under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,810 km country comparison to the world: 76 broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 49,250 km country comparison to the world: 82 paved: 2,824 km
unpaved: 46,426 km (includes 1,994 km with gravel surface and 1,874 km with improved surface) (2009)
Waterways:
580 km country comparison to the world: 82 note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 58 country comparison to the world: 67 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010)
Military ::Mongolia
Military branches:
Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 887,059
females age 16-49: 880,788 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 715,585
females age 16-49: 748,083 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 29,240
female: 28,156 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 106
Transnational Issues ::Mongolia
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Montenegro (Europe)
Introduction ::Montenegro
Background:
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June 2006.
Geography ::Montenegro
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 13,812 sq km country comparison to the world: 161 land: 13,452 sq km
water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km, Croatia 25 km, Kosovo 79 km, Serbia 124 km
Coastline:
293.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: defined by treaty
Climate:
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Terrain:
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, hydroelectricity
Land use:
arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 85.3%
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People ::Montenegro
Population:
666,730 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 52,645/female 54,846)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 244,949/female 227,794)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 37,217/female 54,729) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 35.9 years
female: 38.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.777% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 229
Birth rate:
11.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Death rate:
8.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.074 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other(Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)
Religions:
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)
Languages:
Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian 5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)
Education expenditures:
Government ::Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: none
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Podgorica
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar,Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine,Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Independence:
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:
National Day, 13 July (1878)
Constitution:
approved 19 October 2007 (by the Assembly)
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Igor LUKSIC (since 29 December 2010)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 April 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip VUJANOVIC 51.9%, Andrija MANDIC 19.6%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.6%, Srdan MILIC 11.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve four-year terms; note - seats increased from 74 seats in 2006)
elections: last held on 29 March 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 51.94%, SNP 16.83%, NOVA 9.22%, PZP 6.03%, other (including Albanian minority parties) 15.98%; seats by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 48, SNP 16, NOVA 8, PZP 5, Albanian minority parties 4
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (five judges serve nine-year terms); SupremeCourt (judges have life tenure)
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for EuropeanMontenegro (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic Party ofSocialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC], Social Democratic Party or SDP[Ranko KRIVOKAPIC], Bosniak Party of BS [Rafet HUSOVIC], andCroatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Marija VUCINOVIC); CoalitionSNP-NS-DSS (bloc) (includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [SrdjanMILIC], People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], andDemocratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]);Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [MehmetBARDHIJ]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSHA]; Fora Different Montenegro (bloc) [Goran BATRICEVIC] (includesDemocratic Center or DC [Goran BATRICEVIC] and Liberal Party ofMontenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]); FORCA [Nazif CUNGU]; Movementfor Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; National Coalition (includesPeople's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC] and DemocraticSerbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); New SerbDemocracy or NOVA [Andrija MANDIC]; Socialist People's Party ofMontenegro or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]
International organization participation:
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE,PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Srdjan DARMANOVIC
chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Benjamin LOWENTHAL
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [382] 81 225 417
Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a blue sky; the lion is symbol of episcopal authority and harks back to the three and a half centuries that Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy
National anthem:
name: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
note: adopted 2004; the anthem's music is based on a Montenegrin folk song
Economy ::Montenegro
Economy - overview:
Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, adopted the Deutchmark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization and signed a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in October 2007. The European Council granted candidate country status to Montenegro at the December 2010 session. Unemployment and regional disparities in development are key political and economic problems. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector. The global financial crisis has had a significant negative impact on the economy, due to the ongoing credit crunch, a decline in the real estate sector, and a fall in aluminum exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.569 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $6.689 billion (2009 est.)
$7.093 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.884 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 -5.7% (2009 est.)
6.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $10,000 (2009 est.)
$10,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
259,100 (2004) country comparison to the world: 166
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Population below poverty line:
7% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2003) country comparison to the world: 113
Investment (gross fixed):
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Public debt:
38% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 79
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 101
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.36% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 9.24% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$816.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.172 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$1.406 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.446 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.29 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 116 $3.771 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.289 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 89 $2.863 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.699 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheep
Industries:
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh (2005) country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - exports:
314 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - imports:
6,093 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - consumption:
NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Current account balance:
-$1.102 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Exports:
$171.3 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 182
Exports - partners:
Italy 29.52%, Greece 22.65%, Slovenia 11.83%, Hungary 8.96%, US 7.93% (2009)
Imports:
$601.7 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 184
Imports - partners:
Italy 17.54%, Slovenia 14.62%, Germany 10.5%, Austria 7.82%, China 7.82%, Russia 4.4%, Hungary 4.11%, Greece 4.11%, Netherlands 3.96% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Debt - external:
$650 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 156
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
366,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 106
Telephones - mobile cellular:
752,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 151
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites
domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing
international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system
Broadcast media:
state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial television networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; roughly a dozen privately-owned TV broadcasters operate networks nationally, regionally, and locally; in addition to the 2 state-owned national radio networks, roughly 50 privately-owned radio stations and networks broadcast (2007)
Internet country code:
.me
Internet hosts:
6,247 (2010) country comparison to the world: 137
Internet users:
280,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 133
Transportation ::Montenegro
Airports:
5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 182
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 250 km country comparison to the world: 125 standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 7,404 km country comparison to the world: 146 paved: 4,927 km
unpaved: 2,477 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 country comparison to the world: 144 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 2, Honduras 2, Slovakia 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bar
Military ::Montenegro
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy, Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 151,798
females age 16-49: 134,267 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,407
female: 3,741 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues ::Montenegro
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999
IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Montserrat (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Montserrat
Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
Geography ::Montserrat
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 102 sq km country comparison to the world: 225 land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
People ::Montserrat
Population:
5,118 country comparison to the world: 229 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 731/female 678)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,599/female 1,738)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 232/female 119) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.1 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 29.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.391% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Birth rate:
11.72 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Death rate:
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 115
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.033 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 119 male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years country comparison to the world: 119 male: 74.82 years
female: 70.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217
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: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 138
Government ::Montserrat
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 Rueben MEADE (since 10 September 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy 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 members popularly elected to serve five-year terms; the attorney general and financial secretary sit as ex-officio members)
elections: last held on 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3
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
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 arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness
National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Montserrat
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.) country comparison to the world: 224
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 67 6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.04% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 9.89% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$14.13 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 188 $14.51 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$69.63 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 186 $62.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.93 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $5.537 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - imports:
521 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Exports:
$700,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 219
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
Imports:
$17 million (2001); $17 million country comparison to the world: 219
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997) country comparison to the world: 191
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
Communications ::Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 220
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 213
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems available
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
Broadcast media:
Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV are obtainable (2007)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet hosts:
552 (2010) country comparison to the world: 177
Internet users:
1,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 212
Transportation ::Montserrat
Airports:
2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 205
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
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
Military ::Montserrat
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,339 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,127
females age 16-49: 1,217 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 38
female: 36 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Montserrat
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
page last updated on January 11, 2011
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@Morocco (Africa)
Introduction ::Morocco
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. The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in the 17th century. 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. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of King. Morocco 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. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999 succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved. Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three broad subjects considered to be taboo: the monarchy, Islam, and the status of Western Sahara. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.