60,640 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
281.5 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
63,760 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.329 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.329 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
$4.921 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$18.42 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 21.1%, France 16.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Italy 7.4%, UK 7.1%,Netherlands 5.4%, Spain 5% (2007)
Imports:
$23.13 billion c.i.f. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 27.4%, Germany 23.8%, China 17.1%, France 9.2%, Netherlands 5% (2007)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $291 million (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$205.5 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$79.4 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
CommunicationsLuxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
248,200 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
604,200 (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: fixed line teledensity over 50 per 100 persons; nationwide cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular phones virtually saturated international: country code - 352 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1999)
Televisions:
285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet hosts:
180,756 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
345,000 (2007)
TransportationLuxembourg
Airports:
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 275 km standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 5,227 km paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2004)
Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 45 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 3, chemical tanker 15, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 9 foreign-owned: 44 (Belgium 7, Denmark 1, France 17, Germany 5, Netherlands 2, UK 8, US 4) registered in other countries: 1 (Ukraine 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Mertert
MilitaryLuxembourg
Military branches:
Army (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EU citizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 116,305 females age 16-49: 114,566 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 95,152 females age 16-49: 93,792 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,066 female: 2,909 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesLuxembourg
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Macau
IntroductionMacau
Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
GeographyMacau
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 28.2 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
41 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)
Geography - note:
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges
PeopleMacau
Population:
545,674 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 47,935/female 42,301) 15-64 years: 75.8% (male 193,571/female 220,108) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 19,340/female 22,419) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years male: 35.6 years female: 34.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.148% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
8.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
3.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
26.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 84.33 years male: 81.36 years female: 87.45 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
0.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 94.3%, other 5.7% (includes Macanese (mixed Portuguese andAsian ancestry)) (2006 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Cantonese 85.7%, Hokkien 4%, Mandarin 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.7%, English 1.5%, Tagalog 1.3%, other 1.6% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 95.3% female: 87.8% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.4% of GDP (2005)
GovernmentMacau
Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Macau local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved on 31 March 1993 by China's National People'sCongress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age for some non-executive positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999) cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary, three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, and one pro-Beijing educator elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes; three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 members elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009) election results: percent of vote - New Democratic Macau Association 18.8%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16.6%, Union for Development 13.3%, Union for Promoting Progress 9.6%, Macau Development Alliance 9.3%, others 32.4%; seats by political group - New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens' Association 2, Union for Development 2, Union for Promoting Progress 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, others 3; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief executive
Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO];Roman Catholic Church; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NGKuok-cheong]
International organization participation:
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WFTU, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau
Flag description:
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller
EconomyMacau
Economy - overview:
Macau's economy has enjoyed strong growth in recent years on the back of its expanding tourism and gaming sectors. Since opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, the territory has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment that have helped transform it into the world's largest gaming center. In 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for 75% of total government revenue. The expanding casino sector, and China's decision beginning in 2002 to relax travel restrictions, have reenergized Macau's tourism industry, which saw total visitors grow to 27 million in 2007, up 62% in three years. Macau's strong economic growth has put pressure its labor market prompting businesses to look abroad to meet their staffing needs. The resulting influx of non-resident workers, who totaled one-fifth of the workforce in 2006, has fueled tensions among some segments of the population. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has been in a slow decline. In 2006, exports of textiles and garments generated only $1.8 billion compared to $6.9 billion in gross gaming receipts. Macau's textile industry will continue to move to the mainland because of the termination in 2005 of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, which provided a near guarantee of export markets, leaving the territory more dependent on gambling and trade-related services to generate growth. However, the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland. Macau's currency, the Pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also freely accepted in the territory.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$12.5 billion (2006)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.3 billion (2006)
GDP - real growth rate:
16.6% (2006)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,400 (2006)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1% industry: 3.9% services: 96% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
275,000 (2006)
Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing 11.1%, construction 11.7%, transport and communications 6.3%, wholesale and retail trade 13.7%, restaurants and hotels 11.3%, gambling 19.8%, public sector 7.7%, financial services 2.6%, other services and agriculture 15.7% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $4.6 billion expenditures: $3.4 billion (2006)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.2% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.81% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.16 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$21.91 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
NA (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is exported to Hong Kong
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (3rd quarter, 2007)
Electricity - production:
1.454 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
2.984 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.683 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
13,870 bbl/day (2006)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
$2.557 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2006)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
US 40.6%, China 14.8%, Hong Kong 13.1%, Germany 6.4%, UK 4% (2007)
Imports:
$4.559 billion c.i.f. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils
Imports - partners:
China 42.6%, Hong Kong 10.1%, Japan 9%, US 5.6%, Germany 4.4%,France 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.7 million (2004)
Debt - external:
$0 (2006)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$6.5 billion (2006)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.1 billion (2006)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$413.1 million (2004)
Currency (code):
pataca (MOP)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8.011 (2007), 8.0015 (2006), 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003)
CommunicationsMacau
Telephones - main lines in use:
177,851 (2008)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
856,200 (2008)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 190 per 100 persons in 2008; fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in decline international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2006)
Televisions:
49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet hosts:
263 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
300,000 (2007)
TransportationMacau
Airports:
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 384 km paved: 384 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Macau
MilitaryMacau
Military branches:
no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of China (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 121,825 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 100,826 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,601 female: 4,171 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational IssuesMacau
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of opiates and amphetamines
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Macedonia
IntroductionMacedonia
Background:
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. Fully implementating the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.
GeographyMacedonia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,333 sq km land: 24,856 sq km water: 477 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.4 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.27 per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
PeopleMacedonia
Population:
2,061,315 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 207,954/female 193,428) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 719,708/female 708,033) 65 years and over: 11.3% (male 101,036/female 131,156) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.8 years male: 33.8 years female: 35.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.262% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.45 years male: 71.95 years female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%,Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages:
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 98.2% female: 94.1% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2002)
GovernmentMacedonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: Macedonia local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Skopje geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, DemirHisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje),Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, MakedonskiBrod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane,Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), SvetiNikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovcinote: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parenthesescollectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as SaintElijah's Day
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciary
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSh/DPA, and several small parties elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - For a Better Macedonia 48.80%, Sun-Coalition for Europe 23.65%, Democratic Union for Integration 12.77%, Democratic Party of Albanians 8.48%, Party for European Future 1.47%, other 4.83%; seats by party - For a Better Macedonia 63, Sun-Coalition for Europe 27, Democratic Union for Integration 18, Democratic Party of Albanians 11, Party for European Future 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; ConstitutionalCourt - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican JudicialCouncil - the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic League of Bosniaks[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [MenduhTHACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; DemocraticParty of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia[Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [BardYLMAHMUTI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV];Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; For aBetter Macedonia coalition [Nikola GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE,SP, Democratic Union, Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, DemocraticParty of Turks, Democratic Party of Serbs, SR, and smaller parties);Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party forMacedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; InternalMacedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna[Gjorgji TRENDAFILOV]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC];Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party[Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; NationalDemocratic Union or BDK [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Partyor NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for European Future or PEI [FijatCANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI];Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV (untilMay 2009)]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [LjubisavIVANOV-ZINGO]; Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila SKERINSKA](includes SDSM, NSDP, LDP, Liberal Party and smaller parties); Unionof Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE[Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation ofTrade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Scienceand Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [TodorPETROV]
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: New York, Southfield (Michigan); note - consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 2 311-6180 FAX: [389] 2 311-7103
Flag description:
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field
EconomyMacedonia
Economy - overview:
At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. In 2001, during a civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then averaged 4% per year during 2003-07, expanding to 5.1% in 2007. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at nearly 35%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.35 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.497 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.9% industry: 28.2% services: 59.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
890,000 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19.6% industry: 30.4% services: 50% (September 2007)
Unemployment rate:
34.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
29.8% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.508 billion expenditures: $2.487 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.23% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.173 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.127 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.924 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.051 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption:
8.651 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.6 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - consumption:
19,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
6,768 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
26,470 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
100 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
102.8 million cu m (2007)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$249 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$3.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:
Serbia and Montenegro 19.2%, Germany 14.5%, Greece 10.4%, Italy 10.1%, Bulgaria 9.8%, Croatia 5.6%, Belgium 5%, Spain 5% (2007)
Imports:
$4.977 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners:
Germany 13.2%, Greece 12.9%, Bulgaria 9.6%, Serbia and Montenegro 7.7%, Turkey 6.6%, Italy 6.3%, Slovenia 5% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$230.3 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.265 billion (31 December 2007)
Debt - external:
$3.967 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.405 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$646 million (2005)
Currency (code):
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003)
CommunicationsMacedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
463,600 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.518 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approaching 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 389 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 63, shortwave 0 (2007)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
52 (2007)
Televisions:
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet hosts:
36,905 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
685,000 (2007)
TransportationMacedonia
Airports:
17 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)