Political pressure groups and leaders:Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; GeneralUnion of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; MoroccanEmployers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Unionof Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers orUMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS,MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI,UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known asSulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and greenare traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red ismore commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;design dates to 1912
Economy Morocco
Economy - overview:Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to thecountry in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient toreduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty hasactually increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco'scontinued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promotethe growth of small and medium size enterprises. Despite structuraladjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and theParis Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current accounttransactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccanauthorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs iskey to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccanauthorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investmentand trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US and sellinggovernment shares in the state telecommunications company and in thelargest state-owned bank. The Free Trade agreement went into effectin January 2006. In 2005, GDP growth slipped to 1.2% and the budgetdeficit rose sharply - to 7.5% of GDP - because of substantialincreases in wages and oil subsidies. Long-term challenges includepreparing the economy for freer trade with the US and EuropeanUnion, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth,and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieveby increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness intextiles.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$135.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$51.94 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 35.7% services: 42.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 11.19 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 15% services: 45% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:11% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:19% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $12.94 billionexpenditures: $16.77 billion; including capital expenditures of$2.19 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:72% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries:phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leathergoods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4% NA%
Electricity - production:17.35 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:17.58 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:1.45 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:158,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:147,800 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:100 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:5 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:650 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.218 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$1.255 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$9.472 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,vegetables
Exports - partners:France 30.3%, Spain 18%, UK 6.2%, Italy 5.2%, India 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$18.15 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:France 18.2%, Spain 11%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Russia 6.8%, Italy6.1%, China 5.2%, Germany 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$16.47 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$15.61 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $218 million (2002)
Currency (code):Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:MAD
Exchange rates:Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574(2003), 11.021 (2002), 11.303 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:1,341,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12.393 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;however, density is low with only 4 main lines available for each100 personsdomestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, andmicrowave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; nationalnetwork nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved ruralservice employs microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 212; 7 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant inMedarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria andTunisia (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ma
Internet hosts:3,218 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:4.6 million (2005)
Transportation Morocco
Airports: 60 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 11 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)
Railways:total: 1,907 kmstandard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 57,694 kmpaved: 32,551 km (including 417 km of expressways)unpaved: 25,143 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 382,781 GRT/285,435 DWTby type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 9, passenger/cargo13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 5 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 1, UK 1)registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier
Military Morocco
Military branches:Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal MoroccanArmy (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal MoroccanAir Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 7,908,864females age 18-49: 7,882,879 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 6,484,787females age 18-49: 6,675,729 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 353,377females age 18-49: 341,677 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.31 billion (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Morocco
Disputes - international:claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remainsunresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect sinceSeptember 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed andparties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Moroccoprotests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon deAlhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussionshave not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation settinglimits on exploration and refugee interdiction since Morocco's 2002rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line fromthe Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launchingareas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directedto Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South Americadestined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Mozambique
Introduction Mozambique
Background:Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close withindependence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economicdependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civilwar hindered the country's development. The ruling Front for theLiberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxismin 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided formultiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiatedpeace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique NationalResistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANOstepped down after 18 years in office. His newly elected successor,Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economicpolicies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Geography Mozambique
Location:Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, betweenSouth Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 801,590 sq kmland: 784,090 sq kmwater: 17,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 4,571 kmborder countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:2,470 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical to subtropical
Terrain:mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus innorthwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use: arable land: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,180 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central andsouthern provinces
Environment - current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile partof the country
People Mozambique
Population:19,686,505note: 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; the 1997Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2006est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.7% (male 4,229,802/female 4,177,235)15-64 years: 54.5% (male 5,207,149/female 5,519,291)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 230,616/female 322,412) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 17.8 yearsfemale: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:35.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:21.35 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: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 129.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 134.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 124.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 39.82 yearsmale: 39.53 yearsfemale: 40.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:12.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1.3 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:110,000 (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: Mozambican(s)adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others),Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%,none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spokenby 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreignlanguages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 47.8%male: 63.5%female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mozambique
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Mozambiqueconventional short form: Mozambiquelocal long form: Republica de Mocambiquelocal short form: Mocambiqueformer: Portuguese East Africa
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Maputogeographic coordinates: 25 58 S, 32 35 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*;Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*,Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:30 November 1990
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February2004)cabinet: Cabinetelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004(next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote- Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secretballot to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December2009)election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO29.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professionaljudges are appointed by the president and some are elected by theAssembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customscourts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courtsnote: although the constitution provides for a separateConstitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absencethe Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao deMocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, president];Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia NacionalMocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia)or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa,chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz eCidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dosDireitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights andDevelopment (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [ArtemisiaFRANCO, secretary general]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA,MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Helen LA LIMEembassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputomailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputotelephone: [258] (1) 492797FAX: [258] (1) 490448
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow witha red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band isedged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointedstar bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on anopen white book
Economy Mozambique
Economy - overview:At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorestcountries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarkedon a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize theeconomy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and withpolitical stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, haveled to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflationwas reduced to single digits during the late 1990s although itreturned to double digits in 2000-03. Fiscal reforms, including theintroduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service,have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. Inspite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreignassistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of thepopulation remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculturecontinues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. Asubstantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of theMozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investmentproject to date, has increased export earnings. In late 2005, andafter years of negotiations, the government signed an agreement togain Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity(HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique atindependence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. Morepower is needed for additional investment projects in titaniumextraction and processing and garment manufacturing that couldfurther close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once substantialforeign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and reschedulingunder the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and EnhancedHIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$26.18 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.727 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.2% industry: 34.8% services: 39% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 9.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 81% industry: 6% services: 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:21% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:39.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):29.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.031 billionexpenditures: $1.93 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:21% of GDP
Agriculture - products:cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;beef, poultry
Industries:food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:3.4% (2000)
Electricity - production:15.14 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:10.46 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:9.5 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:5.875 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:60 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:60 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-639 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$1.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulkelectricity
Exports - partners:Belgium 25.5%, South Africa 12.2%, Spain 11.6%, Italy 11.6%,Germany 7.7% (2005)
Imports:$2.041 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:South Africa 36.3%, Australia 12.8%, India 5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.051 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$5.456 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$632.8 million (2001)
Currency (code):metical (MZM)
Currency code:MZM
Exchange rates:meticais per US dollar - 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782(2003), 23,678 (2002), 20,704 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:69,700 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.22 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system but not available generally(extremely low density with less than 1 main line per 100 persons)domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunkconnection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatterinternational: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:67,600 (2000)
Internet country code:.mz
Internet hosts:6,985 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2002)
Internet users:138,000 (2005)
Transportation Mozambique
Airports: 158 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 136 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 87 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 918 km; refined products 294 km (2006)
Railways: total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999)
Waterways:460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora BassaLake) (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,964 GRT/5,324 DWTby type: cargo 2foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Military Mozambique
Military branches:Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, MozambiqueNavy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea deMocambique, FAM) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,793,373 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,751,223 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 185,314 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$78.03 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mozambique
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin,and South American cocaine probably destined for the European andSouth African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption)and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poorregulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to moneylaundering, but the lack of a well-developed financialinfrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-launderingcenter
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Namibia
Introduction Namibia
Background:South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa duringWorld War I and administered it as a mandate until after World WarII, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-WestAfrica People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a warof independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it wasnot until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration inaccordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia wonits independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since.Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in alandslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country duringits first 14 years of self rule.
Geography Namibia
Location:Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angolaand South Africa
Geographic coordinates:22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 825,418 sq kmland: 825,418 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 3,936 kmborder countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:1,572 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert ineast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources:diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,salt, hydropower, fishnote: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use:arable land: 0.99%permanent crops: 0.01%other: 99% (2005)
Irrigated land:80 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues:very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:first country in the world to incorporate the protection of theenvironment into its constitution; some 14% of the land isprotected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
People Namibia
Population:2,044,147note: 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: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147)15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20 yearsmale: 19.8 yearsfemale: 20.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.59% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:24.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.47 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 48.1 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 51.99 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 44.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.39 yearsmale: 44.46 yearsfemale: 42.29 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:21.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:210,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:16,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malariawater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
Nationality:noun: Namibian(s)adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups:black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups includes Herero 7%,Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions:Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs10% to 20%
Languages:English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of thepopulation and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,indigenous languages (Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 84%male: 84.4%female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Government Namibia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Namibiaconventional short form: Namibialocal long form: Republic of Namibialocal short form: Namibiaformer: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Windhoekgeographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 06 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; endsfirst Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence:21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution:ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990
Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004(next to be held November 2009)election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent ofvote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; 2members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-yearterms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, todetermine members of the National Council, held 29-30 November 2004(next to be held November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)election results: National Council - percent of vote by party -SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%; seats by party - SWAPO24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party -SWAPO 75.1%, COD 7.2%, DTA 5%, NUDO 4.1%, UDF 3.5%, RP 1.9%, MAG0.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1,MAG 1note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on therecommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic TurnhalleAlliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; MonitorAction Group or MAG [Jurie VILJOEN]; South West Africa People'sOrganization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United DemocraticFront or UDF [Justus GAROEB]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE];National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joyce BARR embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag description:a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper leftsection and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower rightsection; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that iscontrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
Economy Namibia
Economy - overview:The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processingof minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Richalluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source forgem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter ofnonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer ofuranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin,silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of thepopulation while about half of the population depends on subsistenceagriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50%of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are amajor problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to theregion, hides the world's worst inequality of income distribution.The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with theNamibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulatelong-run foreign investment. Increased fish production and mining ofzinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-05.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$14.16 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.976 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 31.5% services: 58.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 820,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 47% industry: 20% services: 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1998)
Population below poverty line:the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% ofthe population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA% 0.5%highest 10%: NA% 64.5%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:70.7 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.945 billionexpenditures: $2.039 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:32.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
Industries:meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds,lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.464 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:NA
Electricity - consumption:2.372 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:55 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports: 1.065 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:12,770 bbl/day 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:62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$509.2 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$2.04 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processedfish, karakul skins
Exports - partners:South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2004)
Imports:$2.35 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,chemicals
Imports - partners:South Africa 85.2%, US (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$312.1 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$712.9 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $160 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates:Namibian dollars per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004),7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:127,900 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:495,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100personsdomestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radiorelay links major towns; connections to other populated places areby open wire; 100% digitalinternational: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to SouthAfrica, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links toother neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and SouthAfrican Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa;satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:60,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.na
Internet hosts:3,527 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:75,000 (2005)
Transportation Namibia
Airports: 137 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1162,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 22914 to 1,523 m: 72under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 42,237 km paved: 5,406 km unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Military Namibia
Military branches:Namibian Defense Force: Army, Air Wing, Navy (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 441,293 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$149.5 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Namibia
Disputes - international:border commission has yet to resolve small residual disputes withBotswana along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlandsalong the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia'splanned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on PopaFalls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of theboundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported and in 2004Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia tobuild a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizinga short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in theriver
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 12,618 (Angola) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Nauru
Introduction Nauru
Background:The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their languagedoes not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexedby Germany in 1888 and its phosphate deposits began to be minedearly in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru wasoccupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently becamea League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and abrutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. Itachieved its independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as theworld's smallest independent republic.
Geography Nauru
Location:Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the MarshallIslands
Geographic coordinates:0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 21 sq kmland: 21 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:30 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November toFebruary)
Terrain:sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs withphosphate plateau in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources:phosphates, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collectrainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalinationplant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainlyby a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% ofNauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati andMakatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
People Nauru
Population:13,287 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.9% (male 2,507/female 2,391)15-64 years: 61.2% (male 4,004/female 4,123)65 years and over: 2% (male 139/female 123) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.6 yearsmale: 20 yearsfemale: 21.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.81% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:24.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.08 yearsmale: 59.5 yearsfemale: 66.84 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA