Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Military ::Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, andAeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (either military or equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military experience) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,443,341
females age 16-49: 4,441,124 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,150,043
females age 16-49: 3,404,988 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 236,500
female: 235,994 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 136
Transnational Issues ::Madagascar
Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Malawi (Africa)
Introduction ::Malawi
Background:
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Current President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.
Geography ::Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,484 sq km country comparison to the world: 99 land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
17.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)
per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature
People ::Malawi
Population:
14,268,711 country comparison to the world: 66 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 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.8% (male 3,272,790/female 3,258,893)
15-64 years: 51.5% (male 3,696,857/female 3,656,918)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 162,863/female 220,390) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 16.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.388% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Birth rate:
41.48 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Death rate:
17.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 19% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 89.05 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 14 male: 93.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.82 years country comparison to the world: 216 male: 44.07 years
female: 43.57 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.59 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
930,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
68,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
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
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,Asian, European
Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 44
Government ::Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, NkhataBay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo,Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress ofDemocrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Democratic Progressive Party orDPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO];Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum forUnity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Maravi People'sParty [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; NewRainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party[Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [AlekeBANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO];Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front orUDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN,UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE
chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:
no party has a majority in the fractured legislature
Economy ::Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces many challenges including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $10.9 billion (2007 est.)
$10.1 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.268 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 7.9% (2007 est.)
8.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$800 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $800 (2007 est.)
$700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39.2%
industry: 16.8%
services: 44% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
53% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 67
Investment (gross fixed):
8.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Budget:
revenues: $1.254 billion
expenditures: $1.351 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
49.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 228.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 7.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15 15% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.28% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 9 27.72% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$361.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$250.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$406.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$587.2 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - production:
1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - consumption:
1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - imports:
6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Current account balance:
-$241 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 -$75 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$830 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $721 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel
Exports - partners:
South Africa 14.2%, Egypt 9.8%, Zimbabwe 8.6%, US 7.4%, Netherlands 7%, Russia 5.7%, Germany 5.7% (2008)
Imports:
$1.587 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.323 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 41.5%, China 7.3%, India 6.1%, Tanzania 5.4%, US 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$185 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $217.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.005 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $894 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 142.41 (2008 est.), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004)
Communications ::Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
236,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 122
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.781 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 127
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary
domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 2 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile cellular subscribership approaching 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet hosts:
741 (2009) country comparison to the world: 165
Internet users:
316,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 125
Transportation ::Malawi
Airports:
32 (2009) country comparison to the world: 113
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Railways:
total: 797 km country comparison to the world: 102 narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 15,451 km country comparison to the world: 122 paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
Waterways:
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2008) country comparison to the world: 76
Ports and terminals:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military ::Malawi
Military branches:
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,732,621
females age 16-49: 1,562,107 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 174,044
female: 173,828 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 123
Transnational Issues ::Malawi
Disputes - international:
disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Malaysia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Malaysia
Background:
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography ::Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,847 sq km country comparison to the world: 66 land: 328,657 sq km
water: 1,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Terrain:
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources:
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops: 17.54%
other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
580 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flooding; landslides; forest fires
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
People ::Malaysia
Population:
25,715,819 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 4,153,621/female 3,914,962)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 8,210,373/female 8,143,043)
65 years and over: 5% (male 569,245/female 724,575) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.723% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Birth rate:
22.24 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Net migration rate:
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 70% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.87 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 124 male: 18.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.29 years country comparison to the world: 108 male: 70.56 years
female: 76.21 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.95 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
80,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin,Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi,Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 37
Government ::Malaysia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
local long form: none
local short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaya
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)
Capital:
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Independence:
31 August 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957; amended many times, the latest in 2007
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King - Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since 13 December 2006); (the position of the king is primarily ceremonial)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 3 April 2009); Deputy Prime Minister MUHYIDDIN bin Mohamed Yassin (since 9 April 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the king
elections: kings are elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held on 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who commands the support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister (since independence this has been the leader of the UMNO party)
election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected king; in practice, selection is based on principle of rotation among rulers of states
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the king, 26 elected by 13 state legislatures; serve three-year terms with limit of two terms) and House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote; serve up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - BN coalition 50.3%, opposition parties 46.8%, others 2.9%; seats - BN coalition 140, opposition parties 82
Judicial branch:
Civil Courts include Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court of Malaya on peninsula Malaysia, and High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in states of Borneo (judges are appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister); Sharia Courts include Sharia Appeal Court, Sharia High Court, and Sharia Subordinate Courts at state-level and deal with religious and family matters such as custody, divorce, and inheritance only for Muslims; decisions of Sharia courts cannot be appealed to civil courts
Political parties and leaders:
National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (ruling coalition) consistsof the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [KOHTsu Koon]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik -Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese Association(Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Tee Keat]; Malaysian IndianCongress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; PartiBersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah orPBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu or PBB[Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING];Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP[George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO[NAJIB bin Abdul Razak]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun MurutOrganization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) orUPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti ProgresifPenduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Kayveas]; Sarawak ProgressiveDemocratic Party or SPDP [William MAWAN])
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) or PR (opposition coalition)consists of the following parties: Democratic Action Party (PartiTindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party ofMalaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang];People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAHWan Ismail]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]
independent party: Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Saban) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bar Council BERSIH (electoral reform coalition); PEMBELA (Muslim NGO coalition)
other: religious groups; women's groups; youth groups
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador JAMALUDDIN Jarjis
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. KEITH
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
Flag description:
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US
Economy ::Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. After coming to office in 2003, former Prime Minister ABDULLAH tried to move the economy farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in high technology industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The Government of Malaysia is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand to wean the economy off of its dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports - particularly of electronics - remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government subsidies. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency appreciated 6% per year against the dollar in 2006-08. Although this has helped to hold down the price of imports, inflationary pressures began to build in 2007 - in 2008 inflation stood at nearly 6%, year-over-year. The government presented its five-year national development agenda in April 2006 through the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the allocation of the national budget from 2006-10. ABDULLAH unveiled a series of ambitious development schemes for several regions that have had trouble attracting business investment. Real GDP growth averaged about 6% per year under ABDULLAH, but regions outside of Kuala Lumpur and the manufacturing hub Penang did not fare as well. The central bank maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves and the regulatory regime has limited Malaysia's exposure to riskier financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Decreasing worldwide demand for consumer goods is expected to hurt economic growth in 2009 and beyond, however.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$385.2 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $368.3 billion (2007 est.)
$346.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$221.6 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 6.2% (2007 est.)
5.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $14,800 (2007 est.)
$14,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 43.7%
services: 46.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
11.09 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 36%
services: 51% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 3.2% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
5.1% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%