People Malta
Population:400,214 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 38.7 yearsmale: 37.2 yearsfemale: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.42% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.01 yearsmale: 76.83 yearsfemale: 81.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.5 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: Maltese (singular and plural)adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups:Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, withstrong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions:Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.8%male: 92%female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government Malta
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Maltaconventional short form: Maltalocal long form: Repubblika ta' Maltalocal short form: Malta
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Vallettageographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 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: none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence:21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:1964 constitution; amended many times
Legal system:based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of theprime ministerelections: president elected by the House of Representatives for afive-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 29March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for afive-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by thepresident on the advice of the prime ministerelection results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House ofRepresentatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note -additional seats are given to the party with the largest popularvote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected bypopular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by August 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts areappointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [HarryVASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Partyor PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONAROembassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,VLT 01mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01telephone: [356] 2561 4000FAX: [356] 21 243229
Flag description:two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in theupper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,edged in red
Economy Malta
Economy - overview:Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, anda productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its foodneeds, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energysources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Continuedsluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports,tourism, and overall growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$7.861 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.193 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$19,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 160,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 22% services: 75% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.503 billionexpenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cutflowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries:tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, foodand beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:2.082 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.936 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:18,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NEGL (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-598 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$2.744 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%,Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$3.859 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured andsemi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%, Singapore4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.579 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$188.8 million (2005)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:MTL
Exchange rates:Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004),0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002), 0.45004 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:202,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:324,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirementsdomestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islandsinternational: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (2000)
Televisions:280,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mt
Internet hosts:14,025 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2002)
Internet users:127,200 (2005)
Transportation Malta
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 1,220 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,917,414 GRT/38,685,924 DWTby type: bulk carrier 434, cargo 344, chemical tanker 105,combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas 7, livestockcarrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 146,refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 2,vehicle carrier 16foreign-owned: 1,162 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 3, Belgium10, Bulgaria 13, Canada 18, China 14, Croatia 10, Cyprus 15, Denmark6, Estonia 4, France 6, Germany 64, Greece 495, Hong Kong 2, Iceland4, India 1, Iran 14, Israel 23, Italy 29, Japan 1, South Korea 6,Latvia 40, Lebanon 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 6, Norway 49, Pakistan1, Poland 27, Portugal 3, Romania 9, Russia 70, Slovenia 3, Spain 6,Sweden 3, Switzerland 21, Syria 7, Taiwan 2, Turkey 123, UAE 5, UK8, Ukraine 24, US 3)registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, Portugal 1, Russia 4)(2006)
Ports and terminals:Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Military Malta
Military branches:Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements)(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 90,651females age 18-49: 87,047 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 74,525females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$38.168 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Malta
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to WesternEurope
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Marshall Islands
Introduction Marshall Islands
Background:After almost four decades under US administration as theeasternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compactof Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of USnuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. TheMarshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) ReaganMissile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defensenetwork.
Geography Marshall Islands
Location:Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made upof many small islets, and five single islands in the North PacificOcean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 11,854.3 sq kmland: 181.3 sq kmwater: 11,673 sq km (note - lagoon waters)note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative:about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:370.4 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands bordertyphoon belt
Terrain:low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources:coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:arable land: 11.11%permanent crops: 44.44%other: 44.45% (2005)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein,the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile testrange; island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in theMarshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the mostdensely populated locations in the Pacific
People Marshall Islands
Population:60,422 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295)15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.3 yearsmale: 20.4 yearsfemale: 20.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.25% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 28.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 24.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.31 yearsmale: 68.33 yearsfemale: 72.39 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.85 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: Marshallese (singular and plural)adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups:Micronesian
Religions:Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukotnan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none1.5% (1999 census)
Languages:Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshalleseand English are official languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.7%male: 93.6%female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islandsconventional short form: Marshall Islandslocal long form: Republic of the Marshall Islandslocal short form: Marshall Islandsabbreviation: RMIformer: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall IslandsDistrict
Government type:constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 andthe Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:name: Majurogeographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 Etime difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur,Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo,Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili,Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik,Wotho, Wotje
Independence:21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution:1 May 1979
Legal system:based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004)cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members ofthe legislatureelections: president elected by Parliament from among its ownmembers for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003(next to be held November 2007)election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent ofParliament vote - 100%
Legislative branch:unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held by November2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAnote: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprisedof tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law andpractice
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court
Political parties and leaders:traditionally there have been no formally organized politicalparties; what has existed more closely resembles factions orinterest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formalplatforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" havecompeted in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein AdParty [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [LitokwaTOMEING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRISembassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuromailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the MarshallIslands 96960-1379telephone: [692] 247-4011FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag description:blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner -orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large raysand 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny islandeconomy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, isconcentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops arecoconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited tohandicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now asmall source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of thelabor force, remains the best hope for future added income. Theislands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the USwill provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands(RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMIcontributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Governmentdownsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourismand foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, andless income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have heldGDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$115 million (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$144 million
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.7% industry: 14.9% services: 53.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 14,680 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.4% industry: 20.9% services: 57.7%
Unemployment rate:30.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $42 millionexpenditures: $40 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(1999)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Industries:copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood,and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)
Exports:$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners:US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)
Imports:$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2004)
Debt - external:$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:5,510 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,198 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern servicesinclude telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID,and leased data circuitsdomestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected byhigh frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)and mini-satellite telephonesinternational: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communicationssystem on Kwajalein (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and TelevisionServices (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM stationon Kwajalein (2005)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:2 (both are US military stations)note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company) operates onMajuro (2005)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.mh
Internet hosts:6 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:2,000 (2005)
Transportation Marshall Islands
Airports:15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 64.5 kmpaved: 64.5 kmnote: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwisestone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 795 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,772,611 GRT/50,987,293 DWTby type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 178, cargo 53, chemicaltanker 133, container 147, liquefied gas 25, passenger 7, petroleumtanker 234, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 7, specializedtanker 2, vehicle carrier 5foreign-owned: 730 (Australia 2, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6,Chile 1, Croatia 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Finland 2, Germany 194,Greece 199, Hong Kong 7, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Japan 7, SouthKorea 1, Latvia 7, Monaco 8, Netherlands 1, Norway 65, Russia 1,Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 6, Slovenia 3, Spain 3, Switzerland 13,Turkey 20, UAE 3, UK 12, US 143)registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Majuro
Military Marshall Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 13,465 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Martinique
Introduction Martinique
Background:The French began to settle this island in 1635, overcomingresistance from the local Carib inhabitants. In 1660, the suvivingnatives were rounded up and permanently expelled. The island hassubsequently remained a French possession except for three briefperiods of foreign occupation.
Geography Martinique
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 1,100 sq kmland: 1,060 sq kmwater: 40 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:350 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October);vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years onaverage; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain:mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 9.09% permanent crops: 10% other: 80.91% (2005)
Irrigated land:70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of onemajor natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 eruptedand completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000inhabitants
People Martinique
Population:436,131 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.1% (male 48,988/female 47,525)15-64 years: 67.3% (male 147,082/female 146,470)65 years and over: 10.6% (male 20,791/female 25,275) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.1 yearsmale: 33.4 yearsfemale: 34.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.72% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:13.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.18 yearsmale: 79.5 yearsfemale: 78.85 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 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: Martiniquais (singular and plural)adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups:African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indianand Chinese less than 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%,other 3.5% (1997)
Languages:French, Creole patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.7%male: 97.4%female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
Government Martinique
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Martiniqueconventional short form: Martiniquelocal long form: Departement de la Martiniquelocal short form: Martinique
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Fort-de-Francegeographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 61 05 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France)
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French legal system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995); Prefect Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - tookoffice 8 February 2004head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council AlfredMARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councils forsix-year terms
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and aunicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held March 2000 (next to be heldin 2006); Regional Council - last held on 28 March 2004 (next to beheld by March 2010)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wingcandidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPMwon a plurality; Regional Council (second round) - percent of voteby party - MIM 53.8%, PPM 30.6%; seats by party - MIM 28, PPM 9,other 4note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections lastheld September 2004 (next to be held September 2008); results -percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 1, left-wingcandidate 1; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French NationalAssembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, secondround - 16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1,PMS 1, MIM 1, left-wing candidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wingcandidate was found invalid by the Constitutional Council; newelections will be called)
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Georges ERICHOT]; MartiniqueIndependence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; MartiniqueProgressive Party or PPM [Pierre SUEDILE]; Martinique SocialistParty or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats andEcologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA];Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; SocialistRevolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for FrenchDemocracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union forMartinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
International organization participation:UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:unofficial flag, derives from the civil ensign flown by Frenchmerchant ships and dates to 1766; a blue field quartered by a whitecross; in the center of each rectangle is a white, coiled snakerepresenting the venomous Fer-de-lance; the flag of France is usedfor official occasions
Economy Martinique
Economy - overview:The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and lightindustry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the smallindustrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with mostof the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exportsare increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable,and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronictrade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid fromFrance. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has becomemore important than agricultural exports as a source of foreignexchange.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$6.117 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$14,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 165,900 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 17% services: 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate:27.2% (1998)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA
Budget:revenues: $317.5 millionexpenditures: $317.5 million; including capital expenditures of $140million (1996)
Agriculture - products:pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Industries:construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.205 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.12 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,800 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:$404.2 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Exports - partners:France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2004)
Imports:$2.307 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials,vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US 3% (2004)
Debt - external:$180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - substantial annual aid from France (1998)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use:172,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:319,900 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic facilities are adequatedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 596; microwave radio relay toGuadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mq
Internet hosts:72 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:107,000 (2005)
Transportation Martinique
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 2,105 km (including 261 km of expressways) (2000)
Ports and terminals:Fort-de-France, La Trinite, Marin
Military Martinique
Military branches:no regular military forces; Gendarmerie
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 110,536 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 90,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 3,105 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Martinique
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US andEurope
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Mauritania
Introduction Mauritania
Background:Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southernthird of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, butrelinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisarioguerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya OuldSid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition partieswere legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Twomultiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen asflawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections weregenerally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposedPresident TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. ElyOuld Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up totwo years while it created conditions for genuine democraticinstitutions and organized elections. For now, however, Mauritaniaremains an autocratic state, and the country continues to experienceethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor(Arab-Berber) communities.
Geography Mauritania
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenSenegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,030,700 sq kmland: 1,030,400 sq kmwater: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 5,074 kmborder countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:754 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use: arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:490 sq km (2002)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March andApril; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by droughtare contributing to desertification; very limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennialriver; locust infestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott andNouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of thecountry
People Mauritania
Population:3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45.6% (male 726,376/female 723,013)15-64 years: 52.2% (male 818,408/female 839,832)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,042/female 41,717) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17 yearsmale: 16.8 yearsfemale: 17.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.88% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:40.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.16 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: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 69.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 72.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.12 yearsmale: 50.88 yearsfemale: 55.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risksin some locationsrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:Muslim 100%
Languages:Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 41.7%male: 51.8%female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritania
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritaniaconventional short form: Mauritanialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyahlocal short form: Muritaniyah
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Nouakchottgeographic coordinates: 18 06 N, 15 57 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, HodhEch Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, TirisZemmour, Trarza
Independence:28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:12 July 1991
Legal system:a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, whose Military Councilfor Justice and Democracy deposed longtime President Maaouya OuldSid Ahmed TAYA in a coup on 3 August 2005head of government: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR (since8 August 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second consecutive term); note - passage of aconstitutional reform referendum in July 2006 limits president totwo five-year terms; election last held 7 November 2003 (next to beheld 11 March 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelectedfor a third term with 60.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh(56 seats; a portion of seats up for election every two years;members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) andthe National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 9 and 16 April 2004 (next to be held21 January 2007); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3December 2006election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:Action for Change or AC (no longer active) [Messoud OuldBOULKHEIR]; Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Cisse AmadouCHEIKHOU]; National Union for Democracy and Development or UNDD[Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality, and Justice or PLEJ[Ba Mamdou ALASSANE]; Party of Democratic Convergence or PCD [CheikhOuld HORMA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE];Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR];Progress Force Union or UFP (no longer active) [Mohamed OuldMAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH];Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA];Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR (formerly rulingDemocratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS) [Boullah OuldMOGUEYA]; Right Way or SAWAB [Cheikh Ould Sidi Ould HANANA]; Unionfor Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union ofForces of Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]note: the Party of Democratic Convergence was banned in October 2005because it was regarded as Islamist and therefore in breach ofMauritanian law
Political pressure groups and leaders:Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation of MauritanianWorkers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general];Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [SamoryOuld BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed ElyOuld BRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould Mohamed EL KERIMchancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires StevenKOUTSISembassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and SpanishEmbassy), Nouakchottmailing address: BP 222, Nouakchotttelephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663FAX: [222] 525-1592