Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s,
but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly
developed; have added new fixed lines since 2005
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile telephone density about 25
per 100 persons
international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;
satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1
Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Internet country code:
.mg
Internet hosts:
27,807 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Internet users:
316,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 124
Transportation ::Madagascar
Airports:
89 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 62
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 21 (2009)
Railways:
total: 854 km
country comparison to the world: 98
narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 65,663 km
country comparison to the world: 69
paved: 7,617 km
unpaved: 58,046 km (2003)
Waterways:
600 km
country comparison to the world: 80
note: 432 km navigable (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 120
by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Military ::Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory military service;
18-month conscript service obligation (either military or equivalent
civil service); 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits
(35 years of age for those with military experience) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,443,341
females age 16-49: 4,441,124 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,150,043
females age 16-49: 3,404,988 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 236,500
female: 235,994 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 136
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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Malawi (Africa)
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
that came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and
subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial
economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the
legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant
legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population
growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and
the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.
Geography ::Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,484 sq km
country comparison to the world: 99
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary
with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
17.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)
per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most
prominent physical feature
People ::Malawi
Population:
14,268,711
country comparison to the world: 66
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, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.8% (male 3,272,790/female 3,258,893)
15-64 years: 51.5% (male 3,696,857/female 3,656,918)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 162,863/female 220,390) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 16.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.388% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Birth rate:
41.48 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Death rate:
17.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 19% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 89.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 14
male: 93.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.82 years
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 44.07 years
female: 43.57 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.59 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
930,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
68,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
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 plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European
Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka
9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 44
Government ::Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata
Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo,
Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 19 May 2009 (next
to be held in May 2014)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the
president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress of
Democrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Democratic Progressive Party or
DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO];
Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for
Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Maravi People's
Party [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New
Rainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party
[Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke
BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO];
Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front or
UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council
for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and
development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human
rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi
Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore
and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes
democracy, development, peace and unity)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE
chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a
radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:
no party has a majority in the fractured legislature
Economy ::Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and
least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural
with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture
accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues.
The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends
on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the
World Bank, and individual donor nations. In December 2007, the US
granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support
within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi
will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program
before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief
under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The
government faces many challenges including developing a market
economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to
environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of
HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is
being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an
anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government
has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of
Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year Poverty
Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF.
Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to
resume aid as well.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.95 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$10.9 billion (2007 est.)
$10.1 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.268 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
7.9% (2007 est.)
8.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
$800 (2007 est.)
$700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39.2%
industry: 16.8%
services: 44% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
5.747 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
53% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 67
Investment (gross fixed):
8.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Budget:
revenues: $1.254 billion
expenditures: $1.351 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
49.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
228.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
7.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
15% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.28% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
27.72% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$361.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$250.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$406.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$587.2 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - production:
1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - consumption:
1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - imports:
6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Current account balance:
-$241 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
-$75 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$830 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$721 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel
Exports - partners:
South Africa 14.2%, Egypt 9.8%, Zimbabwe 8.6%, US 7.4%, Netherlands
7%, Russia 5.7%, Germany 5.7% (2008)
Imports:
$1.587 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$1.323 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 41.5%, China 7.3%, India 6.1%, Tanzania 5.4%, US 4.1%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$185 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$217.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.005 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$894 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 142.41 (2008 est.), 141.12
(2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004)
Communications ::Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
236,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 122
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.781 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary
domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 2 per 100 persons;
privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step
in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in
2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network
coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile
cellular subscribership approaching 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one
shortwave station on standby) (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet hosts:
741 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
Internet users:
316,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
Transportation ::Malawi
Airports:
32 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Railways:
total: 797 km
country comparison to the world: 102
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 15,451 km
country comparison to the world: 122
paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
Waterways:
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 76
Ports and terminals:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military ::Malawi
Military branches:
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation
is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,732,621
females age 16-49: 1,562,107 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 174,044
female: 173,828 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 123
Transnational Issues ::Malawi
Disputes - international:
disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Malaysia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Malaysia
Background:
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established
colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these
were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled
territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,
which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when
the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian
states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined
the Federation. The first several years of the country's history
were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with
Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from
the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister
MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in
diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials
to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography ::Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern
one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and
the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,847 sq km
country comparison to the world: 66
land: 328,657 sq km
water: 1,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate: