about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange
receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties
and tourism-related taxes. About 350,000 tourists visited the islands
in 1997. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. The Maldivian
Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by
lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector.
Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign
investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor
role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of
cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods
must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment
production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 15% of
GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and
possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is
three feet or less above sea level.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6.2% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,800 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 15%
services: 63% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 6.3% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 56,435 (1990 est.)
by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%,
manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels
16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Budget:
revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 14,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 50 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 191 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fishing
Exports:
total value: $59 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: fish, clothing
partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK
Imports:
total value: $302 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum
products
partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand
Debt-external: $179 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1-11.770 (1995-January 1998),
11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 8,523 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers
and VHF/UHF telephones
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 28,284 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 7,309 (1992 est.)
@Maldives:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km; note-Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city
(1988 est.)
Ports and harbors: Gan, Male
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,703 GRT/108,485 DWT
ships by type: cargo 17, container 1, oil tanker 1, short-sea
passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Maldives:Military
Military branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police
force)
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 63,879 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 35,610 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Maldives:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MALI
@Mali:Geography
Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858
km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal
419 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,
humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand;
savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium,
bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but
not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
seasons; recurring droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography-note: landlocked
@Mali:People
Population: 10,108,569 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 2,405,624; female 2,383,728)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,367,538; female 2,628,399)
65 years and over: 4% (male 152,999; female 170,281) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.24% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 49.88 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 19.04 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 121.72 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.03 years
male: 45.67 years
female: 48.43 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.02 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%,
Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31%
male: 39.4%
female: 23.1% (1995 est.)
@Mali:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan
Data code: ML
Government type: republic
National capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular-region); Gao,
Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22
September (1960)
Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was
formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since
March 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held May 2002); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of
vote-Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in two
rounds in 2002); note-much of the opposition boycotted the election
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-ADEMA
130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA
[Ibrahim N'DIAYE, secretary-general]; Party for National Renewal or
PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME, secretary-general];
Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou Bakary SANGARE,
chairman]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla
COULIBALY, leader]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me
Idrissa TRAORE, leader]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative
or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic
Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE, secretary-general]; Rally for
Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA, chairman]; Rally for
Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali GNANGADO, leader]; Union of Democratic
Forces for Progress or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary-general];
Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa
or MIRIA [Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO, leaders]
Political pressure groups and leaders: United Movement and Fronts of
Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Kaye or MPGK
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUA,
NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] 22 54 70
FAX: [223] 22 37 12
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Mali:Economy
Economy-overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world,
with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is
largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About
10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is
engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on
processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid
and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main
export. In 1997, the government continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50%
devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has pushed up
economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold
mining operations in 1996 and the government anticipates that Mali
will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$6 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$600 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 17%
services: 34% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: NA
by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1%
(1981)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $730 million
expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320
million (1997 est.)
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing;
construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 87,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 290 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 31 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts;
cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
total value: $473 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: cotton, livestock, gold
partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports:
total value: $797 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction
materials, petroleum, textiles
partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Debt-external: $2.8 billion (1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998),
583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16
(1993)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 11,000 (1982 est.)
Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides only
minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios: 430,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
@Mali:Transportation
Railways:
total: 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes)
narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 15,100 km
paved: 1,827 km
unpaved: 13,273 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Koulikoro
Airports: 28 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
@Mali:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard,
National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 2,051,976 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 1,174,078 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $66 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.2% (1994)
@Mali:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MALTA
@Malta:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 320 sq km
land: 320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal
cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m
Natural resources: limestone, salt
Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography-note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the
three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited;
numerous bays provide good harbors
@Malta:People
Population: 379,563 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 40,655; female 38,425)
15-64 years: 68% (male 128,958; female 127,391)
65 years and over: 11% (male 18,629; female 25,505) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.58% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.73 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.6 years
male: 75.3 years
female: 80.05 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and
Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean
stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88% (1985)
@Malta:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December
1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October
1996); Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign and Environment Minister Dr.
George VELLA (since 29 October 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by
NA April 1999); following House of Representatives elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term
election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of
House of Representatives vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65
seats; note-additional seats are given to the party with the largest
popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 69
seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party-MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats
by party-NP 34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges
are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or NP [Edward FENECH
ADAMI]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark Anthony MICALLEF
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone: [356] 235960
FAX: [356] 223322
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and
red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George
Cross, edged in red
@Malta:Economy
Economy-overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable
geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only
about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has
no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade,
manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the
state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1996,
approximately 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of
$12,900 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries.
The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$4.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.8% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$12,900 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 34%
services: 61% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.3% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 148,085 (September 1996)
by occupation: public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing
and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (September 1996)
Budget:
revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $219
million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair,
construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing,
tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 250,000 kW (1994)
Electricity-production: 1.45 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,923 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley,
tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry,
eggs
Exports:
total value: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware,
printed matter
partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%
Imports:
total value: $2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%
Debt-external: $134 million (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1-0.3960 (January 1998),
0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821
(1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 189,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1996 est.)
Televisions: 300,000 (1996 est.)
@Malta:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,582 km
paved: 1,471 km
unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta