Oil - imports:205,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:18 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:47.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:55.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:7.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:420 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$-4.113 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$182.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,vegetables, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:US 87.6%, Canada 1.8%, Spain 1.1% (2004)
Imports:$190.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery,electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motorvehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Imports - partners:US 53.7%, China 7%, Japan 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$60.67 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$149.9 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$1.166 billion (1995)
Currency (code):Mexican peso (MXN)
Currency code:MXN
Exchange rates:Mexican pesos per US dollar - 11.286 (2004), 10.789 (2003), 9.656(2002), 9.342 (2001), 9.456 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mexico
Telephones - main lines in use:15,958,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:28.125 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: low telephone density with about 15.2 mainlines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; the opening tocompetition in January 1997 improved prospects for development, butTelmex remains dominantdomestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers faroutnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network;considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cableinternational: country code - 52; satellite earth stations - 32Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to SouthAmerica, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancingdomestic communications), numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations;linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections;high capacity Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access tothe US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, and Italy(1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)
Radios:31 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:25.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:.mx
Internet hosts:1,333,406 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):51 (2000)
Internet users:10.033 million (2002)
Transportation Mexico
Railways: total: 17,634 km standard gauge: 17,634 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 329,532 kmpaved: 108,087 km (including 6,429 km of expressways)unpaved: 221,445 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,900 kmnote: navigable rivers and coastal canals (2004)
Pipelines:crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Altamira, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz, Tampico,Topolobampo, Veracruz
Merchant marine:total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 649,389 GRT/942,766 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 26, roll on/roll off 4foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 1, Germany 1, UAE 1, United States 1)registered in other countries: 6 (2005)
Airports:1,833 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 233over 3,047 m: 122,438 to 3,047 m: 281,524 to 2,437 m: 84914 to 1,523 m: 80under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1,600over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 69914 to 1,523 m: 454under 914 m: 1,075 (2004 est.)
Heliports:2 (2004 est.)
Military Mexico
Military branches:Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena): Army and Air Force (FAM)Secretariat of the Navy (Semar): Naval Air and Marines (2004)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 24,488,008 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 19,058,337 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 1,063,233 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$6.043 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2004)
Transnational Issues Mexico
Disputes - international:prolonged drought, population growth, and outmoded practices andinfrastructure in the border region have strained water-sharingarrangements with the US; the US has stepped up efforts to stemnationals from Mexico, Central America, and other parts of the worldfrom illegally crossing the border with Mexico
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 12,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994in eastern Chiapas Region) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 2001 - 4,400hectares; potential heroin production - 7 metric tons) and ofcannabis (in 2001 - 4,100 hectares); government eradication effortshave been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier ofheroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamineto the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country forUS-bound cocaine from South America, accounting for about 70 percentof estimated annual cocaine movement to the US; major drugsyndicates control majority of drug trafficking throughout thecountry; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significantmoney-laundering center
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Micronesia, Federated States of
Introduction Micronesia, Federated States of
Background:In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territoryunder US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association withthe US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concernsinclude large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence onUS aid.
Geography Micronesia, Federated States of
Location:Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, aboutthree-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 702 sq kmland: 702 sq kmwater: 0 sq km (fresh water only)note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,and Kosrae (Kosaie)
Area - comparative:four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:6,112 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the easternislands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt withoccasionally severe damage
Terrain:islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low,coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources:forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use:arable land: 5.71%permanent crops: 45.71%other: 48.58% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People Micronesia, Federated States of
Population:108,105 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674)15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313)65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.08% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.75 yearsmale: 67.96 yearsfemale: 71.62 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.25 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: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages:English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89%male: 91%female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government Micronesia, Federated States of
Country name:conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesiaconventional short form: noneformer: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of thePacific Islands)abbreviation: FSM
Government type:constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 andthe Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Capital:Palikir
Administrative divisions:4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:10 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 Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003);Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinetelections: president and vice president elected by Congress fromamong the four senators at large for four-year terms; election lastheld 11 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); note - a proposedconstitutional amendment to establish popular elections forpresident and vice president failedelection results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent ofCongress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percentof Congress vote - NA%
Legislative branch:unicameral Congress (14 seats; four - one elected from each stateto serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-memberdistricts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; memberselected by popular vote)elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003(next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats lastheld 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:no formal parties
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU,MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the starsare arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming andfishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a touristindustry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequatefacilities, and limited air connections hinder development. TheAmended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees theFederated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annualaid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US andthe FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payoutsto the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-termeconomic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in USassistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector.Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remainmajor impediments to long-term growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$277 millionnote: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100million annually (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 50%industry: 4%services: 46% (2000 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate:16% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava(tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Industries:tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture,craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:NA
Electricity - consumption:178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Exports:$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports:$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external:$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aidhas been subsequently reduced
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:10,100 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (usedmostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) groundstations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular serviceavailable on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yapinternational: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Televisions:2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:.fm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:6,000 (2002)
Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of
Highways: total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Tomil Harbor
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWTby type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2) (2005)
Airports:6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Micronesia, Federated States of
Military branches:no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; theparamilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit,is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within theOffice of the Attorney General (2003)
Military - note:Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governingstate in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent onthe US for its defense
Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Midway Islands
Introduction Midway Islands
Background:The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying ofthe trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, broughtthe first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was usedas a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victoryover a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turningpoints of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a navalstation until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a nationalwildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to thepublic; it is now temporarily closed.
Geography Midway Islands
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of theway from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates:28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 6.2 sq kmland: 6.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Area - comparative:about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:15 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain:low, nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to thepublic for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlifeobservation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scubadiving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization atpresent (2004)
People Midway Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up thestaff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractorliving at the atoll (July 2005 est.)
Government Midway Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered fromWashington, DC, by the US Navy; on 31 October 1996, through apresidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of theatoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the USDepartment of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refugesystem
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Midway Islands
Economy - overview:The economy is based on providing support services for the nationalwildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food andmanufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation Midway Islands
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Sand Island
Airports:3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Transportation - note:airfield serves as an emergency landing site for commercialaircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean
Military Midway Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Midway Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Moldova
Introduction Moldova
Background:Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the SovietUnion at the close of World War II. Although independent from theUSSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territoryeast of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majoritypopulation, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a"Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldovabecame the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as itspresident in 2001.
Geography Moldova
Location:Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 33,843 sq kmland: 33,371 sq kmwater: 472 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use: arable land: 55.3% permanent crops: 10.79% other: 33.91% (2001)
Irrigated land:3,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment - current issues:heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticidessuch as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soilerosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks andminerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People Moldova
Population:4,455,421 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.2% (male 459,452/female 442,725)15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,489,813/female 1,606,202)65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,038/female 288,191) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 32.22 yearsmale: 30.14 yearsfemale: 34.27 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.22% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15.27 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.25 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: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 40.42 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 37.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.18 yearsmale: 61.12 yearsfemale: 69.43 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Moldovan(s)adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%,Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.1%male: 99.6%female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
Government Moldova
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Moldovaconventional short form: Moldovalocal long form: Republica Moldovalocal short form: noneformer: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan SovietSocialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:Chisinau
Administrative divisions:32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritorialaautonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala): counties: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni: municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau: autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia: territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului
Independence:27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994;replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system:based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality oflegislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it isunclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but acceptsmany UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE) documents
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since 29 January2002)cabinet: selected by president, subject to approval of Parliamentelections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term;election last held 4 April 2005 (next to be held NA 2009); note -prime minister designated by the president, upon consultation withParliament; within 15 days from designation, the primeminister-designate must request a vote of confidence from theParliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; primeminister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet received a vote ofconfidence 19 April 2001election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president;parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; VasileTARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence- 75 of 101
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties andelectoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, DemocraticMoldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party -PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority forconstitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Modova Bloc [Serafim URECHEANU] includes: DemocraticParty [Dumitru DIACOV], Our Moldova Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS,Serafim URECHEANU], Social Liberal Party [Oleg SEREBRIAN]; CommunistParty of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, firstchairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Heather M. HODGES embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 408-300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44
Flag description:same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue(hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of aRoman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talonscarrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in itsright talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breastis a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized oxhead, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
Economy Moldova
Economy - overview:Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despiterecent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorableclimate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As aresult, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuringfruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almostall of its energy supplies from Russia. Energy shortages contributedto sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Unionin December 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort afterindependence, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freedprices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises,backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freedinterest rates. The government entered into agreements with theWorld Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. Theeconomy returned to positive growth of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001,7.2% in 2002, 6.3% in 2003, and 6.8% in 2004. Further reforms willcome slowly because of strong political forces backing governmentcontrols. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, pooragricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.581 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.4% industry: 24.8% services: 52.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:1.36 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)
Unemployment rate:8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002est.)
Population below poverty line:80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40.6 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):11.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $648.1 millionexpenditures: $634.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,tobacco; beef, milk
Industries:food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment,refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar,vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:17% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:3.876 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:4.605 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:1 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-148.4 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.03 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:Russia 35.8%, Italy 13.9%, Romania 10%, Germany 7.3%, Ukraine 6.6%,Belarus 6%, US 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$1.83 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,textiles (2000)
Imports - partners:Ukraine 24.6%, Russia 12.2%, Romania 9.3%, Germany 8.5%, Italy 7.4%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$390 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.4 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$100 million (2000)
Currency (code):Moldovan leu (MDL)
Currency code:MDL
Exchange rates:lei per US dollar - 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002),12.865 (2001), 12.434 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:706,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:338,200 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outsideChisinau; some effort to modernize is under waydomestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobilecellular telephone service being introducedinternational: country code - 373; service through Romania andRussia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat,and Intersputnik
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:3.22 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.26 million (1997)
Internet country code:.md
Internet hosts:11,984 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (1999)
Internet users:150,000 (2002)
Transportation Moldova
Railways:total: 1,138 kmbroad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gaugestandard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 12,719 kmpaved: 10,977 kmunpaved: 1,742 km (2002)
Waterways:424 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 606 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWTby type: cargo 2 (2005)
Airports:23 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Military Moldova
Military branches:National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,066,459 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 693,913 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 43,729 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$8.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Moldova
Disputes - international:Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitortransit through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region whichremains under OSCE supervision
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transdniestrianregion in 1991) (2004)
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CISconsumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from SouthwestAsia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly theUS; widespread crime and underground economic activity
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Monaco
Introduction Monaco
Background:Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with arailroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then,the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gamblingfacilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreationcenter.
Geography Monaco
Location:Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southerncoast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 1.95 sq kmland: 1.95 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:4.1 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);almost entirely urban
People Monaco
Population:32,409 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,563/female 2,445)15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,909/female 10,217)65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,972/female 4,303) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 45.25 yearsmale: 43.27 yearsfemale: 47.19 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.43% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:9.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:7.71 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.57 yearsmale: 75.7 yearsfemale: 83.63 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.76 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: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%
Languages:French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Monaco
Country name:conventional long form: Principality of Monacoconventional short form: Monacolocal long form: Principaute de Monacolocal short form: Monaco
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Monaco
Administrative divisions:none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as definedby the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,Monte-Carlo
Independence:1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November
Constitution:17 December 1962
Legal system:based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June2005)cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of stateappointed by the monarch from a list of three French nationalcandidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportionalrepresentation; to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UNAM 21, UND 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarchon the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]; Unionfor Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monacoor UNAM) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Monaco does not have an embassy in the USconsulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General inMarseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to theflag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which iswhite (top) and red
Economy Monaco
Economy - overview:Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popularresort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruiseships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully soughtto diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpollutingindustries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes andthrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have establishedresidence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses andoffices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors,including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service.Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperousFrench metropolitan areas. Monaco does not publish national incomefigures; the estimates below are extremely rough.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$870 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $27,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: NA% services: NA% (2001 est.)
Labor force:30,540 (January 1994)
Unemployment rate:22% (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2000)
Budget:revenues: $518 millionexpenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1995)
Agriculture - products:none
Industries:tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - imports:NA kWhnote: electricity supplied by France
Exports:$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France
Imports:$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France
Debt - external:$18 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
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 Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:33,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:19,300 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern automatic telephone systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;connected by cable into the French communications system