Exports:$158.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood andwood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong Kong 5.8%,Thailand 5.4% (2005)
Imports:$127.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,iron and steel products, chemicals
Imports - partners:Japan 14.6%, US 13%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.6%, Taiwan 5.6%,Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$82.3 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$57.77 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Currency (code):ringgit (MYR)
Currency code:MYR
Exchange rates:ringgits per US dollar - 3.67 (2006), 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8(2003), 3.8 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:4.366 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:19.545 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system; international service excellentdomestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysiamainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radiorelay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domesticsatellite system with 2 earth stationsinternational: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, HongKong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 IndianOcean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Radios:10.9 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations: mainland Malaysia 51; Sabah 16; Sarawak 21; note - many are low power stations (2006)
Televisions:10.8 million (1999)
Internet country code:.my
Internet hosts:158,650 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):7 (2000)
Internet users:11.016 million (2005)
Transportation Malaysia
Airports: 117 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 72 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 282 km; gas 5,372 km; oil 1,715 km; oil/gas/water 19 km;refined products 114 km (2006)
Railways:total: 1,890 kmstandard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 98,721 kmpaved: 80,280 km (including 1,821 km of expressways)unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)
Waterways:7,200 kmnote: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km(2005)
Merchant marine:total: 312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,542,727 GRT/7,544,154 DWTby type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 99, chemical tanker 38, container48, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 8,petroleum tanker 61, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 6foreign-owned: 66 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, SouthKorea 1, Singapore 44)registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 12, Belize 1, CaymanIslands 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 4)(2006)
Ports and terminals:Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town(Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas
Military Malaysia
Military branches:Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): MalaysianArmy (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera LautDiraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera UdaraDiraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 5,584,231females age 18-49: 5,510,345 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,574,854females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 244,418females age 18-49: 231,896 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.03% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Malaysia
Disputes - international:Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands togetherwith China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; whilethe 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South ChinaSea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not thelegally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysiawas not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oilcompanies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conductingmarine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continueover deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's landreclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in theJohor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007 the ICJ will holdpublic hearings in response to the Memorials and Countermemorialsfiled by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of PedraBranca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJawarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia andPhilippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereigntyof Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute;separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southernprovinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysiato stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim toMalaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia arestill considering international adjudication over their disputedoffshore and deepwater seabeds, where hydrocarbon exploration wasterminated in 2003; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei aroundLimbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 19,153 (Indonesia), 14,208 (Burma)(2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesserextent, a source and transit country for men and women traffickedfor the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; foreignvictims, mostly women and girls from China, Indonesia, Thailand, thePhilippines, and Vietnam, are trafficked to Malaysia for commercialsexual exploitation; economic migrants from countries in the regionwho work as domestic servants or laborers in the construction andagricultural sectors face exploitative conditions in Malaysia thatmeet the definition of involuntary servitude; some Malaysian women,primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for sexualexploitationtier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia is placed on Tier 2 WatchList for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts tocombat trafficking, particularly its failure to provide protectionfor victims of trafficking
Illicit drugs:regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug traffickingprosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Maldives
Introduction Maldives
Background:The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then underBritish protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years afterindependence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currentlyin his sixth term in office - has dominated the islands' politicalscene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, thepresident and his government pledged to embark upon democraticreforms, including a more representative political system andexpanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, andmany promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. Tourism andfishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Geography Maldives
Location:Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwestof India
Geographic coordinates:3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 300 sq kmland: 300 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the AdduAtoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:fish
Land use:arable land: 13.33%permanent crops: 30%other: 56.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands,plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategiclocation astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People Maldives
Population:359,008 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.4% (male 80,113/female 75,763)15-64 years: 53.5% (male 98,040/female 94,029)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,477/female 5,586) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.9 yearsmale: 17.8 yearsfemale: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:34.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.06 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: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 54.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 54.01 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.41 yearsmale: 63.08 yearsfemale: 65.8 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Maldivian(s)adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:Sunni Muslim
Languages:Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.2%male: 97.1%female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
Government Maldives
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Maldivesconventional short form: Maldiveslocal long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaalocal short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Malegeographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 31 Etime difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, HaaAlifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), Meemu,Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence:26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:adopted 1 January 1998
Legal system:based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common lawprimarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nominationmust be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approvalmargin is required); president elected for a five-year term;election last held 17 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected inreferendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - MaumoonAbdul GAYOOM 90.3%
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected bypopular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50
Judicial branch:High Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties were allowed to register in June 2005; the first entrants are: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]
Political pressure groups and leaders:various unregistered political parties
International organization participation:AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed LATHEEF chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195 FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador toSri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description:red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a verticalwhite crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist sideof the flag
Economy Maldives
Economy - overview:Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP andmore than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%of government tax revenue comes from import duties andtourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector.Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in theeconomy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable landand the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must beimported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production,boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 7% of GDP. TheMaldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to theprivate sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations toallow more foreign investment. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5%per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a majortsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and propertydamage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDPcontracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunamireconstruction, and development of new resorts helped boost GDP bynearly 18 percent in 2006. The trade deficit has expanded sharply asa result of high oil prices and imports of construction material.Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing is the major challengefacing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authoritiesworry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming ontheir low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less abovesea level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$817 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-3.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 18% services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:NEGL% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:21% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconutprocessing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sandmining
Industrial production growth rate:-0.9% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:149.9 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:139.4 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:7,200 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.)
Exports:$123 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish
Exports - partners:Japan 22.8%, Thailand 22.7%, Sri Lanka 16.4%, UK 12.6%, Singapore5.8%, Germany 4.8%, France 4.3% (2005)
Imports:$567 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate andcapital goods
Imports - partners:Singapore 24.1%, UAE 15.7%, India 11.3%, Malaysia 7.2%, Sri Lanka5.7%, UK 4.5% (2005)
Debt - external:$304 million (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$27.9 million (2004)
Currency (code):rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code:MVR
Exchange rates:rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8(2003), 12.8 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:32,181 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:271,053 (2006)
Telephone system:general assessment: Telephone services have improved; each islandnow has at least one public telephone, and there are mobile cellularnetworks with expanding subscribershipdomestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; allinhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and faxserviceinternational: country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2006)
Televisions:10,000 (1999)
Internet country code:.mv
Internet hosts:1,357 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:19,000 (2005)
Transportation Maldives
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:total: 88 kmpaved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km onLaamunote: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,149 GRT/87,220 DWTby type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Male
Military Maldives
Military branches:National Security Service: Security Branch (ground forces), AirElement, Coast Guard
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 71,774females age 18-49: 69,229 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 56,687females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$45.07 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Maldives
Disputes - international:none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Mali
Introduction Mali
Background:The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a fewmonths, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamedMali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a coupthat ushered in democratic government. President Alpha KONARE wonMali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and wasreelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutionallimit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Geography Mali
Location:Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.24 million sq kmland: 1.22 million sq kmwater: 20,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 7,243 kmborder countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,Senegal 419 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid,and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna insouth, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Senegal River 23 mhighest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources:gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum,granite, hydropowernote: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits areknown but not exploited
Land use: arable land: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:2,360 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurringdroughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate suppliesof potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and thenorthern, arid Saharan
People Mali
Population:11,716,829 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48.2% (male 2,857,670/female 2,787,506)15-64 years: 48.8% (male 2,804,344/female 2,910,097)65 years and over: 3% (male 146,458/female 210,754) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 15.8 yearsmale: 15.4 yearsfemale: 16.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.63% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:49.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:16.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 107.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 117.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 97.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 49 yearsmale: 47.05 yearsfemale: 51.01 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:7.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:12,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Malian(s)adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups:Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions:Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages:French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 46.4%male: 53.5%female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
Government Mali
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Maliconventional short form: Malilocal long form: Republique de Malilocal short form: Maliformer: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Bamakogeographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial reviewof legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formallyestablished on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi MAIGA (since 30April 2004)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 12 May 2002 (nextto be held April 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent ofvote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 14 and 28 July 2002 (next to be held July 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Hope 2002 coalition 66 (including RPM 42, CNID 10, and MPR 3), ADEMA51, other 30
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of 14political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 tosupport the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance forDemocracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE, party chairman]; Convergence2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Hope 2002 (a coalition of CNID, MPR,RDT, and RPM); National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID[Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP[Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [TiebileDRAME, secretary general]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR[Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT; Rally forMali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, chairman]; SudaneseUnion/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE,secretary general]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD[Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD[Soumaila CISSE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Alliance for Democratic Change or ACD; Patriotic Movement of theGhanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB(regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Terrence P. MCCULLEY embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 222-5470 FAX: [223] 222-3712
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Mali
Economy - overview:Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of itsland area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequaldistribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to theriverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population isnomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming andfishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farmcommodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerableto fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, alongwith gold. The government has continued its successfulimplementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment programthat is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreigninvestment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economicgrowth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2006. Worker remittances andexternal trade routes for the landlocked country have beenjeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$14.59 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.847 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,200 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 3.93 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:64% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $764 millionexpenditures: $828 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2002 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:410 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.7% hydro: 58.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: 381.3 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,300 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.)
Exports:$323 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, gold, livestock
Exports - partners:China 29.3%, Thailand 10.1%, Taiwan 7.7%, Italy 5.3%, Bangladesh4.5%, France 4.4% (2005)
Imports:$1.858 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:France 13%, Senegal 13%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.5% (2005)
Debt - external:$2.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$472.1 million (2002)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mali
Telephones - main lines in use:75,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:869,600 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;provides only minimal servicedomestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open-wire, andradiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radiorelay in progressinternational: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1 note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International (2001)
Radios:570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:45,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ml
Internet hosts:278 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (2001)
Internet users:60,000 (2005)
Transportation Mali
Airports:29 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Railways: total: 729 km narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 18,709 km paved: 3,368 km unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)
Waterways:1,815 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:Koulikoro
Military Mali
Military branches:Army, Air Force, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,094,432females age 18-49: 2,027,352 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,244,176females age 18-49: 1,226,226 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$106.3 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mali
Disputes - international:none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 6,165 (Mauritania) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Malta
Introduction Malta
Background:Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. Theisland staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars andremained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. Adecade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, theisland has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, afinancial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EUmember in May 2004.
Geography Malta
Location:Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily(Italy)
Geographic coordinates:35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 316 sq kmland: 316 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Climate:Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use: arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largestislands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) beinginhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia arediscussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelfbetween their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Malta
Population:400,214 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 38.7 yearsmale: 37.2 yearsfemale: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.42% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.01 yearsmale: 76.83 yearsfemale: 81.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Maltese (singular and plural)adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups:Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, withstrong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions:Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.8%male: 92%female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government Malta
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Maltaconventional short form: Maltalocal long form: Repubblika ta' Maltalocal short form: Malta
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Vallettageographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence:21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:1964 constitution; amended many times
Legal system:based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of theprime ministerelections: president elected by the House of Representatives for afive-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 29March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for afive-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by thepresident on the advice of the prime ministerelection results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House ofRepresentatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note -additional seats are given to the party with the largest popularvote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected bypopular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by August 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.79%, MLP 47.51%,AD 0.68%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts areappointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [HarryVASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Partyor PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONAROembassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,VLT 01mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01telephone: [356] 2561 4000FAX: [356] 21 243229
Flag description:two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in theupper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,edged in red
Economy Malta
Economy - overview:Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, anda productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its foodneeds, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energysources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Continuedsluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports,tourism, and overall growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.122 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.39 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$20,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 160,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 22% services: 75% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.503 billionexpenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cutflowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries:tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, foodand beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:2.291 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.13 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:19,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-966.2 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$2.425 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%,Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$4.077 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured andsemi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%, Singapore4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.065 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$188.8 million (2005)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:MTL
Exchange rates:Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466(2004), 0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:202,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:324,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirementsdomestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islandsinternational: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (2006)
Televisions:280,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mt