18.8%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16.6%, Union for
Development 13.3%, Union for Promoting Progress 9.6%, Macau
Development Alliance 9.3%, others 32.4%; seats by political group -
New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens'
Association 2, Union for Development 2, Union for Promoting Progress
2, Macau Development Alliance 1, New Hope 1, Convergence for
Development 1, General Union for the Good of Macau 1; 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:
New Hope [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]; Union for Promoting Progress
[LEONG Heng-teng]
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no
registered political parties; politically active groups register as
societies or companies
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civic Power [Agnes LAM Lok-fong]; Macau Society of Tourism and
Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO]; Macau Worker's Union [HO
Heng-kuok]; Roman Catholic Church; Union for Democracy Development
[Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]
International organization participation:
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),
UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WFTU, WMO, 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 Consulate General in Hong Kong is
accredited to Macau
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
the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is
the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula
and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the
flag of China
Economy ::Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's economy has enjoyed strong growth in recent years on the
back of its expanding tourism and gaming sectors. After opening up
its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in
2001, the territory attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign
investment, transforming Macao into the world's largest gaming
center. By 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las
Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for 75% of total
government revenue. In 2008, government revenue from gaming was set
to double 2006 collections. The expanding casino sector, and China's
decision beginning in 2002 to relax travel restrictions, reenergized
Macau's tourism industry. This city of just over 500,000 hosted more
than 30 million visitors in 2008. Almost 60% came from mainland
China despite increasing restrictions on travel to the SAR. Macau's
traditional manufacturing industry has been in a slow decline since
the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. In 2008,
exports of textiles and garments generated only $1.1 billion,
compared to $13.7 billion in gross gaming receipts. 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. Macau's currency, the
Pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also
freely accepted in the territory.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.14 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$12.5 billion (2006)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.04 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
15% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
16.6% (2006)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,000 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 45
$28,400 (2006)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 2.8%
services: 97.1% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
337,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing 7.4%, construction 12.6%, transport and communications
5%, wholesale and retail trade 12.5%, restaurants and hotels 12.7%,
gambling 14%, public sector 6%, financial services 2.1%, other
services and agriculture 27.7% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 33
3.1% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.2 billion
expenditures: $2.9 billion (2008)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
7.2% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.43% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$1.591 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 77
$1.16 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$22.15 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
$21.91 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$11.5 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 68
$NA (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$413.1 million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is
exported to Hong Kong
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
1.106 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
3.311 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.215 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - imports:
5,027 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - consumption:
81.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - imports:
81.9 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - proved reserves:
300,000 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Exports:
$2 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$2.557 billion (2006 est.); note - includes reexports
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
US 39.9%, Hong Kong 19.7%, China 12.3%, Germany 4% (2008)
Imports:
$5.4 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$4.559 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils
Imports - partners:
China 39.3%, Hong Kong 10.1%, Japan 8.5%, US 5.5%, France 5.3%,
Switzerland 4.7% (2008)
Debt - external:
$0 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 205
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$7.9 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 82
$6.5 billion (2006)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.9 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 65
$1.1 billion (2006)
Exchange rates:
patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8.011 (2007), 8.0015 (2006), 8.011
(2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003)
Communications ::Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
173,533 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telephones - mobile cellular:
993,545 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone
services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with
mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 180 per 100 persons in 2008;
fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in
decline
international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle
East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2008)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet hosts:
244 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
Internet users:
259,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 130
Transportation ::Macau
Airports:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 221
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 404 km
country comparison to the world: 196
paved: 404 km (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Macau
Military ::Macau
Military branches:
no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of China
(2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 121,825 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 122,962
females age 16-49: 148,809 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,578
female: 4,052 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues ::Macau
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of
opiates and amphetamines
page last updated on November 10, 2009
======================================================================
@Macedonia (Europe)
Introduction ::Macedonia
Background:
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in
1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted
a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its
constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations
continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.
Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the
support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led
to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the
fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of
minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and
stimulating economic growth and development continue to be
challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both
fronts over the past several years.
Geography ::Macedonia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,713 sq km
country comparison to the world: 149
land: 25,433 sq km
water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; 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: 22.01%
permanent crops: 1.79%
other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.4 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.27
per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Desertification, 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:
2,066,718 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 206,054/female 191,354)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 722,823/female 710,830)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 102,231/female 133,426) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.1 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 36.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.262% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Birth rate:
11.97 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Death rate:
8.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Net migration rate:
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.01 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 157
male: 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.68 years
country comparison to the world: 88
male: 72.18 years
female: 77.38 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%,
Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%,
other and unspecified 1.63% (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 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 130
Government ::Macedonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is
the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM)
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 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:
84 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, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir
Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Gjorce Petrov) (Skopje),
Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, 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 Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (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 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed
independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint
Elijah's Day
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended
November 2001 and in 2005
note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional
amendments strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments
related to the judiciary
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August
2006)
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 VMRO/DPMNE, BDI/DUI, and several small
parties
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); two-round election: first round held
22 March 2009, second round held 5 April 2009 (next to be held in
March 2014); prime minister elected by the Assembly following
legislative elections
election results: Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round
ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.14%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI
36.86%
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; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1 June and 15 June 2008 (next to be held by
July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block
49%, SDSM-led block 24%, BDI/DUI 13%, PDSh/DPA 8%, other 6%; seats
by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 63, SDSM-led block 27, BDI/DUI 18,
PDSh/DPA 11, PEI 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Republican Judicial Council
note: the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic League of Bosniaks
[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh
THACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia
[Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [Bardyl
MAHMUTI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV];
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; For a
Better Macedonia coalition [Nikola GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE,
SP, Democratic Union, Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, Democratic
Party of Turks, Democratic Party of Serbs, SR, and smaller parties);
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; League
for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
[Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National
Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni
SHAQIR]; New Democracy of DR/ND [Imer SELMANI]; New Social
Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic
Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Sefedin HARUNI]; Party for European Future or
PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco
JORDANOVSKI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran
ZAEV]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO];
Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila SKERINSKA] (includes SDSM, NSDP,
LDP, Liberal Party and smaller parties); Union of Romas or SR
[Shaban SALIU]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science
and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor
PETROV]
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI
chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131
consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US 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: