Televisions:510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mk
Internet hosts:3,716 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:392,671 (2005)
Transportation Macedonia
Airports: 17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 2under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2006)
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km unpaved: 3,144 km (1999)
Military Macedonia
Military branches:Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV),Special Force Command (2006)
Military service age and obligation:conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscriptduty is six months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service(2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 498,259females age 18-49: 481,317 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 411,156females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 16,686females age 18-49: 15,664 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia
Disputes - international:ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundarywith Serbia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia andMontenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject theuse of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2006)
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;although not a financial center and most criminal activity isthought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to amostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests orprosecutions for money laundering to date)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colonyin 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, freepresidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidentialrace, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, wasreturned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election wascontested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and MarcRAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. InApril 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA thewinner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 587,040 sq kmland: 581,540 sq kmwater: 5,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,828 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Climate:tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:10,860 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along MozambiqueChannel
People Madagascar
Population:18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288)15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675)65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.5 yearsmale: 17.3 yearsfemale: 17.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.03% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:11.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 83.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.34 yearsmale: 54.93 yearsfemale: 59.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:7,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixedAfrican, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68.9%male: 75.5%female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Madagascarconventional short form: Madagascarlocal long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikaralocal short form: Madagascar/Madagasikaraformer: Malagasy Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Antananarivogeographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 Etime difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006(next to be held December 2011); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 54.8%,Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO(LEADER-Fanilo) 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA (AVI) 4.2%, Ny HasinaANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA1.7%, other 1.6%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats;two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose memberswill be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of theseats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-yearterms)elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next tobe held in 2007)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD5, others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or HauteCour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [PierrotRAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for NationalRecovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party orFP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [MarcRAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committeefor National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Councilof Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM,OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Narisoa RAJAONARIVONYchancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEEembassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivotelephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a verticalwhite band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar hassince the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy ofprivatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the countryon a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level.Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of theeconomy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recentyears primarily due to duty-free access to the United States.Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as theprimary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANAhas worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpiecesof economic policy for the next few years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$17.27 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.097 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.9% industry: 16.5% services: 56.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force:7.3 million (2000)
Population below poverty line:50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:47.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $879.9 millionexpenditures: $1.147 billion; including capital expenditures of $331million (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar,textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:984 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:915.1 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:90.59 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:14,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-504 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$993.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite,petroleum products
Exports - partners:France 31.5%, US 31%, Germany 8.8% (2005)
Imports:$1.544 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:France 16.7%, China 10.6%, Iran 8%, Mauritius 6.6%, Hong Kong 5%,South Africa 4.9% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$563 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$354 million (2001)
Currency (code):Madagascar ariary (MGA)
Currency code:MGF
Exchange rates:Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,167.5 (2006), 2,003 (2005),1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:66,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:504,700 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: system is above average for the regiondomestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,and tropospheric scatter links connect regionsinternational: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mg
Internet hosts:1,504 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:90,000 (2005)
Transportation Madagascar
Airports: 116 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2006)
Railways: total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)
Waterways:600 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWTby type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Military Madagascar
Military branches:People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, andAeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months(either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,542,797females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 2,218,662females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 187,000females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$329 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:7.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international:claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juande Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) usedmostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Malawi
Introduction Malawi
Background:Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland becamethe independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades ofone-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the countryheld multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitutionwhich came into full effect the following year. Current PresidentBingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt bythe previous president to amend the constitution to permit anotherterm, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA'santi-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests andone prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth,increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread ofHIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.
Geography Malawi
Location:Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 118,480 sq kmland: 94,080 sq kmwater: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May toNovember)
Terrain:narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, somemountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Shire River and internationalboundary with Mozambique 37 mhighest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits ofuranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:560 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's mostprominent physical feature
People Malawi
Population:13,013,926note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493)15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.2 yearsfemale: 16.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:19.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 94.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 98.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 89.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 41.7 yearsmale: 41.93 yearsfemale: 41.45 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:14.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:84,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Malawian(s)adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,Asian, European
Religions:Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%,Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 62.7%male: 76.1%female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Government Malawi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Malawiconventional short form: Malawilocal long form: Dziko la Malawilocal short form: Malawiformer: British Central African Protectorate, NyasalandProtectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:multiparty democracy
Capital:name: Lilongwegeographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 44 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:18 May 1994
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (nextto be held May 2009)election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent ofvote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%,Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%,Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by thepresident, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the JudicialService Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Congress forNational Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Binguwa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; MalawiDemocratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity andDevelopment or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP,PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE[Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [BrownMPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People'sProgressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's TransformationMovement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDEchancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires DavidGILMOURembassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Roadmailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawitelephone: [265] (1) 773 166FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with aradiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Economy Malawi
Economy - overview:Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developedcountries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted fornearly 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. Theperformance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth astobacco accounts for over 60% of exports. The economy depends onsubstantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the WorldBank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi wasapproved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)program. The government faces strong challenges, includingdeveloping a market economy, improving educational facilities,facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidlygrowing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors thatfiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKAchampioned an anticorruption campaign. Malawi's recent fiscal policyperformance has been very strong, but a serious drought in 2005 and2006 heightened pressure on the government to increase spending.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.038 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.172 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$600 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.4% industry: 17.6% services: 47% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:55% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.3 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15.1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $818.4 millionexpenditures: $895.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:68.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:6.4% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:1.293 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.202 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-186 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$513.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,apparel
Exports - partners:US 17.9%, South Africa 11.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%, Netherlands6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, Mozambique 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$767.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,transportation equipment
Imports - partners:South Africa 36.9%, Zambia 9.2%, Zimbabwe 7.7%, Mozambique 7.1%,India 6.8%, Tanzania 4.9%, US 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$175.5 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$982.4 million (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$401.5 million (2001)
Currency (code):Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:MWK
Exchange rates:Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 139.786 (2006), 108.894 (2005),108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:102,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:429,300 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relaylinks, and radiotelephone communications stationsinternational: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a thirdstation held in standby status) (2001)
Radios:2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.mw
Internet hosts:377 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2002)
Internet users:52,500 (2005)
Transportation Malawi
Airports: 42 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 6over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 15under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Railways: total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 15,451 km paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
Waterways:700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military Malawi
Military branches:Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,430,514 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$15.81 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international: disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Malaysia
Introduction Malaysia
Background:During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain establishedcolonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; thesewere occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruledterritories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 whenthe former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysianstates of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joinedthe Federation. The first several years of the country's historywere marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippineclaims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad(1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economyfrom dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion inmanufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography Malaysia
Location:Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northernone-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, andthe South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,750 sq kmland: 328,550 sq kmwater: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast(October to February) monsoons
Terrain:coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 5.46% permanent crops: 17.54% other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:3,650 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South ChinaSea
People Malaysia
Population:24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 24.1 yearsmale: 23.6 yearsfemale: 24.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegalimmigrants from other countries in the region (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 17.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 19.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.5 yearsmale: 69.8 yearsfemale: 75.38 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:52,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks insome locations (2007)
Nationality:noun: Malaysian(s)adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions:Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - inaddition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages:Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin,Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi,Thainote: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; mostwidely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.7%male: 92%female: 85.4% (2002)
Government Malaysia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia local long form: none local short form: Malaysia former: Federation of Malaysia
Government type:constitutional monarchynote: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliamentconsisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melakaand Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah andSarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government;powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution;under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certainconstitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their ownimmigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House ofRepresentatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives
Capital:name: Kuala Lumpurgeographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 Etime difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah,Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, PulauPinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federalterritory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of KualaLumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Independence:31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963
Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts inthe Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; Islamic law is applied toMuslims in matters of family law and religion
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since13 December 2006)head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin AbdulRazak (since 7 January 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among themembers of Parliament with consent of the paramount rulerelections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulersof nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 3November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designatedfrom among the members of the House of Representatives; followinglegislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a pluralityof seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime ministerelection results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or DewanNegara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointedby the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or DewanRakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (nextmust be held by 2009)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199,DAP 12, PAS 6, PKR 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on theadvice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN,consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Partyor PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti LiberalDemokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian ChineseAssociation (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. SamyVELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; PartiBersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti PesakaBumiputera Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; PartiRakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (PartiProgresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People'sParty (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam];United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin AhmadBadawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization(Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [BernardDOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif PendudukMalaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Partyor SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic ActionParty (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; IslamicParty of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADIAwang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WANAZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG];opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA -consists of PAS and PKR
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador RAJMAH binti Hussainchancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEURembassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50440mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207
Flag description:14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white(bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side cornerbearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescentand the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was basedon the flag of the US
Economy Malaysia
Economy - overview:Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into anemerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively drivenby exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia washard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in theinformation technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001grew only 0.5% because of an estimated 11% contraction in exports,but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billionmitigated the worst of the recession, and the economy rebounded in2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003,notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures fromSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led tocaution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5%per year in 2005-06. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia hasprofited from higher world energy prices, although the rising costof domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reducegovernment subsidies, contributing to higher inflation. Malaysia"unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currencyappreciated 6% against the dollar in 2006. Healthy foreign exchangereserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk thatMalaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near termsimilar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent oncontinued growth in the US, China, and Japan - top exportdestinations and key sources of foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$308.8 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$131.8 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$12,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.3% industry: 48.1% services: 43.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 10.73 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5% industry: 36% services: 49.5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.5% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $31.63 billionexpenditures: $37 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:46.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber,pepper, timber
Industries:Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing andmanufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin miningand smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleumproduction; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum productionand refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:5.8% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:78.24 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.5% hydro: 10.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:72.71 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:50 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:770,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:515,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:230,200 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:3.1 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:62.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:32.97 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:29.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.124 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$17.86 billion (2006 est.)