total: 16.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.6 years male: 74.66 years female: 70.44 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:
black, white
Religions:
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-DayAdventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2004)
GovernmentMontserrat
Country name:
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Capital:
name: Plymouth geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
Administrative divisions:
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007) head of government: Chief Minister Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members elections: last held 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%, MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP 1, independents 1 note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement forChange and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People'sLiberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
EconomyMontserrat
Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2% industry: 23.1% services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
4,521 note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.4% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$17.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$43.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.537 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 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:
505.5 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
482.6 bbl/day (2005)
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:
$700,000 (2001)
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
Exports - partners:
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2006)
Imports:
$17 million (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports - partners:
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)
Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
CommunicationsMontserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized domestic: NA international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
3,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet hosts:
409 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
TransportationMontserrat
Airports:
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the north end of the island (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Little Bay, Plymouth
MilitaryMontserrat
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,097 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31 female: 39 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational IssuesMontserrat
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Morocco
IntroductionMorocco
Background:
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Improvements in human rights have occurred and there is a largely free press. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
GeographyMorocco
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
29 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
PeopleMorocco
Population:
34,343,220 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 5,337,322/female 5,136,156) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 11,015,409/female 11,069,038) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 765,882/female 1,019,412) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.7 years male: 24.1 years female: 25.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.505% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
21.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 38.22 deaths/1,000 live births male: 41.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.52 years male: 69.16 years female: 74 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.3% male: 65.7% female: 39.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 9 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
GovernmentMorocco
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Rabat geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely within Western Sahara
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 8 September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of theSupreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties orADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiativesfor Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC[Mohamed ABIED]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [MahmoudARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD; Democratic Socialist Partyor PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [ZhorCHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment andDevelopment Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of DemocraticForces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI[Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [AbdelilahBENKIRANE]; Labor Party [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal Partyor PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [AbdallahKADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [AbdelmajidBOUZOUBAA]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha ELMANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [AbdellahIBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Party ofProgress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal andEquity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Leftor GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP [MohamedLAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane ELKOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Unionof Popular Forces or USFP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; GeneralUnion of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; MoroccanEmployers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Unionof Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers orUMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner),PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912
EconomyMorocco
Economy - overview:
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rate slowed to 2.1% in 2007 as a result of a draught that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Continued dependence on foreign energy and Morocco's inability to develop small and medium size enterprises also contributed to the slowdown. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$125 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$73.43 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.8% industry: 38.4% services: 47.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
11.39 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40% industry: 15% services: 45% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
29.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20.49 billion expenditures: $21.85 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
67.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$67.42 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$16.23 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$71.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
21.88 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
19.58 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.998 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
3,746 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
179,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
24,360 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:
192,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
836,000 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
60 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
60 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.557 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$1.834 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$12.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
Exports - partners:
Spain 21.2%, France 19%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.6%, India 4.2% (2007)
Imports:
$28.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:
France 16.1%, Spain 13.6%, China 7.3%, Italy 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, Germany 5.9%, US 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $651.8 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$24.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$32.9 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$882 million (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$49.6 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003)
CommunicationsMorocco
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.394 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20.029 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 7 fixed lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is approaching 60 per 100 persons domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:
6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ma
Internet hosts:
275,889 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
7.3 million (2007)
TransportationMorocco
Airports:
60 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 720 km; oil 439 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 57,625 km paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 35 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 16 (France 14, Germany 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi
MilitaryMorocco
Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army(includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan AirForce (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force AerienneRoyale Marocaine) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,152,580 females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,627,988 females age 16-49: 7,754,873 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 355,479 female: 343,016 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
5% of GDP (2003 est.)
Transnational IssuesMorocco
Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa
Illicit drugs:
one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Mozambique
IntroductionMozambique
Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990's. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. Mozambique has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the civil war largely due to post-conflict reconstruction.
GeographyMozambique
Location:
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between SouthAfrica and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 801,590 sq km land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
2,470 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use:
arable land: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,180 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
216 cu km (1992)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%) per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Environment - current issues:
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
PeopleMozambique
Population:
21,284,700 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.5% (male 4,762,335/female 4,711,422) 15-64 years: 52.7% (male 5,472,184/female 5,736,154) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 251,026/female 351,580) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.4 years male: 17 years female: 17.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.792% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
38.21 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
20.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 107.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 110.67 deaths/1,000 live births female: 104.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.04 years male: 41.62 years female: 40.44 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.3 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
110,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47.8% male: 63.5% female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2005)
GovernmentMozambique
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO 29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional judges are appointed by the president and some are elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts note: although the constitution provides for a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao deMocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique NationalResistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-UniaoEleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA]