Population:
4,320,748 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.9% (male 353,495/female 334,592)
15-64 years: 73.3% (male 1,536,263/female 1,629,882)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 172,070/female 294,446) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.6 years
male: 32.7 years
female: 36.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.079% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
Birth rate:
11.12 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Death rate:
10.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Net migration rate:
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Urbanization:
urban population: 42% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.13 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 137 male: 14.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.8 years country comparison to the world: 136 male: 67.1 years
female: 74.71 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%,Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 17
Government ::Moldova
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
note: pronounced kee-shee-now
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Independence:
27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 29 July 1994; effective 27 August 1994; note - replaced 1979 Soviet constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Acting President Mihai GHIMPU (since 11 September 2009)
note: Vladimir VORONIN, president since 4 April 2001, resigned on 11 September 2009; Mihai GHIMPU, the Parliamentary Speaker, replaced him until new elections can be held
head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir FILAT (since 25 September 2009); Deputy Prime Minister Iurie LEANCA (since 25 September 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next to have been held 5 April 2009); note - prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 17 September 2009; cabinet received a vote of confidence 25 September 2009
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vladimir FILAT designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 53 of 101
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 July 2009 (next to be held in 2013); note - this was the second parliamentary election in less than four months; the earlier parliament (elected 5 April 2009) could not agree on a presidential candidate
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 44.7%, PLDM 16.6%, PL 14.7%, PD 12.5%, AMN 7.4%; seats by party - PCRM 48, PLDM 18, PL 15, PD 13, AMN 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
Centrist Union or UCM [Vasile TARLEV]; Christian Democratic People'sParty or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic ofMoldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [DumitruDIACOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; LiberalParty or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [VitaliaPAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Partyfor Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF,OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Asif CHAUDHRY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; same color scheme as Romania
Economy ::Moldova
Economy - overview:
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over pricing, and again in January 2009, during a similar dispute. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006-07. However, in 2008 growth exceeded the 6% level Moldova had achieved in 2000-05, boosted by Russia's partial removal of the bans, solid fixed capital investment, and strong domestic demand driven by remittances from abroad. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls. Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates, but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy. The deteriorating global economic crisis did not seriously effect the Moldovan economy in 2008 due to its low exposure to the international financial system, but a global economic slowdown, particularly in the EU and Russia, could hurt the economy in 2009 as Moldova relies heavily on remittances from Moldovans abroad.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $10.07 billion (2007 est.)
$9.684 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.047 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 4% (2007 est.)
4.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $2,300 (2007 est.)
$2,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.4%
industry: 20%
services: 60.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.327 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40.6%
industry: 16%
services: 43.3% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Population below poverty line:
29.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.2% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (2003) country comparison to the world: 95 40.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
32.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Budget:
revenues: $2.453 billion
expenditures: $2.513 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
22.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 12.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 18.83% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.116 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 85 $965 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.928 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $1.449 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.406 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 $1.896 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 $573.9 million (2004)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
Industries:
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
-1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - production:
3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - consumption:
4.37 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - exports:
240 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.931 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - consumption:
17,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - exports:
36.49 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - imports:
14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - consumption:
2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - imports:
2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Current account balance:
-$1.015 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 -$695.5 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.641 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.368 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Morocco 48.3%, Russia 15.2%, Romania 8.1%, Italy 5% (2008)
Imports:
$4.87 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $3.676 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles
Imports - partners:
Ukraine 20.6%, Russia 19.5%, Romania 14.6%, Germany 8.1%, Italy 5.1%, Belarus 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.672 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $1.334 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.125 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 110 $3.326 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.813 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 94
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 10.326 (2008 est.), 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004)
Communications ::Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.115 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 73
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.423 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 117
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 85 per 100 persons
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
40 (2006)
Internet country code:
.md
Internet hosts:
367,150 (2009) country comparison to the world: 52
Internet users:
850,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 96
Transportation ::Moldova
Airports:
11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 154
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,906 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,138 km country comparison to the world: 87 broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 12,666 km country comparison to the world: 130 paved: 12,117 km
unpaved: 549 km (2007)
Waterways:
424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008) country comparison to the world: 87
Merchant marine:
total: 39 country comparison to the world: 78 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 17 (Egypt 1, Romania 3, Russia 3, Syria 1, Turkey 3, Ukraine 5, Yemen 1) (2008)
Military ::Moldova
Military branches:
National Army: Land Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and AirDefense Forces (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,161,924
females age 16-49: 1,187,771 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 877,665
females age 16-49: 987,356 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,633
female: 30,214 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Transnational Issues ::Moldova
Disputes - international:
Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe; girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring countries for forced labor and begging; labor trafficking of men to work in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Russia is increasingly a problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Moldova does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government failed to follow-up on allegations of officials complicit in trafficking cited in the 2007 Report, and it did not demonstrate proactive efforts to identify trafficking victims (2008)
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Monaco (Europe)
Introduction ::Monaco
Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.
Geography ::Monaco
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2 sq km country comparison to the world: 248 land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:
4.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
People ::Monaco
Population:
32,965 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 2,466/female 2,349)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,184/female 10,395)
65 years and over: 23% (male 3,068/female 4,503) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 45.7 years
male: 43.6 years
female: 47.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.394% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Birth rate:
9.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
12.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Net migration rate:
7.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 191 male: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.09 years country comparison to the world: 21 male: 76.3 years
female: 84.09 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 93
Government ::Monaco
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 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:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Independence:
1419 (beginning of rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Constitution:
17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future ofMonaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Monaco Together
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO,IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, SchengenConvention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and Representative to the UN Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
Economy ::Monaco
Economy - overview:
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a major banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$976.3 million (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 201 note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,000 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
Labor force:
44,000 country comparison to the world: 185 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0% (2005) country comparison to the world: 2
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $863 million
expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000) country comparison to the world: 15
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$716.3 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 158 note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Imports:
$916.1 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 172
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
35,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 175
Telephones - mobile cellular:
22,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 205
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers
domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeds 100%
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1998)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet hosts:
22,608 (2009) country comparison to the world: 100
Internet users:
22,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 189
Transportation ::Monaco
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 50 km country comparison to the world: 215 paved: 50 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008) country comparison to the world: 61
Ports and terminals:
Monaco
Military ::Monaco
Military branches:
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,687 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,495
females age 16-49: 5,406 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 190
female: 182 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Monaco
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
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@Mongolia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Mongolia
Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more Mongols live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPRP members.
Geography ::Mongolia
Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km country comparison to the world: 19 land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use:
arable land: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
34.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People ::Mongolia
Population:
3,041,142 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 436,391/female 418,923)