Nationality:noun: Macedonian(s)adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions:Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, other Christian 0.37%, Muslim 33.3%,other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages:Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.1%male: 98.2%female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
Government Macedonia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Macedoniaconventional short form: Macedonialocal long form: Republika Makedonijalocal short form: Makedonijanote: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO isFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic ofMacedonia
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Skopjegeographic coordinates: 41 59 N, 21 26 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:85 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar,Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje),Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, MakedonskiBrod, Mavrovo i Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, StaroNagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari(Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles,Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino,Zrnovcinote: the ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parenthesescollectively constitute "greater Skopje"
Independence:8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsingindependence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah'sDay and Ilinden
Constitution:adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amendedNovember 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendmentsstrengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related tothe judiciary
Legal system:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 28 August2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of allthe deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by thegovernment coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSH/DPA, and severalsmall partieselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 Apriland 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime ministerelected by the Assembly following legislative electionselection results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president onsecond-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,Sasko KEDEV 37.3%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected bypopular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overallvote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all servefour-year terms)elections: last held 5 July 2006 (next to be held by July 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE 32.5%, SDSM23.3%, DUI 12.2%, PDSH/DPA 7.5%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 44,SDSM 32, DUI 28, PDSH/DPA 11, other 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; ConstitutionalCourt - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican JudicialCouncil - the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA[Vasil TUPURKOVSKI]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks [RafetMUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [ArbenXHAFERI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; DemocraticParty of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia[Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Republican Union of Macedonia or DRUM[Goran RAFAJLOVSKI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [MitkoKOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or DUI [Ali AHMETI];Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party forMacedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; InternalMacedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV];Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party orVMRO-Narodna [Vesna JANEVSKA, acting]; League for Democracy [GjorgiMARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; LiberalParty [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; NationalDemocratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers' Party[Vejljo TANTAROV]; New Democratic Forces [Hysni SHAQIRI]; New SocialDemocratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for DemocraticFuture [Alajdin DEMIRI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia orSDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [LjubisavIVANOV-ZINGO]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; World MacedonianCongress [Todor PETROV]
International organization participation:BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,ISO, ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljupco JORDANOVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 2 311-6180 FAX: [389] 2 311-7103
Flag description:a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges ofthe red field
Economy Macedonia
Economy - overview:At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the leastdeveloped of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of thetotal federal output of goods and services. The collapse ofYugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government andeliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area.An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsizedYugoslavia, one of its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargoover a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flaghindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each yearthrough 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economicreform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by theethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% becauseof decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficitspending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barelyrecovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then rose by 3.4% in 2003, 4.1% in 2004,and 3.7% in 2005. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stabilitywith low inflation, but it has lagged the region in attractingforeign investment and job growth has been anemic. Macedonia has anextensive grey market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP,that falls outside official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $15.94 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.304 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.8% industry: 31.9% services: 56.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 855,000 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:37.3% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:29.6% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.105 billionexpenditures: $2.15 billion; including capital expenditures of $114million (2005 est.)
Public debt:33.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs
Industries:food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, steel, cement,energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:6.8% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:6.271 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.933 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:1.662 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-81.1 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$2.047 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:Germany 17.8%, Greece 15.3%, Italy 8.3% (2005)
Imports:$3.196 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, foodproducts
Imports - partners:Russia 13.2%, Germany 10.4%, Greece 9.2%, Bulgaria 7.3%, Italy 6%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.341 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$2.19 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$250 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:MKD
Exchange rates:Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004),54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002), 68.037 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:533,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.261 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 389
Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mk
Internet hosts:3,716 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:392,671 (2005)
Transportation Macedonia
Airports: 17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 2under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2006)
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km unpaved: 3,144 km (1999)
Military Macedonia
Military branches:Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV),Special Force Command (2006)
Military service age and obligation:conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscriptduty is six months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service(2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 498,259females age 18-49: 481,317 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 411,156females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 16,686females age 18-49: 15,664 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia
Disputes - international:ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundarywith Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia andMontenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject theuse of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2005)
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;although not a financial center and most criminal activity isthought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to amostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests orprosecutions for money laundering to date)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colonyin 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, freepresidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidentialrace, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, wasreturned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election wascontested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and MarcRAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. InApril 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA thewinner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 587,040 sq kmland: 581,540 sq kmwater: 5,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,828 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Climate:tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:10,860 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along MozambiqueChannel
People Madagascar
Population:18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288)15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675)65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.5 yearsmale: 17.3 yearsfemale: 17.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.03% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:11.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 83.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.34 yearsmale: 54.93 yearsfemale: 59.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:7,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
Nationality:noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixedAfrican, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68.9%male: 75.5%female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Madagascarconventional short form: Madagascarlocal long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikaralocal short form: Madagascar/Madagasikaraformer: Malagasy Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Antananarivogeographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 Etime difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 16 December 2001(next to be held December 2006); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%,Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats;two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose memberswill be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of theseats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-yearterms)elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next tobe held December 2006)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD5, others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or HauteCour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [PierrotRAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for NationalRecovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party orFP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [MarcRAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committeefor National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Councilof Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM,OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOAchancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEEembassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivotelephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a verticalwhite band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar hassince the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy ofprivatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the countryon a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level.Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of theeconomy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recentyears primarily due to duty-free access to the United States.Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as theprimary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANAhas worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpiecesof economic policy for the next few years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$16.05 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.719 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27.6% industry: 16.5% services: 55.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force:7.3 million (2000)
Population below poverty line:50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:47.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $703.6 millionexpenditures: $853 million; including capital expenditures of $331million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:825.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:767.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:89.27 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:15,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-438 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$951 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite,petroleum products
Exports - partners:France 30.9%, US 30.3%, Germany 8.6% (2005)
Imports:$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:France 16.6%, China 10.6%, Iran 7.9%, Mauritius 6.5%, South Africa5.9%, Hong Kong 5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$572 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$354 million (2001)
Currency (code):Madagascar ariary (MGA)
Currency code:MGF
Exchange rates:Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004),1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:66,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:504,700 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: system is above average for the regiondomestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,and tropospheric scatter links connect regionsinternational: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mg
Internet hosts:1,504 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:90,000 (2005)
Transportation Madagascar
Airports: 116 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2006)
Railways: total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)
Waterways:600 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWTby type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Military Madagascar
Military branches:People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, andAeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months(either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,542,797females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 2,218,662females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 187,000females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$329 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:7.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international:claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juande Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) usedmostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Malawi
Introduction Malawi
Background:Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland becamethe independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades ofone-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the countryheld multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitutionwhich came into full effect the following year. Current PresidentBingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt bythe previous president to amend the constitution to permit anotherterm, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA'santi-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests andone prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth,increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread ofHIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.
Geography Malawi
Location:Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 118,480 sq kmland: 94,080 sq kmwater: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May toNovember)
Terrain:narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, somemountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Shire River and internationalboundary with Mozambique 37 mhighest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits ofuranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:560 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's mostprominent physical feature
People Malawi
Population:13,013,926note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493)15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.2 yearsfemale: 16.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:19.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 94.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 98.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 89.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 41.7 yearsmale: 41.93 yearsfemale: 41.45 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:14.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:84,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
Nationality:noun: Malawian(s)adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,Asian, European
Religions:Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%,Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 62.7%male: 76.1%female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Government Malawi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Malawiconventional short form: Malawilocal long form: Dziko la Malawilocal short form: Malawiformer: British Central African Protectorate, NyasalandProtectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:multiparty democracy
Capital:name: Lilongwegeographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 44 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:18 May 1994
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (nextto be held May 2009)election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent ofvote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%,Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%,Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by thepresident, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the JudicialService Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Congress forNational Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Binguwa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; MalawiDemocratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity andDevelopment or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP,PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE[Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [BrownMPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People'sProgressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's TransformationMovement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDEchancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires DavidGILMOURembassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Roadmailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawitelephone: [265] (1) 773 166FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with aradiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Economy Malawi
Economy - overview:Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developedcountries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted fornearly 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. Theperformance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth astobacco accounts for over 60% of exports. The economy depends onsubstantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the WorldBank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi wasapproved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)program. The government faces strong challenges, includingdeveloping a market economy, improving educational facilities,facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidlygrowing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors thatfiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKAchampioned an anticorruption campaign. Malawi's recent fiscal policyperformance has been very strong, but a serious drought in 2005 and2006 will heighten pressure on the government to increase spending.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$7.364 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.984 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.2% industry: 15.8% services: 49.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:55% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.3 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):10.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $844.6 millionexpenditures: $913.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:195.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:7.9% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:1.296 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.206 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-218 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$364 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,apparel
Exports - partners:US 18%, South Africa 12.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%, Netherlands6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, UK 4.2%, Mozambique 4% (2005)
Imports:$645 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,transportation equipment
Imports - partners:South Africa 37.9%, Zambia 8.7%, Mozambique 7.8%, Zimbabwe 7.3%,India 6.4%, Tanzania 4.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$151 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$3.287 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$401.5 million (2001)
Currency (code):Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:MWK
Exchange rates:Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004),97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002), 72.197 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:102,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:429,300 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relaylinks, and radiotelephone communications stationsinternational: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a thirdstation held in standby status) (2001)
Radios:2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.mw
Internet hosts:377 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2002)
Internet users:52,500 (2005)
Transportation Malawi
Airports: 42 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 6over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 15under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Railways: total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1999)
Waterways:700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military Malawi
Military branches:Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,430,514 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$15.81 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international: disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Malaysia
Introduction Malaysia
Background:During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain establishedcolonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; thesewere occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruledterritories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 whenthe former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysianstates of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joinedthe Federation. The first several years of the country's historywere marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippineclaims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad(1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economyfrom dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion inmanufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography Malaysia
Location:Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northernone-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, andthe South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,750 sq kmland: 328,550 sq kmwater: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast(October to February) monsoons
Terrain:coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 5.46% permanent crops: 17.54% other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:3,650 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South ChinaSea
People Malaysia
Population:24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 24.1 yearsmale: 23.6 yearsfemale: 24.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegalimmigrants from other countries in the region (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 17.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 19.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)