Televisions:1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lt
Internet hosts:148,675 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):32 (2001)
Internet users:1,221,700 (2005)
Transportation Lithuania
Airports: 91 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,696 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2006)
Railways:total: 1,771 kmbroad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 79,497 kmpaved: 70,549 km (including 417 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)
Waterways:425 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 49 ships (1000 GRT or over) 353,094 GRT/352,883 DWTby type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 1,passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 14, rollon/roll off 1foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 10)registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Belize 1,North Korea 1, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines3, unknown 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Klaipeda
Military Lithuania
Military branches:Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces,National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 830,368females age 19-49: 830,524 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 590,606females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 29,689females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified byRussia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates asimplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from theKaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, asa EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, tostrict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has notratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarilydue to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007,ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete andmapped with final ratification documents in preparation
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs fromSouthwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europeand Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;susceptible to money laundering despite changes to bankinglegislation
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and anindependent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half ofits territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure ofautonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germanyin both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it enteredinto the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the followingyear. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countriesof the European Economic Community (later the European Union), andin 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 2,586 sq kmland: 2,586 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplandsto slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselleflood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.94% permanent crops: 0.39% other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:474,413 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356)15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075)65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 38.7 yearsmale: 37.7 yearsfemale: 39.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.23% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.89 yearsmale: 75.6 yearsfemale: 82.38 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Luxembourger(s)adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest andresident workers)
Religions:87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrativelanguage), French (administrative language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourgconventional short form: Luxembourglocal long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourglocal short form: Luxembourg
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Luxembourggeographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:17 October 1868; occasional revisions
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); HeirApparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister andappointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popularelections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majorityparty or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointedprime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister isappointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber ofDeputiesnote: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisorybody to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 membersappointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
Judicial branch:judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 districtcourts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts andtribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts andtribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts areappointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN];Christian Social People's Party or CSV (also known as ChristianSocial Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg SocialistWorkers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed CommunistParty dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; otherminor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue andis shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:This stable, high-income economy - benefitting from its proximityto France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth, lowinflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initiallydominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to includechemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financialsector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more thancompensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-ownedand have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on smallfamily-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and cross-borderworkers for about 60% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, likeall EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump, thecountry enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP percapita ranks first in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$32.6 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$34.37 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$68,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 13%services: 86% (2005 est.)
Labor force:203,000 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commutingprimarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.1% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $19.07 billionexpenditures: $19.79 billion; including capital expenditures of$975.5 million (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairyproducts, livestock products
Industries:banking and financial services, iron and steel, informationtechnology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, foodprocessing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass,aluminum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4.3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - imports:5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:62,420 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.361 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.361 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$4.63 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$19.55 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubberproducts, glass
Exports - partners:Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.5%, Spain6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)
Imports:$24.22 billion c.i.f. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:Belgium 28.2%, Germany 21.8%, China 12.8%, France 9.6%, Netherlands5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$232.2 million (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $235.59 million (2004)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:244,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:720,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed, completely automated andefficient system, mainly buried cablesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cableinternational: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1999)
Televisions:285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.lu
Internet hosts:88,661 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:315,000 (2005)
Transportation Luxembourg
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 155 km (2006)
Railways:total: 274 kmstandard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 5,227 kmpaved: 5,227 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2004)
Waterways:37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 557,636 GRT/792,069 DWTby type: bulk carrier 6, chemical tanker 16, container 7, liquefiedgas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 9, Finland 4, France 14, Germany 10,Netherlands 2, US 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Mertert
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:Army
Military service age and obligation: a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 110,867females age 17-49: 108,758 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 90,279females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 2,775females age 17-49: 2,703 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$231.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was thefirst European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreementsigned by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became theMacau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced inMacau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in allmatters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 28.2 sq kmland: 28.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:41 km
Maritime claims:not specified
Climate:subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:generally flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention
Geography - note:essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane andTaipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula bythree bridges
People Macau
Population:453,125 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.2% (male 37,934/female 35,412)15-64 years: 75.9% (male 163,975/female 179,830)65 years and over: 7.9% (male 15,099/female 20,875) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 36.1 yearsmale: 35.7 yearsfemale: 36.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.86% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:8.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 82.19 yearsmale: 79.36 yearsfemale: 85.17 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Chineseadjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95.7%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%,other 3.3% (2001 census)
Religions:Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinesedialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%male: 97.2%female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Macaulocal long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); RegiaoAdministrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebratedas Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People'sCongress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residentsliving in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limitedto organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currentlyregistered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20December 1999)cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, andone pro-Beijing educatorelections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committeefor a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election lastheld 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009)election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes;three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 elected by popularvote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive;members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009)election results: percent of vote - New Democratic Macau Association18.2%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, Development Union12.8%, Macau Development Alliance 9%, others NA; seats by politicalgroup - New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens'Association 2, Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1,New Hope 1, United Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled byprofessional and business groups; seven members appointed by chiefexecutive
Judicial branch:Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; DevelopmentUnion [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONGOn-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; NewDemocratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by theUS Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and waterin white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one largein center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in theworld since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports andtourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hithard by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturnin 2001, its economy grew 10.1% in 2002, 14.2% in 2003, and 28.6% in2004 before slowing to 6.7% in 2005. The economic boom was poweredby gambling, tourism, and the construction necessary to support suchendeavours. China's decision to ease travel restrictions led to arapid rise in the number of mainland visitors. The opening ofMacau's gaming industry to foreign access in 2001 spurred anincrease in public works expenditures. The budget also returned tosurplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and ahike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% ofgovernment revenue. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to themainland due to the termination in 2005 of the Multi-FiberAgreement, which provided a near guarantee of export markets,leaving the territory more dependant on gambling and trade-relatedservices to generate growth. The Closer Economic PartnershipAgreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came intoeffect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-freeaccess to the mainland. The range of products covered by CEPA wasexpanded on 1 January 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$10 billion (2004)
GDP (official exchange rate):$11.56 billion (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:6.7% (2005)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$24,300 (2005)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 7.2% services: 92.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 248,000 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 13.7%, construction 13.7%, transport and communications 5.9%, wholesale and retail trade 10.5%, restaurants and hotels 10.3%, gambling 5.9%, public sector 7.8%, other services and agriculture 19.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.1% (2005)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.4% (2005)
Budget:revenues: $3.16 billionexpenditures: $3.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY05/06)
Agriculture - products:only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch isexported to Hong Kong
Industries:tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:2.027 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.159 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:1 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:340.8 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:12,360 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:21 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:12,840 bbl/day (2005)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:43.96 million cu m (2005 est.)
Exports:$3.156 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2005)
Exports - commodities:clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:US 48.7%, China 14.9%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Germany 5.9% (2005)
Imports:$3.912 billion c.i.f. (2005)
Imports - commodities:raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels andoils
Imports - partners:China 43.1%, Japan 10.9%, Hong Kong 10%, Singapore 5.2%, US 4.1%,Taiwan 4% (2005)
Debt - external:$3.1 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):pataca (MOP)
Currency code:MOP
Exchange rates:patacas per US dollar - 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003),8.033 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:174,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:532,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fairly modern communication facilitiesmaintained for domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communicationfacility; access to international communications carriers providedvia Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2006)
Televisions:49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mo
Internet hosts:108 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:201,000 (2004)
Transportation Macau
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 368 kmpaved: 368 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:Macau
Military Macau
Military branches:no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsiblity of China
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international:none
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Macau is a transit and destination territory forwomen trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;most females in Macau's sizeable sex industry come from the interiorregions of China or Mongolia, though a significant number also comefrom Russia, Eastern Europe, Thailand, and Vietnam; the majority ofwomen in Macau's prostitution trade appear to have entered Macau andthe sex trade voluntarily, though there is evidence that some aredeceived or coerced into sexual servitude, often through the use ofdebt bondage; organized criminal syndicates are reportedly involvedin bringing women to Macau, and fear of reprisals from these groupsmay prevent some women from seeking helptier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Macau is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to addresstrafficking since 2004
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Macedonia
Introduction Macedonia
Background:Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what itconsidered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed internationalrecognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifteda 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalizerelations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by itsconstitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiationscontinue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economicinequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won thesupport of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and ledto the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended thefighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights ofminorities. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo,implementation of the Framework Agreement, and a weak economycontinue to be challenges for Macedonia.
Geography Macedonia
Location:Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 25,333 sq kmland: 24,856 sq kmwater: 477 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:total: 766 kmborder countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,Serbia 221 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavysnowfall
Terrain:mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; threelarge lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected bythe Vardar River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vardar River 50 mhighest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese,nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:550 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law ofthe Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and CentralEurope to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People Macedonia
Population:2,050,554 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.1% (male 213,486/female 199,127)15-64 years: 68.9% (male 711,853/female 701,042)65 years and over: 11% (male 98,618/female 126,428) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.1 yearsmale: 33.2 yearsfemale: 35.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.26% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.97 yearsmale: 71.51 yearsfemale: 76.62 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.57 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
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 the larger Skopje Municipality
Independence:8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsingindependence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as SaintElijah's Day
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 26 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 33%, SDSM22%, BDI/DUI 12%, PDSh/DPA 7%, NSDP 6%, VMRO-Narodna 6%; seats byparty - VMRO-DPMNE 45, SDSM 32, BDI/DUI 17, PDSh/DPA 11, NSDP 7,VMRO-Narodna 6, other 2
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 League of theBosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians orPDSh/DPA [Arben XHAFERI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [IvanSTOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; DemocraticRenewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Vlachsfor Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration orBDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity orVMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna JANEVSKA]; Leaguefor Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP[Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative[Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Party-New Democratic Forces orPDK-FRO [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [TitoPETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Future [Alajdin DEMIRI]; Party forDemocratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party forEuropean Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social Democratic Allianceof Macedonia or SDSM [Radmila SEKERINSKA]; Socialist Party ofMacedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Romas or SR [SaliuSHABAN]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation ofTrade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [TodorPETROV]
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, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) 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, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about thecountry's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growthuntil 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However,the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, andregional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanianinsurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreasedtrade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending onsecurity needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in2002 to 0.9%, then averaged 4% per year during 2003-06. Macedoniahas maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but ithas lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and jobgrowth has been anemic. Macedonia has an extensive grey market,estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that falls outsideofficial statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $16.91 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.649 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$8,200 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 27.7% services: 59.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 880,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 32.6% services: 45.7% (September 2006)
Unemployment rate:35% (2006 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):3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.113 billionexpenditures: $2.149 billion; including capital expenditures of $114million (2006 est.)
Public debt:27.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs
Industries:food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel,cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:6.271 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.933 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:1.662 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:100 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:100 million cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-167 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$2.341 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures,iron and steel
Exports - partners:Serbia and Montenegro 22.5%, Germany 17.8%, Greece 15.3%, Italy8.3% (2005)
Imports:$3.631 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, foodproducts
Imports - partners:Russia 13.2%, Germany 10.4%, Greece 9.2%, Serbia and Montenegro8.2%, Bulgaria 7.3%, Italy 6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.845 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$2.138 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:MKD
Exchange rates:Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.9962 (2006), 48.92 (2005),49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002)
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)