Internet hosts:14,025 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2002)
Internet users:127,200 (2005)
Transportation Malta
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 1,220 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,917,414 GRT/38,685,924 DWTby type: bulk carrier 434, cargo 344, chemical tanker 105,combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas 7, livestockcarrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 146,refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 2,vehicle carrier 16foreign-owned: 1,162 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 3, Belgium10, Bulgaria 13, Canada 18, China 14, Croatia 10, Cyprus 15, Denmark6, Estonia 4, France 6, Germany 64, Greece 495, Hong Kong 2, Iceland4, India 1, Iran 14, Israel 23, Italy 29, Japan 1, South Korea 6,Latvia 40, Lebanon 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 6, Norway 49, Pakistan1, Poland 27, Portugal 3, Romania 9, Russia 70, Slovenia 3, Spain 6,Sweden 3, Switzerland 21, Syria 7, Taiwan 2, Turkey 123, UAE 5, UK8, Ukraine 24, US 3)registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, Portugal 1, Russia 4)(2006)
Ports and terminals:Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Military Malta
Military branches:Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements)(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 90,651females age 18-49: 87,047 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 74,525females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$38.168 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Malta
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to WesternEurope
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Marshall Islands
Introduction Marshall Islands
Background:After almost four decades under US administration as theeasternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compactof Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of USnuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. TheMarshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) ReaganMissile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defensenetwork.
Geography Marshall Islands
Location:Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made upof many small islets, and five single islands in the North PacificOcean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 11,854.3 sq kmland: 181.3 sq kmwater: 11,673 sq km (note - lagoon waters)note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative:about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:370.4 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands bordertyphoon belt
Terrain:low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources:coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:arable land: 11.11%permanent crops: 44.44%other: 44.45% (2005)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein,the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile testrange; island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in theMarshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the mostdensely populated locations in the Pacific
People Marshall Islands
Population:60,422 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295)15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.3 yearsmale: 20.4 yearsfemale: 20.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.25% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 28.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 24.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.31 yearsmale: 68.33 yearsfemale: 72.39 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups:Micronesian
Religions:Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukotnan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none1.5% (1999 census)
Languages:Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshalleseand English are official languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.7%male: 93.6%female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islandsconventional short form: Marshall Islandslocal long form: Republic of the Marshall Islandslocal short form: Marshall Islandsabbreviation: RMIformer: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall IslandsDistrict
Government type:constitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 andthe Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:name: Majurogeographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 Etime difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur,Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo,Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili,Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik,Wotho, Wotje
Independence:21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution:1 May 1979
Legal system:based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004)cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members ofthe legislatureelections: president elected by Parliament from among its ownmembers for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003(next to be held November 2007)election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent ofParliament vote - 100%
Legislative branch:unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held by November2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAnote: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprisedof tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law andpractice
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court
Political parties and leaders:traditionally there have been no formally organized politicalparties; what has existed more closely resembles factions orinterest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formalplatforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" havecompeted in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein AdParty [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [LitokwaTOMEING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRISembassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuromailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the MarshallIslands 96960-1379telephone: [692] 247-4011FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag description:blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner -orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large raysand 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny islandeconomy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, isconcentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops arecoconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited tohandicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now asmall source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of thelabor force, remains the best hope for future added income. Theislands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the USwill provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands(RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMIcontributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Governmentdownsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism,and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses haveheld GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$115 million (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$144 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.7% industry: 14.9% services: 53.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 14,680 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.4% industry: 20.9% services: 57.7%
Unemployment rate:30.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $42 millionexpenditures: $40 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(1999)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Industries:copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood,and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)
Exports:$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners:US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)
Imports:$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2004)
Debt - external:$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002 (2004)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:5,510 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,198 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern servicesinclude telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID,and leased data circuitsdomestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected byhigh frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)and mini-satellite telephonesinternational: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communicationssystem on Kwajalein (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and TelevisionServices (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM stationon Kwajalein (2005)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:2 (both are US military stations)note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company) operates onMajuro (2005)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.mh
Internet hosts:6 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:2,000 (2005)
Transportation Marshall Islands
Airports:15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 64.5 kmpaved: 64.5 kmnote: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwisestone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 795 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,772,611 GRT/50,987,293 DWTby type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 178, cargo 53, chemicaltanker 133, container 147, liquefied gas 25, passenger 7, petroleumtanker 234, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 7, specializedtanker 2, vehicle carrier 5foreign-owned: 730 (Australia 2, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6,Chile 1, Croatia 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Finland 2, Germany 194,Greece 199, Hong Kong 7, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Japan 7, SouthKorea 1, Latvia 7, Monaco 8, Netherlands 1, Norway 65, Russia 1,Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 6, Slovenia 3, Spain 3, Switzerland 13,Turkey 20, UAE 3, UK 12, US 143)registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Majuro
Military Marshall Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 13,465 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Mauritania
Introduction Mauritania
Background:Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southernthird of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, butrelinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisarioguerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya OuldSid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition partieswere legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Twomultiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen asflawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections weregenerally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposedPresident TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. ElyOuld Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up totwo years while it created conditions for genuine democraticinstitutions and organized elections. Accordingly, parliamentaryelections were held in December of 2006 and senatorial andpresidential elections will follow (January and March 2007respectively). The newly-elected legislature is expected to assumepower following the inauguration of the new president. For now,however, Mauritania remains an autocratic state, and the countrycontinues to experience ethnic tensions among its black populationand different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.
Geography Mauritania
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenSenegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,030,700 sq kmland: 1,030,400 sq kmwater: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 5,074 kmborder countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:754 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use: arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:490 sq km (2002)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March andApril; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by droughtare contributing to desertification; very limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennialriver; locust infestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott andNouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of thecountry
People Mauritania
Population:3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45.6% (male 726,376/female 723,013)15-64 years: 52.2% (male 818,408/female 839,832)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,042/female 41,717) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17 yearsmale: 16.8 yearsfemale: 17.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.88% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:40.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.16 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 69.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 72.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.12 yearsmale: 50.88 yearsfemale: 55.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risksin some locationsrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:Muslim 100%
Languages:Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 41.7%male: 51.8%female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritania
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritaniaconventional short form: Mauritanialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyahlocal short form: Muritaniyah
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Nouakchottgeographic coordinates: 18 06 N, 15 57 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, HodhEch Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, TirisZemmour, Trarza
Independence:28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:12 July 1991
Legal system:a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, whose Military Councilfor Justice and Democracy deposed longtime President Maaouya OuldSid Ahmed TAYA in a coup on 3 August 2005head of government: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR (since8 August 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second consecutive term); note - passage of aconstitutional reform referendum in July 2006 limits president totwo five-year terms; election last held 7 November 2003 (next to beheld 11 March 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelectedfor a third term with 60.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh(56 seats; a portion of seats up for election every two years;members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) andthe National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 9 and 16 April 2004 (next to be held21 January 2007); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3December 2006election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party - CFCD 41 (including RFD 16, United Forces for Progress(UDP) 9, APP 5, Islamists 5, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, FP 1), RNI(coalition of independent candidates) 38, PRDR 7, Union forDemocracy and Progress (UDP) 3, RDU 3, Alternative (Al-Badil) 1,RNDLE 1, UCD 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:Alternative or Al-Badil; Coalition for Forces for Democratic Changeor CFCD (coalition of political parties including RFD, United Forcesof Progress or UDP, APP, Islamists, HATEM-PMUC, RD, UDC); DemocraticRenewal or RD; Islamists (Centrist Reformists); Mauritanian Partyfor Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; National Rally for Freedom,Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih OuldCHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud OuldBOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH];Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA];Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR (formerly rulingDemocratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS) [Boullah OuldMOGUEYA]; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha MintMOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD
Political pressure groups and leaders:Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation of MauritanianWorkers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general];Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [SamoryOuld BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed ElyOuld BRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould Mohamed EL KERIMchancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles H.Twiningembassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and SpanishEmbassy), Nouakchottmailing address: BP 222, Nouakchotttelephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663FAX: [222] 525-1592
Flag description:green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontalcrescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent,star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Mauritania
Economy - overview:Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock fora livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmerswere forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which accountfor nearly 40% of total exports. The nation's coastal waters areamong the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitationby foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country'sfirst deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past,drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreigndebt which now stands at more than three times the level of annualexports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt reliefunder the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and inDecember 2001 received strong support from donor and lendingcountries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A new investmentcode approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for directforeign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involveproblems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. In 2001,exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potentialextraction at current world oil prices. Mauritania has an estimated1 billion barrels of proved reserves. Substantial oil production andexports began in early 2006 and averaged 75,000 barrels per day forthe year. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty,improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization ofthe economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.397 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.641 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:19.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,600 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:39 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $421 millionexpenditures: $378 million; including capital expenditures of $154million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:176.7 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85.9% hydro: 14.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:164.3 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:75,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:1 billion bbl (2005)
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.)
Exports:$784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners:Italy 14.8%, Japan 12.2%, France 11.9%, Belgium 8.5%, Germany 8.2%,Cote d'Ivoire 7.1%, Spain 7.1%, Russia 5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2005)
Imports:$1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 18.2%, UK 7.1%, US 6.9%, China 6%, Spain 5%, Belgium 4.3%(2005)
Debt - external:$2.5 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$305.7 million (2002)
Currency (code):ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code:MRO
Exchange rates:ouguiyas per US dollar - NA (2005), NA (2004), 263.03 (2003),271.74 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:41,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:745,600 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communicationsstations (improvements being made)domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completeddomestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott withregional capitalsinternational: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:410,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:98,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.mr
Internet hosts:32 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:14,000 (2005)
Transportation Mauritania
Airports:25 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Railways: 717 km standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1999)
Ports and terminals:Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military Mauritania
Military branches:Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Mauritanienne;includes naval infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne Islamique deMauritanie, FAIM) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - two years;majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in AirForce and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 606,463females age 18-49: 607,955 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 370,513females age 18-49: 384,269 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$19.32 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mauritania
Disputes - international:Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination countryfor children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor, begging,and domestic servitude; adults and children are subjected toslavery-related practices rooted in ancestral master-slaverelationships in isolated parts of the country where a bartereconomy existstier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mauritania is placed on the Tier 2Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increased efforts tocombat trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Mauritius
Introduction Mauritius
Background:Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10thcentury, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in 1505; itwas subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British beforeindependence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regularfree elections and a positive human rights record, the country hasattracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one ofAfrica's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather anddeclining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to someprotests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Geography Mauritius
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 2,040 sq kmland: 2,030 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmnote: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (SaintBrandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:177 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (Mayto November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encirclingcentral plateau
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 49.02% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:220 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefsthat may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the main island, from which the country derives its name, is ofvolcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs
People Mauritius
Population:1,240,827 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.9% (male 149,486/female 147,621)15-64 years: 69.5% (male 430,288/female 431,753)65 years and over: 6.6% (male 31,939/female 49,740) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 30.8 yearsmale: 30 yearsfemale: 31.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.82% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:15.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 17.23 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.63 yearsmale: 68.66 yearsfemale: 76.66 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.95 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mauritian(s)adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian2%
Religions:Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, other Christian 8.6%, Muslim16.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official;spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified0.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.6%male: 88.6%female: 82.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritius
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Mauritiusconventional short form: Mauritiuslocal long form: Republic of Mauritiuslocal short form: Mauritius
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Port Louisgeographic coordinates: 20 10 S, 57 30 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses,Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system with elements of English commonlaw in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February2002)head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5July 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); electionlast held 25 February 2002 (next to be held in February 2007); primeminister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president,responsible to the National Assemblyelection results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUNelected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly -NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 elected by popular vote,8 appointed by the election commission to give representation tovarious ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Alliance Sociale or AS; Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH];Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; MauritianMilitant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] (in coalition with MSM);Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL];Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] (the governingparty); Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY];Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:various labor unions
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
Economy Mauritius
Economy - overview:Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from alow-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-incomediversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and touristsectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the orderof 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in moreequitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, loweredinfant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. Sugarcane isgrown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25%of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers onexpanding local financial institutions and building a domesticinformation telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attractedmore than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in Indiaand South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone hasreached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector,has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth andOpportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP (purchasing power parity):$16.72 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.135 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$13,500 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 25.2% services: 69.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 555,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and industry 14%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 36%, finance 3%, other services 7% (1995)
Unemployment rate:9.4% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37 (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.9% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.475 billionexpenditures: $1.854 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:57.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Industries:food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing,mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:2.107 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 9.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.96 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:21,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-651 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$2.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Exports - partners:UK 32%, France 17%, US 9.7%, UAE 8.6%, Madagascar 5.7%, Italy 5.7%(2005)
Imports:$3.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleumproducts, chemicals
Imports - partners:China 9.8%, South Africa 8.6%, France 7.6%, India 6.9%, Bahrain5.2%, Finland 4.8%, Germany 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.358 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$2.834 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$42 million (1997)
Currency (code):Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code:MUR
Exchange rates:Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 31.4607 (2006), 29.496 (2005),27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:359,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:713,300 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: small system with good servicedomestic: primarily microwave radio relay trunk systeminternational: country code - 230; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HFradiotelephone links to several countries; fiber optic submarinecable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:258,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mu
Internet hosts:4,997 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:180,000 (2005)
Transportation Mauritius
Airports: 6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 4914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 2,020 kmpaved: 2,020 km (including 75 km of expressways) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,386 GRT/23,214 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2foreign-owned: 4 (India 2, Switzerland 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Port Louis
Military Mauritius
Military branches:no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special MobileForce, National Coast Guard
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 313,271 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$12.04 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mauritius
Disputes - international:Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered BritishIndian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who residechiefly in Mauritius; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs:minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia;small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significantoffshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering,but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appearsgenerally to be committed to regulating its banking industry