@Monaco
Introduction
Monaco
Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in
1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late
13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economic
development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad
linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the
principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling
facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation
center.
Geography
Monaco
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern
coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 1.95 sq km
land: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:
4.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, 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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);
almost entirely urban
People
Monaco
Population:
32,796 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,488/female 2,369)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,110/female 10,353)
65 years and over: 22.8% (male 3,048/female 4,428) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 45.5 years
male: 43.5 years
female: 47.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.375% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
12.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.96 years
male: 76.14 years
female: 83.97 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2004)
Government
Monaco
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,
singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,
Monte-Carlo
Independence:
1419 (beginning of rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Constitution:
17 December 1962
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June
2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed
by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates
presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16
members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional
representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%,
Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch
on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of
Monaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Monaco Together
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 2314 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
FAX: (202) 552-5778
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to
France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille
(France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France,
handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
white (top) and red
Economy
Monaco
Economy - overview:
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular
resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The
principality also is a major banking center and has successfully
sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added,
nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low
business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who
have established residence and for foreign companies that have set
up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number
of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal
service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in
prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$976.3 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
Labor force:
44,000
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $863 million
expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000)
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$716.3 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2005)
Imports:
$916.1 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2005)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041
(2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Communications
Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
34,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,200 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios:
34,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1998)
Televisions:
25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet hosts:
21,058 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2006)
Transportation
Monaco
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4, Isle of
Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Monaco
Military
Monaco
Military branches:
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial
duties
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,687 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,376 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 191
female: 182 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Monaco
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Mongolia
Introduction
Mongolia
Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN
they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire
was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke
apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their
original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under
Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet
backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. Following a
peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was
defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996
parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned
the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000, but 2004 elections reduced
MPRP representation and, therefore, its authority.
Geography
Mongolia
Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km
land: 1,554,731 sq km
water: 9,385 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west
and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,
zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use:
arable land: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
34.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which
is harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of
former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial
growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of
soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People
Mongolia
Population:
2,996,081 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 433,835/female 416,549)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 1,013,215/female 1,015,221)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 51,093/female 66,168) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.493% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
21.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.32 years
male: 64.92 years
female: 69.84 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other
(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Religions:
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none
40% (2004)
Languages:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2004)
Government
Mongolia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
Government type:
mixed parliamentary/presidential
Capital:
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*
(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan,
Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay,
Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay,
Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:
11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:
12 February 1992
Legal system:
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental"
or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous on
judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since 22 November
2007); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 27
September 2008); Vice Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6
December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22
May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of
vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN 20.05%,
Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT 12.59%;
Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
56 to 10
Legislative branch:
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPRP 47, DP 26, others 3; note - results are disputed
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial
courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are
nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [Norovyn ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanji BAYAR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: human rights groups; women's groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazaryn BEKHBAT
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: [976] (11) 329-095
FAX: [976] (11) 320-776
Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem
("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
symbol)
Economy
Mongolia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on
herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits.
Copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and
tungsten account for a large part of industrial production and
foreign direct investment. Soviet assistance, at its height
one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw
Mongolia endure both deep recession because of political inaction
and natural disasters, as well as economic growth because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero
or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for
Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to
privatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, 7.5% in 2006,
and 9.9% in 2007 largely because of high copper prices and new gold
production. Mongolia is experiencing its highest inflation rate in
over a decade as consumer prices in 2007 rose 15%, largely because
of increased fuel and food costs. Mongolia's economy continues to be
heavily influenced by its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases
95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric
power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade
with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external
trade - China receives about 70% of Mongolia's exports. Remittances
from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are
sizable, and money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled
its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable
terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997,
seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian
regional economic and trade regimes.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.542 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.905 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.8%
industry: 40.4%
services: 40.8% (2006)
Labor force:
1.042 million (2006)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 39.9%
industry: 11.7%
services: 49.4% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2007)
Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 24.6% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.8 (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.58 billion
expenditures: $1.497 billion (2007)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2007)
Central bank discount rate:
9.87% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17.54% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$504.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.539 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.191 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses
Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,
molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and
beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber
manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.078 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
2.638 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
10 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
195 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
12,860 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:
12,630 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$23 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.889 billion f.o.b. (2007)
Exports - commodities:
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals