Birth rate:15.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.64 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.23 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: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 38.38 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 41.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 35.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.65 yearsmale: 61.61 yearsfemale: 69.88 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Moldovan(s)adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%,Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.1%male: 99.6%female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
Government Moldova
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Moldovaconventional short form: Moldovalocal long form: Republica Moldovalocal short form: Moldovaformer: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan SovietSocialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Chisinau (Kishinev)geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 50 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritorialaautonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Unghenimunicipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinauautonomous territorial unit: Gagauziaterritorial unit: Stinga Nistrului
Independence:27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994;replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system:based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality oflegislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; acceptsmany UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE) documents
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10October 2005)cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval ofParliamentelections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (nextto be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by thepresident, upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days fromdesignation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote ofconfidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program andentire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinetreceived a vote of confidence 19 April 2001election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president;parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; VasileTARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence- 75 of 101
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties andelectoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, DemocraticMoldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party -PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority forconstitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA];Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [VladimirVORONIN, first chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV];National Liberal Party or NLP [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our MoldovaAlliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy orPSD [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300 FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044
Flag description:same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue(hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of aRoman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talonscarrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in itsright talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breastis a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized oxhead, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
Economy Moldova
Economy - overview:Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despiterecent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorableclimate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As aresult, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuringfruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almostall of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energywas underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electricalstation in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power toMoldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas to Moldova indisputes over pricing. The economy achieved six percent or more GDPgrowth every year from 2000-2005, though this was based largely onconsumption fueled by remittances received from Moldovans workingabroad. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agriculturalproducts, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paidfor Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006 and greatlyexacerbated Moldova's economic troubles. Economic reforms have beenslow because of corruption and strong political forces backinggovernment controls; nevertheless, the government's primary goal ofEU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. Theeconomy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agriculturalweather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presenceof an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria regioncontinues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.971 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.588 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.5% industry: 22% services: 56.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 1.339 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 14% services: 46% (1998)
Unemployment rate:8%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad(2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.2 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.318 billionexpenditures: $1.335 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:84.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,tobacco; beef, milk
Industries:sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery;foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines;hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:17% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:3.506 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.731 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:130 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:3.6 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-561 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$1.02 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:Russia 32.9%, Italy 12.7%, Romania 10.6%, Ukraine 9.5%, Belarus6.7%, Germany 4.5% (2005)
Imports:$2.65 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,textiles (2000)
Imports - partners:Ukraine 20.9%, Russia 11.7%, Romania 11.2%, Germany 8.3%, Italy6.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$680 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$2.142 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$100 million (2000)
Currency (code):Moldovan leu (MDL)
Currency code:MDL
Exchange rates:lei per US dollar - 13.1571 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004),13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:929,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.09 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outsideChisinau; some modernization is under waydomestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long waitfor service; two private operators of GSM mobile cellular telephoneservice are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; license forone CDMA mobile telephone network currently being tendered.international: country code - 373; service through Romania andRussia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat,and Intersputnik
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 29 (2004)
Radios:3.22 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:40 (2004)
Televisions:1.26 million (1997)
Internet country code:.md
Internet hosts:58,886 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (1999)
Internet users:406,000 (2005)
Transportation Moldova
Airports: 12 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 6914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 606 km (2006)
Railways:total: 1,138 kmbroad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gaugestandard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 12,733 kmpaved: 10,976 kmunpaved: 1,757 km (2004)
Waterways:424 km (on Dniester River) (2005)
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/15,003 DWT by type: cargo 7 foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)
Military Moldova
Military branches:National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and AirDefense Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; national serviceobligation - 12 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,066,459females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 693,913females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 43,729females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$8.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Moldova
Disputes - international:Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor thetransit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-awayTransnistria region which remains under OSCE supervision
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CISconsumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from SouthwestAsia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly theUS; widespread crime and underground economic activity
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Monaco
Introduction Monaco
Background:The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economicdevelopment was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroadlinkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, theprincipality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gamblingfacilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreationcenter.
Geography Monaco
Location:Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southerncoast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 1.95 sq kmland: 1.95 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:4.1 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);almost entirely urban
People Monaco
Population:32,543 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417)15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266)65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 45.4 yearsmale: 43.3 yearsfemale: 47.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.4% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.19 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:7.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.69 yearsmale: 75.85 yearsfemale: 83.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.76 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: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%
Languages:French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Monaco
Country name:conventional long form: Principality of Monacoconventional short form: Monacolocal long form: Principaute de Monacolocal short form: Monaco
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Monacogeographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 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; there are no first-order administrative divisions as definedby the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,Monte-Carlo
Independence:1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November
Constitution:17 December 1962
Legal system:based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June2005)cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of stateappointed by the monarch from a list of three French nationalcandidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportionalrepresentation; to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UNAM 21, UND 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarchon the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:National and Democratic Union or UND [Guy MAGNAN]; Union for Monacoor UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHESchancery: 565 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10017telephone: (212) 286-0500FAX: (212) 286-1574
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador toFrance is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille(France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France,handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to theflag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which iswhite (top) and red
Economy Monaco
Economy - overview:Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popularresort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruiseships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully soughtto diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpollutingindustries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes andthrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have establishedresidence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses andoffices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors,including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service.Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperousFrench metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$870 millionnote: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimatesare extremely rough (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:0.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$27,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 4.9% services: 95.1% (2005)
Labor force: 41,110 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2004)
Unemployment rate:22% (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2000)
Budget:revenues: $719.2 millionexpenditures: $864.1 million; including capital expenditures of$283.1 million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:none
Industries:tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:$656.5 millionnote: full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France (2004)
Imports:$636.6 millionnote: full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France (2004)
Debt - external:$18 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.7967 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:33,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:19,300 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern automatic telephone systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios:34,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1998)
Televisions:25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mc
Internet hosts:12,720 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:16,000 (2002)
Transportation Monaco
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km (1999)
Merchant marine:registered in other countries: 77 (Bahamas 17, Barbados 1, Bermuda2, France 1, Georgia 13, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 10, Malta 1,Marshall Islands 8, Norway 4, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Switzerland 2, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Monaco
Military Monaco
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,256 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,971 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 148 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France; the Palace Guard performsceremonial duties (2003)
Transnational Issues Monaco
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Mongolia
Introduction Mongolia
Background:The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under ChinggisKHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death theempire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but thesebroke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired totheir original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule.Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. ACommunist regime was installed in 1924. The ex-Communist MongolianPeople's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992,but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returnedthe MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalitiongovernment in 2004.
Geography Mongolia
Location:Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 1,564,116 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in westand southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 mhighest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use: arable land: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:840 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," whichis harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policiesof former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization andindustrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; theburning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement ofenvironmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land toagricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect onthe environment
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People Mongolia
Population:2,832,224 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.9% (male 402,448/female 387,059)15-64 years: 68.4% (male 967,546/female 969,389)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,859/female 59,923) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 24.6 yearsmale: 24.3 yearsfemale: 25 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.46% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:21.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.95 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: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 52.12 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 48.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.89 yearsmale: 62.64 yearsfemale: 67.25 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mongolian(s)adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Religions:Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim4% (2004)
Languages:Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8%male: 98%female: 97.5% (2002)
Government Mongolia
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Mongolialocal long form: nonelocal short form: Mongol Ulsformer: Outer Mongolia
Government type:mixed parliamentary/presidential
Capital:name: Ulaanbaatargeographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 53 Etime difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends lastSaturday in September
Administrative divisions:21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan,Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay,Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay,Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:12 February 1992
Legal system:blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental"or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous onjudicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 25January 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Mendsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN (since28 January 2006)cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultationwith the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural(parliament)elections: presidential candidates nominated by political partiesrepresented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for afour-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislativeelections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usuallyelected prime minister by State Great Huralelection results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent ofvote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (MPRP) 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN(DP) 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN (MRP) 13.92%, BadarchynERDENEBAT (M-MNSDP) 12.59%; Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected primeminister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10
Legislative branch:unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve four-year termselections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%,independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1.42%; seats byparty - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following June 2004election MDC collapsed; note - seats by party as of 1 December 2005- MPRP 38, DP 25, M-MNSDP 6, CWRP 2, MRP 1, PP 1, independents 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincialcourts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges arenominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by thepresident)
Political parties and leaders:Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil CourageRepublican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUN]; Democratic Partyor DP [Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New SocialistDemocratic Party or M-MNSDP [Badarchyn ERDENEBAT]; MongolianPeople's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Miegombyn ENKHBOLD]; MongolianRepublican Party or MRP [Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN]; People's Partyor PP [Lamjav GUNDALAI]note: DP and M-MNSDP formed Motherland-Democracy Coalition (MDC) in2003 and with CWRP contested June 2004 elections as single party;MDC's leadership dissolved coalition in December 2004
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ARF, AsDB, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdan BOLDchancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTONembassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatarmailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,Ulaanbaatar-13telephone: [976] (11) 329095FAX: [976] (11) 320776
Flag description:three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometricrepresentation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yangsymbol)
Economy Mongolia
Economy - overview:Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based onherding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits.Copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten and gold account for a largepart of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its heightone-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 atthe time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade sawMongolia endure both deep recession due to political inaction andnatural disasters, as well as economic growth because ofreform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatizationof the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summerdroughts in 2000-2002 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zeroor negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices forMongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition toprivatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, and 7.5% in2006, largely because of high copper prices and new gold production.Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by itsneighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases 80% of its petroleumproducts and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia,leaving it vulnerable to price increases. China is Mongolia's chiefexport partner and a main source of the "shadow" or "grey" economy.The World Bank and other international financial institutionsestimate the grey economy to be at least equal to that of theofficial economy, but the former's actual size is difficult tocalculate since the money does not pass through the hands of taxauthorities or the banking sector. Remittances from Mongoliansworking abroad both legally and illegally are sizeable, and moneylaundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billiondebt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable terms. Mongolia,which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expandits participation and integration into Asian regional economic andtrade regimes.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$5.781 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.54 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.5% according to official estimate (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.6% industry: 21.4% services: 58% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 1.488 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: herding/agriculture 42%, mining 42%, manufacturing 6%, trade 4%, services 29%, public sector 6% (2003)
Unemployment rate:6.7% (2003)
Population below poverty line:36.1% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $702 millionexpenditures: $651 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,camels, horses
Industries:construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food andbeverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fibermanufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:4.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:3.24 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.37 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:18 million kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - imports:130 million kWh (2005 est.)
Oil - production:548.8 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,220 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:515 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:11,210 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$852 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:China 48.1%, US 14.2%, Canada 11.6%, UK 8.3%, South Korea 6.2%(2005)
Imports:$1.011 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrialconsumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners:Russia 34.5%, China 27.4%, Japan 7.1%, South Korea 5.3% (2005)
Debt - external:$1.36 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$215 million (2003)
Currency (code):togrog/tugrik (MNT)
Currency code:MNT
Exchange rates:togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,187.17 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004),1,146.5 (2003), 1,110.3 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mongolia
Telephones - main lines in use:156,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:557,200 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: network is improving with international directdialing available in many areasdomestic: very low density of about 5.5 main lines per 100 persons;two wireless providers cover all but two provincesinternational: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 62, shortwave 3 (2004)
Radios:155,900 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 52 (plus 21 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:168,800 (1999)
Internet country code:.mn
Internet hosts:272 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:268,300 (2005)
Transportation Mongolia
Airports: 44 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)
Waterways:580 kmnote: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); SelengeRiver (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carrylittle traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from Mayto September (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 61 ships (1000 GRT or over) 319,053 GRT/479,190 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 49, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/rolloff 3foreign-owned: 49 (China 4, Japan 1, North Korea 3, Lebanon 1,Malaysia 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Syria 1, Thailand 1, UAE 5,Ukraine 1, Vietnam 8) (2006)
Military Mongolia
Military branches:Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian People's Air Force (MPAF);there is no navy (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 736,182females age 18-49: 734,679 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 570,435females age 18-49: 607,918 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 34,674females age 18-49: 34,251 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$23.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mongolia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Montenegro
Introduction Montenegro
Background:The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when theCrnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta;over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain itsindependence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19thcenturies, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishopprinces; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality.After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituentrepublic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When thelatter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first asthe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looserunion of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked itsright under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro tohold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote forsevering ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU- allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June2006.
Geography Montenegro
Location:Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates:42 30 N, 19 18 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 14,026 sq kmland: 13,812 sq kmwater: 214 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:total: 625 kmborder countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,Croatia 25 km, Serbia 203 km
Coastline:293.5 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: defined by treaty
Climate:Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relativelycold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Terrain:highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed byrugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m
Natural resources:bauxite, hydroelectricity
Land use:arable land: 13.7%permanent crops: 1%other: 85.3%
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor
Environment - international agreements:party to: Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People Montenegro
Population:630,548 (2004)
Population growth rate:3.5% (2004)
Birth rate:12.6 births/1,000 population (2004)
Death rate:9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004)
Nationality:noun: Montenegrin(s)adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other(Muslims, Croats, Roma) 12%
Religions:Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic
Languages:Serbian (Ijekavian dialect - official), Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian
Government Montenegro
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Montenegroconventional short form: Montenegrolocal long form: Republika Crna Goralocal short form: Crna Goraformer: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic ofMontenegro
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Podgorica (administrative capital)geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in Octobernote: Cetinje (capital city)
Administrative divisions:21 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Andrijevia, Bar,Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pluzine, Pljevlja,Podgornica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Independence:3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:National Day, 13 July
Constitution:12 October 1992 (was approved by the Assembly); note - Montenegrois currently writing a new constitution set to be presented toParliament in spring 2007
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May 2003)head of government: Prime Minister Zeljko STURANOVIC (since 13November 2006)cabinet: Ministries act as cabinetelections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2003 (nextto be held in 2008); prime minister proposed by president, acceptedby Assemblyelection results: Filip VUJANOVIC elected on the third round; FilipVUJANOVIC 63.3%, Miodrag ZIVKOVIC 30.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly (81 seats, elected by direct vote for four-yearterms; changed from 74 seats in 2006)elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Coalition for a European Montenegro 41, SNS 12, Coalition SPP/NS/DSS11, PZP 11, Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Democratic League-DemocraticProsperity 1, Democratic Union of Albanians 1, Albanian Alternative 1
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); SupremeCourt (judges have life tenure)
Political parties and leaders:Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Bosniak Party or BS[Rafet HUSOVIC]; Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity orSPP [Mehmet BARHDI]; Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [MiloDJUKANOVIC]; Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [RankoKADIC]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA];Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]; Movement forChanges or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; Party of Serb Radicals or SSR[Dusko SEKULIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [PredragPOPOVIC]; People's Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC]; SerbianPeople's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC]; SocialDemocratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Socialist People's Partyor SNP [Srdjan MILIC]