Net migration rate:-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.2 yearsmale: 69.2 yearsfemale: 79.49 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lithuanian(s)adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified3.6% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (includingLutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other orunspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages:Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other andunspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%male: 99.7%female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Lithuaniaconventional short form: Lithuanialocal long form: Lietuvos Respublikalocal short form: Lietuvaformer: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Vilniusgeographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 isthe date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia andestablished its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared itsindependence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to theconstitutional court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Gediminas KIRKILAS (since 4 July2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thenomination of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004(next to be held June 2009); prime minister appointed by thepresident on the approval of the Parliamentelection results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; GediminasKIRKILAS approved by Parliament 85-13, with 5 abstentions
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directlyelected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportionalrepresentation; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October2008)election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Workingfor Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, TS14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and LithuanianPeople's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Farmers andNew Democracy Union 6.6%, other 9%; seats by faction - Labor 29,Homeland Union 26, Social Democrats 23, Civil Democracy (split fromLabor) 11, Liberal Movement (formerly Liberal Political Group) 11,National Farmer's Union (formerly Farmers and New Democracy Union)11, Social Liberal 10, Liberal Democrats 9, Liberal and CenterPolitical Group 8, independents 3 (as of late-July 2006)
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges forall courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:Civil Democracy Party [Viktor MUNTIANAS, chairman]; ElectoralAction of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman];National Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; HomelandUnion/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS, chairman]; LaborParty; Liberal and Center Political Group [Arturas ZUOKAS,chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS,chairman]; Liberal Movement; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD[Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman]; Lithuanian People's Union for a FairLithuania; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [AlgirdasBRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic LaborParty or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP;Social Liberal/New Union [Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; SocialUnion of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman];Young Lithuania and New Nationalists
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD,EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associatepartner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires KornelijaJURGAITIENEchancery: 4590 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address: American Embassy, Almeny gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106 telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500 FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade withRussia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.Unemployment dropped from 11% in 2003 to about 8% in 2005. Growingdomestic consumption and increased investment have furtheredrecovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization andjoined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-ownedutilities, particularly in the energy sector, is nearing completion.Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. Foreigngovernment and business support have helped in the transition fromthe old command economy to a market economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$49.41 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$23.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$14,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 32.5% services: 62% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.61 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15.8% industry: 28.2% services: 56% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:8.2% (2005)
Population below poverty line:Less than $2.15 per day (PPP): 4%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 24.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.5 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.7% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):21.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $8.429 billionexpenditures: $9.103 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:18.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;fish
Industries:metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (smallships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,computers, amber jewelry
Industrial production growth rate:7.3% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:19 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 77.7% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:12.079 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:11.7 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:4.144 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:14,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:52,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:93,000 bbl/day bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:12 million bbl (2004)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004)
Natural gas - consumption:3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004)
Natural gas - imports:3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$-1.771 billion (2005)
Exports:$11.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery andequipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs5% (2001)
Exports - partners:Russia 10.4%, Latvia 10.2%, Germany 9.4%, France 7%, Estonia 5.9%,Poland 5.5%, Sweden 5%, US 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Denmark 4.3% (2005)
Imports:$15.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:Russia 27.9%, Germany 15.2%, Poland 8.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.815 billion (2005)
Debt - external:$11.7 billion (2 February 2006)
Economic aid - recipient:$1.6 billion in committed EU structural and cohesion funds (2004-06)
Currency (code):litas (LTL)
Currency code:LTL
Exchange rates:litai per US dollar - 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003),3.677 (2002), 4 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:801,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.353 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to providean improved international capability and better residential accessdomestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system isnearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internetis available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriberapplicationsinternational: country code - 370; landline connections to Latviaand Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, andNorway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:27note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but mayhave as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lt
Internet hosts:148,675 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):32 (2001)
Internet users:1,221,700 (2005)
Transportation Lithuania
Airports: 91 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,696 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2006)
Railways:total: 1,771 kmbroad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 79,497 kmpaved: 70,549 km (including 417 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)
Waterways:425 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 49 ships (1000 GRT or over) 353,094 GRT/352,883 DWTby type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 1,passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 14, rollon/roll off 1foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 10)registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Belize 1,North Korea 1, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines3, unknown 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Klaipeda
Military Lithuania
Military branches:Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces,National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 830,368females age 19-49: 830,524 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 590,606females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 29,689females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified byRussia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates asimplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from theKaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, asa member state that forms part of the EU's external border, tostrict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has notratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarilydue to concerns over potential hydrocarbons
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs fromSouthwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europeand Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;susceptible to money laundering despite changes to bankinglegislation
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and anindependent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half ofits territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure ofautonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germanyin both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it enteredinto the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the followingyear. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countriesof the European Economic Community (later the European Union), andin 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 2,586 sq kmland: 2,586 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplandsto slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselleflood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.94% permanent crops: 0.39% other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:474,413 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356)15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075)65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 38.7 yearsmale: 37.7 yearsfemale: 39.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.23% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.89 yearsmale: 75.6 yearsfemale: 82.38 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Luxembourger(s)adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest andresident workers)
Religions:87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrativelanguage), French (administrative language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourgconventional short form: Luxembourglocal long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourglocal short form: Luxembourg
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Luxembourggeographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:17 October 1868; occasional revisions
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); HeirApparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister andappointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popularelections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majorityparty or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointedprime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister isappointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber ofDeputiesnote: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisorybody to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 membersappointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
Judicial branch:judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 districtcourts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts andtribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts andtribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts areappointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN];Christian Social People's Party or CSV (also known as ChristianSocial Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg SocialistWorkers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed CommunistParty dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; otherminor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue andis shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:This stable, high-income economy - benefitting from its proximityto France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth, lowinflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initiallydominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to includechemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financialsector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more thancompensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-ownedand have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on smallfamily-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and cross-borderworkers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,the country enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDPper capita ranks first in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$30.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$31.76 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$65,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 13%services: 86% (2005 est.)
Labor force:316,500 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commutingprimarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $9.195 billionexpenditures: $9.573 billion; including capital expenditures of$975.5 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairyproducts, livestock products
Industries:banking and financial services, iron and steel, informationtechnology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, foodprocessing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass,aluminum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - imports:5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:55,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.205 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$3.56 billion
Exports:$13.39 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubberproducts, glass
Exports - partners:Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.5%, Spain6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)
Imports:$18.74 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:Belgium 28.2%, Germany 21.8%, China 12.8%, France 9.6%, Netherlands5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$279.1 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $235.59 million (2004)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:244,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:720,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed, completely automated andefficient system, mainly buried cablesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cableinternational: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1999)
Televisions:285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.lu
Internet hosts:88,661 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:315,000 (2005)
Transportation Luxembourg
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 155 km (2006)
Railways:total: 274 kmstandard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 5,210 kmpaved: 5,210 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2002)
Waterways:37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 557,636 GRT/792,069 DWTby type: bulk carrier 6, chemical tanker 16, container 7, liquefiedgas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 9, Finland 4, France 14, Germany 10,Netherlands 2, US 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Mertert
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:Army
Military service age and obligation: a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 110,867females age 17-49: 108,758 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 90,279females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 2,775females age 17-49: 2,703 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$231.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was thefirst European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreementsigned by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became theMacau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced inMacau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in allmatters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 28.2 sq kmland: 28.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:41 km
Maritime claims:not specified
Climate:subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:generally flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane andTaipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula bythree bridges
People Macau
Population:453,125 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.2% (male 37,934/female 35,412)15-64 years: 75.9% (male 163,975/female 179,830)65 years and over: 7.9% (male 15,099/female 20,875) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 36.1 yearsmale: 35.7 yearsfemale: 36.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.86% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:8.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 82.19 yearsmale: 79.36 yearsfemale: 85.17 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Chineseadjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95.7%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%,other 3.3% (2001 census)
Religions:Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinesedialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%male: 97.2%female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Macaulocal long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); RegiaoAdministrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebratedas Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People'sCongress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residentsliving in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limitedto organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currentlyregistered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20December 1999)cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, andone pro-Beijing educatorelections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committeefor a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election lastheld 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009)election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes;three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 elected by popularvote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive;members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009)election results: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, MacauDevelopment Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, NewDemocratic Macau Association 18.2%, others NA; seats by politicalgroup - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, MacauUnited Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2,New Hope 1, United Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled byprofessional and business groups; seven members appointed by chiefexecutive
Judicial branch:Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; DevelopmentUnion [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONGOn-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; NewDemocratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by theUS Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and waterin white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one largein center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in theworld since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports andtourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hithard by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturnin 2001, its economy grew 10.1% in 2002, 14.2% in 2003, and 28.6% in2004. During the first three quarters of 2005, Macau registeredyear-on-year GDP increases of 6.2%. A rapid rise in the number ofmainland visitors because of China's easing of travel restrictions,increased public works expenditures, and significant investmentinflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gamingindustry drove the four-year recovery. The budget also returned tosurplus since 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and ahike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% ofgovernment revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenseshave pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which willboost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to themainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territorymay have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services togenerate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gamblinglicensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilitiesin preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games ledthe construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement(CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access tothe mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA was expandedon 1 January 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$10 billion (2004)
GDP (official exchange rate):$10.05 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (3rd Quarter 2005)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$22,000 (2004)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 7.2% services: 92.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 251,200 (3rd Quarter, 2005)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 13.7%, construction 10.5%, transport and communications 5.9%, wholesale and retail trade 14.6%, restaurants and hotels 10.3%, gambling 17.9%, public sector 7.8%, other services and agriculture 19.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.1% (3rd Quarter 2005)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.8% (2nd quarter, 2005)
Budget:revenues: $3.16 billionexpenditures: $3.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY05/06)
Agriculture - products:only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch isexported to Hong Kong
Industries:tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.893 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.899 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:153.3 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$3.465 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2004)
Exports - commodities:clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:US 48.7%, China 14.9%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Germany 5.9% (2005)
Imports:$3.478 billion c.i.f. (2004)
Imports - commodities:raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels andoils
Imports - partners:China 43.1%, Japan 10.9%, Hong Kong 10%, Singapore 5.2%, US 4.1%,Taiwan 4% (2005)
Debt - external:$3.1 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):pataca (MOP)
Currency code:MOP
Exchange rates:patacas per US dollar - 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003),8.033 (2002), 8.034 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:174,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:532,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fairly modern communication facilitiesmaintained for domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communicationfacility; access to international communications carriers providedvia Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2006)
Televisions:49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mo
Internet hosts:108 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:201,000 (2004)
Transportation Macau
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 368 kmpaved: 368 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:Macau
Military Macau
Military branches:no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsiblity of China
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international:none
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Macau is a transit and destination territory forwomen trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;most females in Macau's sizeable sex industry come from the interiorregions of China or Mongolia, though a significant number also comefrom Russia, Eastern Europe, Thailand, and Vietnam; the majority ofwomen in Macau's prostitution trade appear to have entered Macau andthe sex trade voluntarily, though there is evidence that some aredeceived or coerced into sexual servitude, often through the use ofdebt bondage; organized criminal syndicates are reportedly involvedin bringing women to Macau, and fear of reprisals from these groupsmay prevent some women from seeking helptier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Macau is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to addresstrafficking since 2004
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Macedonia
Introduction Macedonia
Background:Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what itconsidered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed internationalrecognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of the"Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalizerelations, although differences over Macedonia's name remain. Theundetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of theFramework Agreement - which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armedinsurgency - and a weak economy continue to be challenges forMacedonia.
Geography Macedonia
Location:Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 25,333 sq kmland: 24,856 sq kmwater: 477 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:total: 766 kmborder countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,Serbia 221 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavysnowfall
Terrain:mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; threelarge lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected bythe Vardar River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vardar River 50 mhighest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese,nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:550 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law ofthe Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and CentralEurope to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People Macedonia
Population:2,050,554 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.1% (male 213,486/female 199,127)15-64 years: 68.9% (male 711,853/female 701,042)65 years and over: 11% (male 98,618/female 126,428) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.1 yearsmale: 33.2 yearsfemale: 35.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.26% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.97 yearsmale: 71.51 yearsfemale: 76.62 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.57 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)