Chapter 4 No.4

Exchange rates:

lati per US dollar - 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002),

0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use:

653,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,219,600 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide

an international capability independent of the Moscow international

switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use

domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,

rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied

subscriber applications

international: country code - 371; international connections are now

available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling

direct connections for most calls (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.76 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lv

Internet hosts:

51,758 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

41 (2001)

Internet users:

936,000 (2003)

Transportation Latvia

Railways:

total: 2,303 km

broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 60,472 km

paved: 57,206 km

unpaved: 3,265 km (2002)

Waterways:

300 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Riga, Ventspils

Merchant marine:

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT

by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2,

passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1

registered in other countries: 86 (2005)

Airports:

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 26

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 24

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military Latvia

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard

(Zemessardze)

Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 517,713 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 361,098 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 19,137 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Latvia

Disputes - international:

the Latvian-Russian boundary treaty of 1997 remains unsigned and

unratified with Russia linking it to better Latvian treatment of

ethnic Russians and Latvian politicians demanding Russian agreement

to a declaration that admits Soviet aggression during the Second

World War and other issues; the Latvian parliament has not ratified

its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to

concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms

part of the EU's external border, Latvia must implement the strict

Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and

Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American

cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable

to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent

enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of

offshore companies and the gaming industry; organized crime

(including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and

prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Lebanon

Introduction Lebanon

Background:

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political

institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year civil

war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national

reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable

political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in

the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions

in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have

conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have

been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have

extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the

country. Hizballah, a radical Shia organization, retains its

weapons. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in

the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000

based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Damascus

justified its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing

Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to

implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord.

Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however,

encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its

forces as well. The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a

resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its

interference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened Lebanese

groups opposed to Syria's presence in Lebanon. Syria finally

withdrew the remainder of its forces from Lebanon in April of 2005.

Geography Lebanon

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and

Syria

Geographic coordinates:

33 50 N, 35 50 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 10,400 sq km

land: 10,230 sq km

water: 170 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline:

225 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers;

Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and

Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m

Natural resources:

limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit

region, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 16.62%

permanent crops: 13.98%

other: 69.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in

Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes;

pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous

Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,

Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life

Conservation

Geography - note:

Nahr el Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an

international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate,

protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion,

clan, and ethnicity

People Lebanon

Population:

3,826,018 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 520,270/female 499,609)

15-64 years: 66.4% (male 1,216,738/female 1,324,031)

65 years and over: 6.9% (male 120,176/female 145,194) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.34 years

male: 26.28 years

female: 28.43 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.52 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 27.19 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 21.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.63 years

male: 70.17 years

female: 75.21 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Lebanese

Ethnic groups:

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri),

Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic,

Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian

Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant),

other 1.3%

note: seventeen religious sects recognized

Languages:

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 87.4%

male: 93.1%

female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

Government Lebanon

Country name:

conventional long form: Lebanese Republic

conventional short form: Lebanon

local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah

local short form: Lubnan

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Beirut

Administrative divisions:

6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa,

Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye

Independence:

22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French

administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Constitution:

23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently Charter of

Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989

Legal system:

mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law;

no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory

ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at

age 21 with elementary education

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)

head of government: Prime Minister Fuad SINIORA (since 30 June

2005); Deputy Prime Minister Elias MURR (since April 2005)

cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with

the president and members of the National Assembly

elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year

term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next election date NA);

note - on 3 September 2004 the National Assembly voted 96 to 29 to

extend Emile LAHUD's six-year term by three years; the prime

minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in

consultation with the National Assembly; by agreement, the president

is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and

the speaker of the legislature is a Shia Muslim

election results: for 15 October 1998 election: Emile LAHUD elected

president; National Assembly vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against,

10 abstentions

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or

Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular

vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve

four-year terms)

elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005

(next to be held 2009)

election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group -

Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and

Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Free Patriotic

Movement 14; Lebanese Forces 6; Qornet Shewan 5; Popular Bloc 4;

Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Syrian National Socialist Party 2;

Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Tachnaq Party 2; Democratic Renewal

Movement 1; Democratic Left 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; Ba'th

Party 1; Kataeb Party 1; independent 5

Judicial branch:

four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial

cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council

(called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws);

Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime

minister as needed)

Political parties and leaders:

Ba'th Party [leader NA]; Democratic Gathering [Walid JUNBLATT];

Democratic Left [leader NA]; Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih

BARRI, Amal leader/speaker]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN];

Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [leader NA];

Kataeb Reform Movement [leader NA]; Lebanese Forces [leader NA];

Loyalty to the Resistance [Mohammad RA'AD]; Nasserite Popular

Movement [leader NA]; Popular Bloc [leader NA]; Qornet Shewan

[leader NA]; Syrian National Socialist Party [leader NA]; Tripoli

Independent Bloc [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,

ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,

IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,

PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,

WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD

chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300

FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324

consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey D. FELTMAN embassy: Awkar, Lebanon mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600 FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Flag description:

three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle,

double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in

the white band

Economy Lebanon

Economy - overview:

The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic

infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended

Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. In

the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical

and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from

domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning national

debt, the HARIRI government began an austerity program, reining in

government expenditures, increasing revenue collection, and

privatizing state enterprises. In November 2002, the government met

with international donors at the Paris II conference to seek

bilateral assistance in restructuring its massive domestic debt at

lower rates of interest. Substantial receipts from donor nations

stabilized government finances in 2003, but did little to reduce the

debt, which stood at nearly 180% of GDP. In 2004 the HARIRI

government issued Eurobonds in an effort to manage maturing debt,

and the KARAMI government has continued this practice. However,

privatization of state-owned enterprises had not occurred by the end

of 2004, as promised during the Paris II conference.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18.83 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12%

industry: 21%

services: 67% (2000)

Labor force:

2.6 million

note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers

(2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

18% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.895 billion

expenditures: $6.642 billion, including capital expenditures of NA

(2004 est.)

Public debt:

177.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives,

tobacco; sheep, goats

Industries:

banking, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and

chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal

fabricating

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

8.066 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 97.2% hydro: 2.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

8.591 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.09 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

107,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-2.389 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.783 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer

goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power

machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper

Exports - partners:

Syria 24.9%, UAE 10%, Turkey 6.9%, Switzerland 6.7%, Saudi Arabia

5.3% (2004)

Imports:

$8.162 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and

live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco

Imports - partners:

Italy 11.2%, France 10.3%, Syria 9.8%, Germany 8.6%, China 5.8%, US

5.5%, UK 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$15.84 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.2 billion received (2003), out of the $4.2 billion in soft loans

pledged at the November 2002 Paris II Aid Conference

Currency (code):

Lebanese pound (LBP)

Currency code:

LBP

Exchange rates:

Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2004), 1,507.5 (2003),

1,507.5 (2002), 1,507.5 (2001), 1,507.5 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Lebanon

Telephones - main lines in use:

678,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

775,100 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged by

civil war; rebuilding well underway

domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable

international: country code - 961; satellite earth stations - 2

Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations);

coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but

inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

2.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.18 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lb

Internet hosts:

6,998 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:

400,000 (2002)

Transportation Lebanon

Railways:

total: 401 km

standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m

narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m

note: rail system became unusable because of damage during the civil

war in the 1980s; short sections are operable (2004)

Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,198 km unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

oil 209 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Beirut, Chekka, Jounie, Tripoli

Merchant marine:

total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 198,602 GRT/248,313 DWT

by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 26, livestock carrier 8, refrigerated

cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 3

foreign-owned: 6 (Austria 1, Greece 5)

registered in other countries: 40 (2005)

Airports:

8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Lebanon

Military branches:

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army, Navy, and Air Force

Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 974,363 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 821,762 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$540.6 million (2002) (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (FY99) (2004)

Transnational Issues Lebanon

Disputes - international:

intense international pressure prompts the removal of Syrian troops

and intelligence personnel from Lebanon; Lebanese Government claims

Shab'a Farms area of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly

2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place

since 1978

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 394,532 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))

IDPs: 300,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in

2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin

American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way

to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Lesotho

Introduction Lesotho

Background:

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence

from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but

returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional

government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule. In

1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious

election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African

and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern

African Development Community. Constitutional reforms have since

restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were

held in 2002.

Geography Lesotho

Location:

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 30,355 sq km

land: 30,355 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources:

water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay,

building stone

Land use: arable land: 10.87% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 89% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in

overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion;

desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and

redirects water to South Africa

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,

Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous,

more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level

People Lesotho

Population:

1,867,035

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 and death rates, lower

population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of

population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July

2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.9% (male 346,930/female 342,459)

15-64 years: 57.6% (male 526,642/female 548,096)

65 years and over: 5.5% (male 42,003/female 60,905) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.19 years

male: 19.68 years

female: 20.74 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.08% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

26.53 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

25.03 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 84.23 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 89.11 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 79.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 34.47 years

male: 35.49 years

female: 33.42 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.35 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

28.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

320,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

29,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective: Basotho

Ethnic groups:

Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,

Religions:

Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Languages:

Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 84.8%

male: 74.5%

female: 94.5% (2003 est.)

Government Lesotho

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form: Lesotho

former: Basutoland

Government type:

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Maseru

Administrative divisions:

10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru,

Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence:

4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution:

2 April 1993

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of

legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted

compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note -

King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to

February 1995, while his father was in exile

head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May

1998)

cabinet: Cabinet

elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the

majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister;

the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution,

which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is

a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative

powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to

determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as

regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may

even depose the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22

principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party)

and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by direct popular vote and 40 by

proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year

terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120

in the May 2002 election

elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)

election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC

7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18

Judicial branch:

High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the

advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court;

customary or traditional court

Political parties and leaders:

Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE];

Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho

National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho

Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] - the governing

party; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; Lesotho

Workers Party of LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or

MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony

MANYELI]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe

PEETE]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE];

Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, The Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,

ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO

(subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI

chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536

FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 22 312666 FAX: [266] 22 310116

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half

is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with

crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with

a green triangle in the corner

Economy Lesotho

Economy - overview:

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances

from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the

Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government

revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to

reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major

hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to

South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. As the number

of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a

small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that

support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries and a

rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The garment industry has

grown significantly, mainly due to Lesotho qualifying for the trade

benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. The

economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture,

especially livestock, although drought has decreased agricultural

activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income

remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty

Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.892 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.2% industry: 43.9% services: 40.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force: 838,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa

Unemployment rate:

45% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

49% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56 (1986-87)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

39.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $698.5 million

expenditures: $697.6 million, including capital expenditures of $15

million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Industries:

food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts;

construction; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

15.5% (1999)

Electricity - production:

314 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)

Electricity - consumption:

308 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

16 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,500 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-108.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$484.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and

mohair, food and live animals (2000)

Exports - partners:

US 97%, Canada 2.1%, UK 0.3% (2004)

Imports:

$730.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum

products (2000)

Imports - partners:

Hong Kong 46.8%, China 25.5%, South Korea 5.6%, Germany 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$402.2 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$735 million (2002)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA $4.4 million

Economic aid - recipient:

$41.5 million (2000)

Currency (code):

loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)

Currency code:

LSL; ZAR

Exchange rates:

maloti per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407

(2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications Lesotho

Telephones - main lines in use:

28,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

92,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: rudimentary system

domestic: consists of a modest but growing number of landlines, a

small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone

communication system; a cellular mobile telephone system is growing

international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1

Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

NA (2002)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2000)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.ls

Internet hosts:

119 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

21,000 (2002)

Transportation Lesotho

Highways: total: 5,940 km paved: 1,087 km unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)

Airports: 28 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Military Lesotho

Military branches:

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 400,457 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 162,857 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$32.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.3% (2004)

Military - note:

the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future

structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially

considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening

in political affairs

Transnational Issues Lesotho

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Liberia

Introduction Liberia

Background:

In August 2003, a comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of

civil war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles

TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. The National Transitional

Government of Liberia (NTGL) - composed of rebel, government, and

civil society groups - assumed control in October 2003. Chairman

Gyude BRYANT, who was given a two-year mandate to oversee efforts to

rebuild Liberia, heads the new government. The United Nations

Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which maintains a strong presence

throughout the country, completed a disarmament program for former

combatants in late 2004, but the security situation is still

volatile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic

structure of this war-torn country remains sluggish.

Geography Liberia

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote

d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 111,370 sq km

land: 96,320 sq km

water: 15,050 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,585 km

border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone

306 km

Coastline:

579 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold

nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and

low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 3.95% permanent crops: 2.28% other: 93.77% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer

Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the

Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by

lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland

grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

People Liberia

Population:

3,482,211 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.6% (male 765,662/female 751,134)

15-64 years: 52.8% (male 896,206/female 940,985)

65 years and over: 3.7% (male 64,547/female 63,677) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.06 years

male: 17.69 years

female: 18.42 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.64% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

44.22 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

17.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note: at least 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding

countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their

ability to return (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 128.87 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 135.64 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 121.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 38.89 years

male: 37.03 years

female: 40.81 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,

hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in

some locations

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Liberian(s)

adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups:

indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru,

Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella,

Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of

immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5%

(descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a

few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 57.5%

male: 73.3%

female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

Government Liberia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Liberia

conventional short form: Liberia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Monrovia

Administrative divisions:

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,

Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,

River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Independence:

26 July 1847

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution:

6 January 1986

Legal system:

dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for

the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal

practices for indigenous sector

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note

- this is an interim position until presidential elections in 2005;

the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);

note - this is an interim position until presidential elections in

2005; the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the

Senate; note - current cabinet positions are divided among groups

participating in the Liberian peace process

elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term

(renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11

October 2005)

election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent

of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF

(UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - TAYLOR

stepped down in August 2003

note: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and the

Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of

former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,

Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the National

Transitional Government on 14 October 2003

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats;

members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the

House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote

to serve six-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11

October 2005); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997

(next to be held 11 October 2005)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by

party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of

vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3,

Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader

NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian

Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or

LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA];

National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party;

United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP

[Charles CLARKE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,

ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,

NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,

WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aaron B.

KOLLIE

chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437

FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III

embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,

1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380

FAX: [231] 226-148

Flag description:

11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating

with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in

the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Economy Liberia

Economy - overview:

Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of

Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around

Monrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds and

timber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeable

future. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and

expertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richly

endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate

favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter

of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local

manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The

departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in

August 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive Transitional

Government, and the arrival of a UN mission are all necessary for

the eventual end of the political crisis, but thus far have done

little to encourage economic development. The reconstruction of

infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy

will largely depend on generous financial support and technical

assistance from donor countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.903 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

21.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 76.9% industry: 5.4% services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

85% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

80%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $85.4 million

expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA

(2000 est.)

Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Industries:

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

488.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

454.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$1.079 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners:

Denmark 29.5%, Germany 18.9%, Poland 14.3%, US 8.9%, Greece 8%

(2004)

Imports:

$5.051 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured

goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

South Korea 38.8%, Japan 21.2%, Singapore 12.2%, Croatia 5.3%,

Germany 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$94 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code:

LRD

Exchange rates:

Liberian dollars per US dollar - 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003),

61.754 (2002), 48.583 (2001), 40.953 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Liberia

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,000 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost

exclusively in the capital Monrovia

domestic: fully automatic system with very low density of .21 fixed

mainlines per 100 persons; limited wireless service available

international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1

Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

790,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

70,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.lr

Internet hosts:

14 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:

1,000 (2002)

Transportation Liberia

Railways:

total: 490 km

standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge

note: none of the railways are in operation because of the civil war

(2004)

Highways: total: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Buchanan, Monrovia

Merchant marine:

total: 1,465 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,555,752 GRT/79,125,329 DWT

by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 275, cargo 91, chemical

tanker 173, combination ore/oil 22, container 388, liquefied gas 78,

passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 324, refrigerated

cargo 57, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier

35

foreign-owned: 1,392 (Argentina 8, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas

3, Brazil 6, British 1, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 36, Croatia 7,

Cyprus 1, Denmark 5, France 3, Germany 511, Greece 149, Hong Kong

29, India 4, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 7, Italy 12, Japan

106, Latvia 18, Monaco 10, Netherlands 18, Nigeria 1, Norway 57,

Pakistan 1, Poland 14, Romania 1, Russia 63, Saudi Arabia 23,

Singapore 29, Slovenia 1, South Korea 4, Sweden 12, Switzerland 10,

Taiwan 54, Turkey 4, Ukraine 7, UAE 10, United Kingdom 56, United

States 84, Uruguay 3) (2005)

Airports:

53 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)

Military Liberia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 659,795 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 360,373 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues Liberia

Disputes - international:

although Liberia's domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups,

warlords, and youth gangs was declared over in 2003, civil unrest

persists, and in 2004, 133,000 Liberian refugees remained in Guinea,

72,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 67,000 in Sierra Leone, and 43,000 in

Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote

d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone; since 2003, the UN Mission in Liberia

(UNMIL) has maintained about 18,000 peacekeepers in Liberia; the

Cote d'Ivoire Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivoirian

rebels; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 13,941 (Sierra Leone) 38,325 (Cote

d'Ivoire)

IDPs: 500,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in

November 2004) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and

South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,

criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide

significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of

well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a

major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Libya

Introduction Libya

Background: From the earliest days of his rule following his 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appeared to have decreased after the imposition of sanctions. During the 1990s, QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004 several outstanding cases against his government for terrorist activities in the 1980s by paying compensation to the families of victims of the UTA and La Belle disco bombings.

Geography Libya

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and

Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,759,540 sq km

land: 1,759,540 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 4,348 km

border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,

Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline:

1,770 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north

Climate:

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m

highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use: arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four

days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the

Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in

the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under

the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

People Libya

Population: 5,765,563 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.9% (male 997,364/female 955,272)

15-64 years: 62% (male 1,842,775/female 1,729,235)

65 years and over: 4.2% (male 117,967/female 122,950) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.68 years

male: 22.8 years

female: 22.56 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.33% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

26.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 26.92 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 22.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.5 years

male: 74.29 years

female: 78.82 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.34 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and

typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations

during the transmission season (typically April through October)

(2004)

Nationality:

noun: Libyan(s)

adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups:

Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,

Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages:

Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major

cities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 82.6%

male: 92.4%

female: 72% (2003 est.)

Government Libya

Country name:

conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab

Jamahiriya

conventional short form: Libya

local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah

al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma

local short form: none

Government type:

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the

populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital:

Tripoli

Administrative divisions:

25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al

'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al

Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,

Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,

Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25

municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Independence:

24 December 1951 (from Italy)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution:

11 December 1969; amended 2 March 1977

Legal system:

based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate

religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of

legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar

al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,

but is de facto chief of state

head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee

(Prime Minister) Shukri Muhammad GHANIM (since 14 June 2003)

cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General

People's Congress

elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of

people's committees; head of government elected by the General

People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held

NA)

election results: NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected

indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible

memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some

Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists,

primarily based in London, but has little influence

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,

ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,

IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,

UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

(observer), WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Libya does not have an embassy in the US but maintains an interest

section under the protective power of the United Arab Emirates

Embassy in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli in May 1980, resumed embassy activities in February 2004 under the protective power of the US interests section of the Belgian Embassy in Tripoli, then opened a Liaison Office in Tripoli in June 2004

Flag description:

plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state

religion)

Economy Libya

Economy - overview:

The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil

sector, which contribute practically all export earnings and about

one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population give

Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of

this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan

officials in the past four years have made progress on economic

reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country

into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN

sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in

December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of

mass destruction. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya

were removed in April 2004. Libya faces a long road ahead in

liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps -

including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and

announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a

transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing

and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have

expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the

production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic

conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and

Libya imports about 75% of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$37.48 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.7% industry: 45.7% services: 45.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.59 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 17%, industry 29%, services 54% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

9.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.52 billion

expenditures: $12.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.6

billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

8.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,

soybeans; cattle

Industries:

petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,

cement

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

20.89 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

19.43 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

1.518 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

38 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

770 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.321 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$9.895 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$18.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas

Exports - partners:

Italy 37%, Germany 16.6%, Spain 11.9%, Turkey 7.1%, France 6.2%

(2004)

Imports:

$7.224 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food, consumer

products (1999)

Imports - partners:

Italy 25.5%, Germany 11%, South Korea 6.1%, UK 5.4%, Tunisia 4.7%,

Turkey 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$24.18 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.069 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.4 million ODA (2002)

Currency (code):

Libyan dinar (LYD)

Currency code:

LYD

Exchange rates:

Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003), 1.2707

(2002), 0.6051 (2001), 0.5122 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Libya

Telephones - main lines in use:

750,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

100,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;

mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996

domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,

tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth

stations

international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4

Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to

France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;

tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios:

1.35 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)

Televisions:

730,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ly

Internet hosts:

67 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

160,000 (2003)

Transportation Libya

Railways:

0 km

note: Libya is working on 7 lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge

track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2004)

Highways:

total: 83,200 km

paved: 47,590 km

unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,

Zawiyah

Merchant marine:

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 129,627 GRT/105,110 DWT

by type: cargo 7, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum

tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4

foreign-owned: 1 (Algeria 1) (2005)

Airports:

139 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 59

over 3,047 m: 23

2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 23

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 80

over 3,047 m: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

914 to 1,523 m: 41

under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military Libya

Military branches:

Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,505,675 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,291,624 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 62,034 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.3 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.9% (FY99)

Transnational Issues Libya

Disputes - international:

Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria

and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;

various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Liechtenstein

Introduction Liechtenstein

Background:

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy

Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the

end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic

devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter

into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War

II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low

taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in

banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use

of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein

has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and

recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.

Geography Liechtenstein

Location:

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates:

47 16 N, 9 32 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 160 sq km

land: 160 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Coastline:

0 km (doubly landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool

to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m

highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources:

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air

Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,

Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,

Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer

Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries

in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People Liechtenstein

Population:

33,717 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,938/female 3,009)

15-64 years: 70.4% (male 11,795/female 11,927)

65 years and over: 12% (male 1,685/female 2,363) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.22 years

male: 38.74 years

female: 39.68 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.82% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.41 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.55 years

male: 75.96 years

female: 83.16 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.51 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Liechtensteiner(s)

adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups:

Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%

(June 2002)

Languages:

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100%

Government Liechtenstein

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form: Liechtenstein

local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

local short form: Liechtenstein

Government type:

hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and

parliamentary basis

Capital:

Vaduz

Administrative divisions:

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,

Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,

Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence:

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12

July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

National holiday:

Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution:

5 October 1921

Legal system:

local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,

with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,

assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince

ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August

2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince

to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state

head of government: Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April

2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April

2001)

cabinet: Cabinet elected by the parliament, confirmed by the monarch

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative

elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is

usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the

leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually

appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by

direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve

four-year terms)

elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA

2009)

election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL

13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or

Obergericht

Political parties and leaders:

Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT];

Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or

FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,

OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE

chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005

telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460

FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US

Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown

on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy Liechtenstein

Economy - overview:

Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein

has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,

free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and

living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The

Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of

small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -

and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called

letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,

providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a

customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its

national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy

requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European

Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.

The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with

those of an integrated Europe.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$825 million (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: 40% services: NA% (1999)

Labor force:

29,000 of whom 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,

Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1.3%, industry 47.4%, services 51.3% (31 December 2001

est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.3% (September 2002)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2001)

Budget:

revenues: $424.2 million

expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA

(1998 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,

pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,

optical instruments

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Exports:

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities:

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts

for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,

electronic equipment, optical products

Exports - partners:

EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK

4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%

Imports:

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities:

agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,

textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners:

EU, Switzerland

Debt - external:

$0 (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

none

Currency (code):

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:

CHF

Exchange rates:

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586

(2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Liechtenstein

Telephones - main lines in use:

19,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11,400 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic telephone system

domestic: NA

international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable

and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

21,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions:

12,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.li

Internet hosts:

3,727 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

Internet users:

20,000 (2002)

Transportation Liechtenstein

Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km

Waterways:

28 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 20 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

none

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military Liechtenstein

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues Liechtenstein

Disputes - international:

in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of

Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic

confiscated in 1945 as German property

Illicit drugs:

has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering

remains a concern due to Liechtenstein sophisticated offshore

financial services sector

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Lithuania

Introduction Lithuania

Background:

Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by

the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of

the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not

recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the

abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.

Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into

Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the

spring of 2004.

Geography Lithuania

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 65,200 sq km

land: NA sq km

water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,273 km

border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,

Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline:

99 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate

winters and summers

Terrain:

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Natural resources:

peat, arable land

Land use: arable land: 45.22% permanent crops: 0.91% other: 53.87% (2001)

Irrigated land:

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are

ancient glacial deposits

People Lithuania

Population:

3,596,617 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.1% (male 297,271/female 282,269)

15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,206,731/female 1,264,359)

65 years and over: 15.2% (male 186,979/female 359,008) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.83 years

male: 35.25 years

female: 40.46 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.3% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female

total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.89 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 8.25 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.97 years

male: 68.94 years

female: 79.28 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Lithuanian(s)

adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups:

Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified

3.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including

Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or

unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and

unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.6%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

Government Lithuania

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania

conventional short form: Lithuania

local long form: Lietuvos Respublika

local short form: Lietuva

former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Vilnius

Administrative divisions:

10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,

Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,

Utenos, Vilniaus

Independence:

11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6

September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is

the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and

established its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared its

independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the

constitutional court

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)

head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3

July 2001)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the

nomination of the premier

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

election last held 13 June 2004 and 27 June 2004 (next to be held

June 2009); premier appointed by the president on the approval of

the Parliament

election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote

- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly

elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional

representation; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October

2008)

election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working

for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, Homeland

Union (Conservatives) 14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal

Democrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center

Union 9.1%, Union of Farmers and New Democracy 6.6%; seats by

faction - Labor 39, Homeland Union 25, Social Democrats 20, Liberal

and Center Union 18, Social Liberals 11, Union of Farmers and New

Democracy Parties 10, Liberal Democrats 10, Electoral Action 2,

independents 6

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for

all courts appointed by the President

Political parties and leaders:

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI,

chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius

KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor Party [Viktor USPASKICH, chairman];

Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS, chairman]; Liberal

Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS, chairman]; Lithuanian

Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman];

Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania; Lithuanian Social

Democratic Coalition [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the

Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social

Democratic Party or LSDP; New Democracy and Farmer's Union or VNDPS

[Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Social Liberals (New Union)

[Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social Union of Christian

Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman]; Young Lithuania and

New Nationalists

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,

EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,

IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,

MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO,

WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. MULL

embassy: 2600 Akmenu 6, Vilnius

mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE

09723

telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500

FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Economy Lithuania

Economy - overview:

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with

Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.

Unemployment dropped from 11% in 2003 to 8% in 2004. Growing

domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered

recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.

Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and

joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned

utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is nearing completion.

Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. Foreign

government and business support have helped in the transition from

the old command economy to a market economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$45.23 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.1% industry: 33.4% services: 60.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.63 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.542 billion

expenditures: $7.121 billion, including capital expenditures of NA

(2004 est.)

Public debt:

25.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;

fish

Industries:

metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,

refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small

ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,

agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,

computers, amber

Industrial production growth rate:

12% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

17.93 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 77.7% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

10.17 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

6.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

300 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.6 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$8.88 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and

equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs

5% (2001)

Exports - partners:

Germany 10.2%, Latvia 10.2%, Russia 9.3%, France 6.3%, UK 5.3%,

Sweden 5.1%, Estonia 5%, Poland 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8%, Denmark

4.8%, US 4.7%, Switzerland 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$11.02 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transport

equipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5%

(2001)

Imports - partners:

Russia 23.1%, Germany 16.7%, Poland 7.7%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.61 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.01 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$228.5 million (1995)

Currency (code):

litas (LTL)

Currency code:

LTL

Exchange rates:

litai per US dollar - 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4

(2001), 4 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Lithuania

Telephones - main lines in use:

824,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,169,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide

an improved international capability and better residential access

domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is

nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;

mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet

is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber

applications

international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia

and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and

Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

1.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

27

note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may

have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)

Televisions:

1.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lt

Internet hosts:

67,769 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

32 (2001)

Internet users:

695,700 (2003)

Transportation Lithuania

Railways:

total: 1,998 km

broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)

standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 77,148 km

paved: 69,202 km (including 417 km of expressways)

unpaved: 7,946 km (2002)

Waterways:

600 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Klaipeda

Merchant marine:

total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 296,856 GRT/317,731 DWT

by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 24, chemical tanker 1,

passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll

on/roll off 1

foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 12)

registered in other countries: 16 (2005)

Airports:

102 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 68 (2004 est.)

Military Lithuania

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, National Defense Volunteer Forces

(SKAT)

Military service age and obligation:

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript

service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 830,368 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 590,606 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 29,689 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$230.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Lithuania

Disputes - international:

in 2003, the Lithuania-Russia land and maritime boundary treaty was

ratified and a transit regime established through Lithuania linking

Russia and its Kaliningrad coastal exclave, leaving only

improvements to the border demarcation in 2005; by 2004, a third of

the Belarus-Lithuania boundary had been demarcated; the Latvian

parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with

Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil; as a member state

that forms part of the EU's external border, Lithuania must

implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from

Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe

and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;

susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking

legislation

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Luxembourg

Introduction Luxembourg

Background:

Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an

independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of

its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of

autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany

in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered

into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following

year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries

of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and

in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

Geography Luxembourg

Location:

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates:

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 2,586 sq km

land: 2,586 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain:

mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands

to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle

flood plain in the southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m

highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Natural resources:

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Land use: arable land: 23.28% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air

Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,

Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,

Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the

Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,

Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

People Luxembourg

Population:

468,571 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 45,768/female 42,980)

15-64 years: 66.5% (male 157,453/female 153,927)

65 years and over: 14.6% (male 27,573/female 40,870) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.51 years

male: 37.56 years

female: 39.48 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.06 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.74 years

male: 75.45 years

female: 82.24 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Luxembourger(s)

adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups:

Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,

Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and

resident workers)

Religions:

87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)

Languages:

Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative

language), French (administrative language)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100% (2000 est.)

Government Luxembourg

Country name:

conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

conventional short form: Luxembourg

local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg

local short form: Luxembourg

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Luxembourg

Administrative divisions:

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence:

1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday:

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Constitution:

17 October 1868; occasional revisions

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir

Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)

head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1

January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July

2004)

cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and

appointed by the monarch

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular

elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority

party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed

prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is

appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of

Deputies

note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Legislative branch:

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;

members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)

election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,

DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP

14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5

note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory

body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members

appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister

Judicial branch:

judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district

courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and

tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and

tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are

appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:

Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN];

Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian

Social Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP

[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist

Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist

Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other

minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union);

Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP

(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil

service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des

Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists);

LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)

International organization participation:

ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,

FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,

IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA,

NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD

chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171

FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270

consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr. embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX: [352] 46 14 01

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;

similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and

is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy Luxembourg

Economy - overview:

This stable, high-income economy - in between France, Belgium, and

Germany - features solid growth, low inflation, and low

unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel,

has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber,

and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now

accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more than compensated for the

decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive

foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms.

The economy depends on foreign and cross-border workers for more

than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like all EU

members, has suffered from the global economic slump, the country

enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$27.27 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $58,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.5% industry: 16.3% services: 83.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

293,700 (of whom 105,000 are foreign cross-border workers commuting

primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.5% (December, 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.74 billion

expenditures: $14.49 billion, including capital expenditures of $760

million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock

products

Industries:

banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal

products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, information

technology, tourism and banking

Industrial production growth rate:

2.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.511 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.735 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

2.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

6.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

865 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

867 million cu m (2001 est.)

Exports:

$13.4 billion f.o.b. (2003)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber

products, glass

Exports - partners:

Germany 22.1%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.2%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%,

Spain 5.9%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$16.3 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Belgium 29.8%, Germany 22.6%, China 12.6%, France 12%, Netherlands

4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $147 million (2002)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the

euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of

member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole

currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),

1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Luxembourg

Telephones - main lines in use:

355,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

473,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and

efficient system, mainly buried cables

domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable

international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6

coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

285,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1999)

Televisions:

285,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code:

.lu

Internet hosts:

28,214 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

165,000 (2002)

Transportation Luxembourg

Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 5,210 km

paved: 5,210 km (including 126 km of expressways)

unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 155 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mertert

Merchant marine:

total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWT

by type: chemical tanker 16, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger

3, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned: 40 (Belgium 12, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10,

Netherlands 4, United States 3) (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military Luxembourg

Military branches:

Army

Military service age and obligation: a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 110,867 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 90,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 2,775 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$231.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues Luxembourg

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Macau

Introduction Macau

Background:

Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the

first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement

signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the

Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December

1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"

formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in

Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all

matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography Macau

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:

22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 25.4 sq km

land: 25.4 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km

Coastline:

41 km

Maritime claims:

not specified

Climate:

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain:

generally flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two

islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland

People Macau

Population:

449,198 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17% (male 39,564/female 36,947)

15-64 years: 75.1% (male 160,957/female 176,386)

65 years and over: 7.9% (male 14,713/female 20,631) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.2 years

male: 34.9 years

female: 35.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.87% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 82.12 years

male: 79.29 years

female: 85.09 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

0.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Chinese

adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 95.7%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%,

other 3.3% (2001 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)

Languages:

Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinese

dialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.5%

male: 97.2%

female: 92% (2003 est.)

Government Macau

Country name:

conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region

conventional short form: Macau

local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao

Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)

local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status:

special administrative region of China

Government type:

limited democracy

Administrative divisions:

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:

none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic

of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated

as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:

Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's

Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage:

direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents

living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited

to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently

registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad

regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government

bodies

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)

head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20

December 1999)

cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,

four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist

elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee

for up to two five-year terms

election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004;

received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3

members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (29 seats; 12 elected by

popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and seven appointed by the chief

executive; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 26 September 2005 (next in September 2009)

election results: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, Macau

Development Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, New

Democratic Macau Association 18.2%, others na; seats by political

group - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, Macau

United Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2,

New Hope 1, Union Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled by

professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief

executive

Judicial branch:

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:

Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development

Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG

On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New

Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces

[leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent),

UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the

US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description:

light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water

in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large

in center of arc and four smaller

Economy Macau

Economy - overview:

Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the

world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and

tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit

hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in

2001, its economy grew 9.5% in 2002 and 15.6% in 2003. During the

first three quarters of 2004, Macau registered year-on-year GDP

increases of more than 20 percent. A rapid rise in the number of

mainland visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on

travel, increased public works expenditures, and significant

investment inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's

gaming industry drove the recovery. The budget also returned to

surplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a

hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of

government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses

have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will

boost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the

mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory

may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to

generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling

licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities

in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games will

bolster the construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership

Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into

effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free

access to the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA

was to be expanded on 1 January 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.1 billion (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

15.6% (2003)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2003)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 7.2% services: 92.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

231,500 (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 18.3%, construction 8%, transport and communications

7%, wholesale and retail trade 16.2%, restaurants and hotels 10.9%,

gambling 11.6%, public sector 8.8%, other services and agriculture

19.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.7% (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (3rd quarter, 2004)

Budget:

revenues: $1.84 billion

expenditures: $1.57 billion, including capital expenditures of NA

(2003)

Agriculture - products:

only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;

fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important, some of catch is

exported to Hong Kong; most food requirements are met by imports,

primarily from China

Industries:

tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

1.719 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.772 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

1 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

179.7 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$2.58 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2003)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts

Exports - partners:

US 48.7%, China 13.9%, Germany 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.6%, UK 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$2.76 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods

(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and

oils

Imports - partners:

China 44.4%, Hong Kong 10.6%, Japan 9.6%, Taiwan 4.9%, Singapore

4.1%, US 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.7 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

pataca (MOP)

Currency code:

MOP

Exchange rates:

patacas per US dollar - 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003), 8.033 (2002),

8.034 (2001), 8.026 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Macau

Telephones - main lines in use:

174,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

364,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities

maintained for domestic and international services

domestic: NA

international: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communication

facility; access to international communications carriers provided

via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

(Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

160,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2003)

Televisions:

49,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mo

Internet hosts:

89 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

120,000 (2003)

Transportation Macau

Highways: total: 341 km paved: 341 km unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Macau

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Macau

Military branches:

China's People's Revolutionary Army (PLA) constitutes the only

armed force in Macau; several police forces constitute the Security

Forces of Macau (SFM) that are subordinate to the General

Secretariat of Security, a body comparable to a ministry of interior

(2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Macau

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Macedonia

Introduction Macedonia

Background:

International recognition of Macedonia's independence from

Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new

state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols.

Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995 and the two

countries agreed to normalize relations, although differences over

Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring

Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the

2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue

to be challenges for Macedonia.

Geography Macedonia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates:

41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 25,333 sq km

land: 24,856 sq km

water: 477 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:

total: 766 km

border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,

Serbia and Montenegro 221 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with

heavy snowfall

Terrain:

mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three

large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by

the Vardar River

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m

highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Natural resources:

low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese,

nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land

Land use: arable land: 22.26% permanent crops: 1.81% other: 75.93% (2001)

Irrigated land:

550 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

high seismic risks

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate

Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of

the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central

Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

People Macedonia

Population:

2,045,262 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.5% (male 217,057/female 202,465)

15-64 years: 68.7% (male 707,489/female 697,150)

65 years and over: 10.8% (male 97,117/female 123,984) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.8 years

male: 31.7 years

female: 33.9 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.09 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.73 years

male: 71.28 years

female: 76.37 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Macedonian(s)

adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups:

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb

1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Religions:

Macedonian Orthodox 32.4%, other Christian 0.2%, Muslim 16.9%,

other and unspecified 50.5% (2002 census)

Languages:

Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian

1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.1%

male: 98.2%

female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

Government Macedonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia

conventional short form: Macedonia; note - the provisional

designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is Former Yugoslav Republic

of Macedonia (FYROM)

local long form: Republika Makedonija

local short form: Makedonija

former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of

Macedonia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Skopje

Administrative divisions:

85 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),

Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,

Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,

Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar,

Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje),

Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,

Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda

(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,

Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski

Brod, Mavrovo i Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,

Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,

Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, Staro

Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari

(Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles,

Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino,

Zrnovci

note: the ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses

collectively constitute "greater Skopje"

Independence:

8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing

independence from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's

Day and Ilinden

Constitution:

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended

November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments

strengthening minority rights

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)

head of government: Prime Minister Vlado BUCKOVSKI (since 17

December 2004)

cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all

the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the

government coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and BDI

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be

held April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election

last held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)

election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on

second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,

Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Vlado BUCKOVSKI elected prime minister by the

Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected by

popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall

vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all serve

four-year terms)

elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -

Together for Macedonia coalition 60 (SDSM 43, LDP 12, others 5),

VMRO-DPMNE 33 (VMRO 28 and LDT 5), Democratic Union for Integration

16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity

2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional

Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial

Council - the Assembly appoints the judges

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA

[Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks

[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben

XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC];

Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Republican

Union of Macedonia or DRUM [Dosta DIMOVSKA]; Democratic Union of

Vlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integration

or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary

Organization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV];

Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for

Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE (including VMRO and LDT)

[Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary

Organization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [Boris

ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary

Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal Macedonian

Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna

JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal

Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV];

National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers'

Party [Vejljo TANTAROV]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP

[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or

SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or

SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition

(including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party for

Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; Movement for

Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]

International organization participation:

ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,

IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),

ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,

UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063 FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093 consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 2 311-6180 FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Flag description:

a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of

the red field

Economy Macedonia

Economy - overview:

At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least

developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the

total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of

Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated

advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence

of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the down-sized Yugoslavia, one of

its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute

about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic

growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000.

However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade,

and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian

insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased

trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on

security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in

2002 to 0.9%, then rose by a moderate 3.4% in 2003, and is estimated

at 1.3% in 2004. Unemployment at one-third of the workforce remains

a critical economic problem. Much of the extensive grey market

activity falls outside official statistics.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 26% services: 62.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

855,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

37.7% (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.2% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.198 billion

expenditures: $1.245 billion, including capital expenditures of $114

million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

20% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, corn, millet, cotton, sesame,

mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Industries:

coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood

products, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

0% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.273 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

7.216 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

953 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

22,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-311 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.629 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners:

Serbia and Montenegro 31.4%, Germany 19.9%, Greece 8.9%, Croatia

6.9%, US 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$2.677 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products,

automobiles

Imports - partners:

Greece 15.4%, Germany 13.1%, Serbia and Montenegro 10.4%, Slovenia

8.6%, Bulgaria 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Romania 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$928 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.863 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$250 million (2003 est.)

Currency (code):

Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code:

MKD

Exchange rates:

Macedonian denars per US dollar - 49.41 (2004), 54.32 (2003), 64.35

(2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

560,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

830,000 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

international: country code - 389

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mk

Internet hosts:

3,738 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2002)

Transportation Macedonia

Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 8,684 km

paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)

unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)

Airports:

17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military Macedonia

Military branches:

Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes Air and Air

Defense Command)

Military service age and obligation: conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript duty is 6 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (January 2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 498,259 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 411,156 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 16,686 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$200 million (FY01/02 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

6% (FY01/02 est.)

Transnational Issues Macedonia

Disputes - international:

ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundary

with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and

Montenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject the

use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001; most IDPs have returned)

(2004)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;

minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;

although most criminal activity is thought to be domestic and not a

financial center, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly

cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or prosecutions

for money laundering to date)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Madagascar

Introduction Madagascar

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony

in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free

presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17

years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential

race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was

returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was

contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc

RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In

April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the

winner.

Geography Madagascar

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 587,040 sq km

land: 581,540 sq km

water: 5,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,828 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,

semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 5.07% permanent crops: 1.03% other: 93.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10,900 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

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,

Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique

Channel

People Madagascar

Population:

18,040,341 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,051,832/female 4,038,837)

15-64 years: 52.1% (male 4,657,346/female 4,745,971)

65 years and over: 3% (male 247,146/female 299,209) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.46 years

male: 17.24 years

female: 17.67 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

41.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 76.83 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 56.95 years

male: 54.57 years

female: 59.4 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,

hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some

locations

water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)

adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups:

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed

African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,

Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages:

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68.9%

male: 75.5%

female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Government Madagascar

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form: Madagascar

local long form: Republique de Madagascar

local short form: Madagascar

former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Antananarivo

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,

Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence:

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution:

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has

not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)

head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held November 2006);

prime minister appointed by the president

election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%,

Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee

Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote

to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats;

two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members

will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the

seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year

terms)

elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to

be held NA 2006)

election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -

NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD

5, others 3, independents 22

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute

Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders:

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot

RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National

Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or

FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc

RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD

[Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee

for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council

of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt

(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,

InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,

UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,

WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA

chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526

FAX: [1] (202) 483-7603

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT

embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101

mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56

FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical

white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy Madagascar

Economy - overview:

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has

since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of

privatization and liberalization. This strategy has placed the

country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low

level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of

the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and

employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in

recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States.

Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the

primary source of fuel are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA

has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002

political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.

Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces

of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.56 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29.3% industry: 16.7% services: 54% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

7.3 million (2000)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%

highest 10%: 29% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.1 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $783.7 million

expenditures: $1.079 billion, including capital expenditures of $331

million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),

beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Industries:

meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,

glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,

tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

840.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

781.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-281.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$868.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite,

petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US 35.8%, France 30.8%, Germany 7.7% (2004)

Imports:

$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners:

France 17.2%, China 9.7%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Iran 6.4%, Mauritius

6.2%, South Africa 5.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$500.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.6 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$354 million (2001)

Currency (code):

Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Currency code:

MGF

Exchange rates:

Malagasy francs per US dollar - 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003),

1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001), 1,353.5 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Madagascar

Telephones - main lines in use:

59,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

279,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system is above average for the region

domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,

and tropospheric scatter links connect regions

international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;

satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1

Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

3.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

325,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mg

Internet hosts:

773 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

70,500 (2003)

Transportation Madagascar

Railways: total: 732 km narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

600 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Merchant marine:

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT

by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2

registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

116 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2004 est.)

Military Madagascar

Military branches:

People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and

Aeronaval (Navy and Air) Force; National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18 months

(2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,542,797 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,218,662 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 187,000 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$44.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (2004)

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

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

======================================================================

@Malawi

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,

which came into full effect the following year. Current President

Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after the previous president

failed to amend the constitution to permit another term, has

struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, who still

leads their shared political party. MATHARIKA's anti-corruption

efforts have led to several high-level arrests but no convictions.