NA
Imports - commodities:timber, fertilizers, fish
Imports - partners:UK (2000)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Manx pound
Currency code:GBP
Exchange rates:Manx pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672(2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Man, Isle of
Telephones - main lines in use:51,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone systeminternational: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satelliteearth station, submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)
Televisions:27,490 (1999)
Internet country code:.im
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Man, Isle of
Railways: total: 61 km (35 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 800 km paved: 800 km unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:Castletown, Douglas, Ramsey
Merchant marine:total: 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,834,626 GRT/11,354,689 DWTby type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 54, chemical tanker 45, combinationore/oil 1, container 15, liquefied gas 46, passenger/cargo 2,petroleum tanker 53, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 10,specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5foreign-owned: 253 (Australia 1, Bahamas 8, Denmark 39, France 2,Germany 55, Greece 20, Hong Kong 3, Italy 7, Japan 4, Netherlands 2,New Zealand 1, Norway 18, Singapore 2, Sweden 1, Turkey 2, UnitedKingdom 86, United States 2)registered in other countries: 9 (2005)
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Man, Isle of
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Man, Isle of
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Marshall Islands
Introduction Marshall Islands
Background:After almost four decades under US administration as theeasternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compactof Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of USnuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. TheMarshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) ReaganMissile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defensenetwork.
Geography Marshall Islands
Location:Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean,about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 181.3 sq kmland: 181.3 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative:about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:370.4 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot and humid; wet season from May to November; islandsborder typhoon belt
Terrain:low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources:coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:arable land: 16.67%permanent crops: 38.89%other: 44.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands;Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, thefamous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile testrange
People Marshall Islands
Population:59,071 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.2% (male 11,488/female 11,071)15-64 years: 59.1% (male 17,887/female 17,023)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 771/female 831) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 19.95 yearsmale: 19.98 yearsfemale: 19.92 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.27% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:33.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.88 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.45 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.01 yearsmale: 68.05 yearsfemale: 72.06 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups:Micronesian
Religions:Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukotnan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none1.5% (1999 census)
Languages:Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshalleseand English are official languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.7%male: 93.6%female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islandsconventional short form: Marshall Islandsformer: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the PacificIslands)
Government type:constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 andthe Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:Majuro
Administrative divisions:33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur,Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo,Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili,Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik,Wotho, Wotje
Independence:21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution:1 May 1979
Legal system:based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members ofParliamentelections: president elected by Parliament from among its ownmembers for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003(next to be held November 2007)election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent ofParliament vote - 100%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not laterthan November 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAnote: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises onmatters affecting customary law and practice
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Kabua Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,Interpol, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRISembassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuromailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the MarshallIslands 96960-1379telephone: [692] 247-4011FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag description:blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner -orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large raysand 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny islandeconomy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, isconcentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops arecoconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited tohandicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now asmall source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of thelabor force, remains the best hope for future added income. Theislands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the USwill provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands(RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMIcontributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Governmentdownsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourismand foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, andless income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have heldGDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$115 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 16% services: 70% (2000 est.)
Labor force:28,700 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%
Unemployment rate:30.9% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $42 millionexpenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1999)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Industries:copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, andpearls
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)
Exports:$9 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners:US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)
Imports:$54 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000)
Debt - external:$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:4,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:600 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern servicesinclude telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID,and leased data circuitsdomestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected byshortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communicationssystem on Kwajalein (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and TelevisionServices (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM stationon Kwajalein (2002)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:2 (both are US military stations) (2002)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.mh
Internet hosts:6 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:1,400 (2003)
Transportation Marshall Islands
Highways:total: 64.5 kmpaved: 64.5 kmunpaved: NA kmnote: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwisestone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Ports and harbors:Majuro
Merchant marine:total: 540 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWTby type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 83, cargo 47, chemical tanker77, combination ore/oil 12, container 88, liquefied gas 16,passenger 8, petroleum tanker 192, refrigerated cargo 4, rollon/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 5foreign-owned: 462 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bermuda 1, Canada 4,Chile 2, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7, Denmark 2, Georgia 1, Germany 124,Greece 106, Hong Kong 7, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 5, Latvia 6, Monaco9, Netherlands 4, New Zealand 1, Norway 21, Philippines 1, Russia 1,Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, Spain 1, Switzerland 5,Taiwan 1, Turkey 11, Ukraine 1, UAE 3, United Kingdom 15, UnitedStates 112) (2005)
Airports:15 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Marshall Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Martinique
Introduction Martinique
Background:Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained aFrench possession except for three brief periods of foreignoccupation.
Geography Martinique
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 1,100 sq kmland: 1,060 sq kmwater: 40 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:350 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October);vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years onaverage; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain:mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 10.38% permanent crops: 9.43% other: 80.19% (2001)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of onemajor natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 eruptedand completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000inhabitants
People Martinique
Population:432,900 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.4% (male 49,112/female 47,697)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 145,531/female 145,250)65 years and over: 10.5% (male 20,423/female 24,887) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 33.61 yearsmale: 32.95 yearsfemale: 34.28 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.76% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:14.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.04 yearsmale: 79.43 yearsfemale: 78.64 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups:African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, EastIndian, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%,other 3.5% (1997)
Languages:French, Creole patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.7%male: 97.4%female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
Government Martinique
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Martiniqueconventional short form: Martiniquelocal long form: Departement de la Martiniquelocal short form: Martinique
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France)
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French legal system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995); Prefect Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - tookoffice 8 February 2004head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council AlfredMARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and aunicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to beheld NA 2006); Regional Assembly - last held on 28 March 2004 (nextto be held by March 2010)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wingcandidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPMwon a plurality; Regional Assembly (second round) - percent of voteby party - MIM 53.8%, PPM 30.6%; seats by party - MIM 28, PPM 9,other 4note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections lastheld NA September 2001 (next to be held September 2004); results -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPM 2; Martiniquealso elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections lastheld, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (nextto be held not later than June 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, PS 1, MIM 1, left-wingcandidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wing candidate was found invalidby the Constitutional Council; new elections will be called)
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 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1997 est.)
Labor force:165,900 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate:27.2% (1998)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.9% (1990)
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:1.178 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.095 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
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 (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
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 (2000)
Ports and harbors:Fort-de-France, La Trinite, Marin
Airports:2 (2004 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 20 October, 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. Maaouya OuldSid Ahmed TAYA siezed power in a coup in 1984. Opposition partieswere 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. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposedPresident TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. ElyOuld Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up totwo years while it created conditions for genuine democraticinstitutions. For now, however, Mauritania remains, a one-partystate. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions betweenits black population and the Maur (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 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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:3,086,859 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45.8% (male 707,728/female 704,616)15-64 years: 52% (male 792,589/female 813,763)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 27,560/female 40,603) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.98 yearsmale: 16.71 yearsfemale: 17.24 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.9% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:41.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12.44 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 70.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 73.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 67.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 52.73 yearsmale: 50.52 yearsfemale: 55 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.94 children born/woman (2005 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:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risksin some locationsrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (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 long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyahlocal short form: 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