The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low
inflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small
but highly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until
recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified,
particularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade,
growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the
decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing
proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic
union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters, is also
closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and as a member of
the 12-member European Union enjoys the advantages of the open
European market.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.7 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
1% (1993)
National product per capita:
$22,600 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (March 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
$3.5 billion
expenditures:
$3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
$6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum,
other industrial products
partners:
EC 76%, US 5%
Imports:
$8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
partners:
Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%
External debt:
$131.6 million (1989 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
1,238,750 kW
production:
1.375 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
3,450 kWh (1990)
Industries:
banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products,
engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Agriculture:
accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry); principal
products - barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; cattle
raising widespread
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 36.242 (January 1994), 34.597
(1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989);
note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which
circulates freely in Luxembourg
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Luxembourg, Communications
Railroads:
Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 272 km 1,435-mm standard
gauge; 178 km double track; 197 km electrified
Highways:
total:
5,108 km
paved:
4,995 km (including 80 km of limited access divided highway)
unpaved:
gravel 57 km; earth 56 km
Inland waterways:
37 km; Moselle River
Pipelines:
petroleum products 48 km
Ports:
Mertert (river port)
Merchant marine:
50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,477,998 GRT/2,424,994 DWT,
bulk 8, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 6, combination
ore/oil 2, container 4, liquefied gas 9, oil tanker 5, passenger 2,
refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly
buried cables; 230,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3
TV; 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable; 1
direct-broadcast satellite earth station; nationwide mobile phone
system
@Luxembourg, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 103,872; fit for military service 86,026; reach
military age (19) annually 2,235 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.2% of GDP (1992)
@Macau
Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of Portugal)
@Macau, Geography
Location:
Eastern Asia, 27 km west-southwest of Hong Kong on the southeast coast
of China bordering the South China Sea
Map references:
Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
16 sq km
land area:
16 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
International disputes:
none
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Ozone Layer Protection
Note:
essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands
to the peninsula on mainland
@Macau, People
Population:
484,557 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.35% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
14.78 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.12 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
79.75 years
male:
77.33 years
female:
82.3 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Macanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Macau
Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions:
Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2%
(1981)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
90%
male:
93%
female:
86%
Labor force:
180,000 (1986)
by occupation:
NA
@Macau, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Macau
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ilha de Macau
Digraph:
MC
Type:
overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital:
Macau
Administrative divisions:
2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence:
none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China
on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the
joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social
and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition)
National holiday:
Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution:
17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by
Beijing awaiting final approval
Legal system:
Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986)
head of government:
Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991)
cabinet:
Consultative Council; consists of five members appointed by the
governor, two nominated by the governor, five members elected for a
four-year term (2 represent administrative bodies, 1 represents moral,
cultural, and welfare interests, and 2 economic interests), and three
statuatory members
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Assembly:
elections last held on 10 March 1991; results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (23 total; 8 elected by universal suffrage, 8 by
indirect suffrage, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by
party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center;
Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group
Other political or pressure groups:
wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy
pro-Communist merchants representing China's interests; in January
1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China
veto power over administration
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), WTO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
US diplomatic representation:
the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag:
the flag of Portugal is used
@Macau, Economy
Overview:
The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and
textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned
other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics.
The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the
clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings;
the gambling industry represented well over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau
depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy
imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials
and capital goods.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
12% (1992)
National product per capita:
$7,300 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$305 million
expenditures:
$298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Exports:
$1.8 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
textiles, clothing, toys
partners:
US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8% (1992
est.)
Imports:
$2 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
partners:
Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
External debt:
$91 million (1985)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
258,000 kW
production:
855 million kWh
consumption per capita:
1,806 kWh (1992)
Industries:
clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Agriculture:
rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables, meat; depends
mostly on imports for food requirements
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates:
patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991-93), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989);
note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per
Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Macau, Communications
Highways:
total:
42 km
paved:
42 km
Ports:
Macau
Airports:
none usable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
Telecommunications:
fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and
international services; 52,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM,
3 FM, no TV (TV programs received from Hong Kong); 115,000 radio
receivers (est.); international high-frequency radio communication
facility; access to international communications carriers provided via
Hong Kong and China; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Macau, Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 139,499; fit for military service 77,887
Note:
defense is responsibility of Portugal
@Madagascar, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of
Mozambique
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
587,040 sq km
land area:
581,540 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
58%
forest and woodland:
26%
other:
11%
Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with untreated sewage and
other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the
island are endangered
natural hazards:
subject to periodic cyclones
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
@Madagascar, People
Population:
13,427,758 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.19% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
45.22 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
13.35 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
89 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
53.98 years
male:
52.06 years
female:
55.96 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:
Malagasy
Ethnic divisions:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
80%
male:
88%
female:
73%
Labor force:
4.9 million (90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence
agriculture; 175,000 wage earners)
by occupation:
agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%,
construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)
@Madagascar, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:
Madagascar
local long form:
Republique de Madagascar
local short form:
Madagascar
former:
Malagasy Republic
Digraph:
MA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga,
Toamasina, Toliary
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993); election last held on 10
February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD),
67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
head of government:
Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
Senate:
(Senat) two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled by an
electoral college made up of representatives of territorial
collectivities; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential
appointment, following nomination by economic, social, and cultural
groups; the selection of senators was scheduled for March 1994
National Assembly:
(Assemblee Nationale) elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be
held June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (138
total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7,
various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8
note:
the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and
early 1993 in preparation for new legislative elections. In its place,
an interim High Authority of State and a Social and Economic Recovery
Council have been established
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour
Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders:
Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an alliance of National Union for
Development and Democracy (UNDD), Support Group for Democracy and
Development in Madagascar (CSDDM), Action and Reflection Group for the
Development of Madagascar (Grad), Congress Party for Madagascar
Independence - Renewal (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other
anti-Ratsiraka oppositon parties, trade unions, and religious groups;
leader Dr. Albert ZAFY; Militant Party for the Development of
Madagascar (PMDM/MFM; formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power),
Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for
Development (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United
Malagasys (Famima); Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre
TSIRANANA
Other political or pressure groups:
National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO
chancery:
2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-5525 or 5526
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT
embassy:
14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address:
B. P. 620, Antananarivo
telephone:
[261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18
FAX:
261-234-539
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side
@Madagascar, Economy
Overview:
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture,
including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy,
accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total
export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of
agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted
for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year
development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice)
by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports.
Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of
protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political
reform.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $10.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$250 million
expenditures:
$265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum
products
partners:
France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US
Imports:
$350 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%,
consumer goods 14%, food 13%
partners:
France, Germany, UK, other EC, US
External debt:
$4.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
125,000 kW
production:
450 million kWh
consumption per capita:
35 kWh (1991)
Industries:
agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries,
tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries
(textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
petroleum
Agriculture:
accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane,
cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts;
cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
Currency:
1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,965.8 (January 1994), 1,864.0
(1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Madagascar, Communications
Railroads:
1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
40,000 km
paved:
4,694 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth 34,495 km
(est.)
Inland waterways:
of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal
des Pangalanes
Ports:
Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara
Merchant marine:
10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,620 GRT/33,173 DWT, cargo 5,
chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 2
Airports:
total:
140
usable:
105
with permanent-surface runways:
30
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
37
Telecommunications:
above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio
relay, and troposcatter links; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite
earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and broadcast stations - 17
AM, 3 FM, 1 (36 repeaters) TV
@Madagascar, Defense Forces
Branches:
Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development
Forces, Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie,
Presidential Security Regiment
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,924,829; fit for military service 1,739,830; reach
military age (20) annually 124,652 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)
@Malawi, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and Zambia
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
118,480 sq km
land area:
94,080 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total 2,881 km, Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains
Natural resources:
limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land:
25%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
50%
other:
5%
Irrigated land:
200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
endangers fish population
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
landlocked
@Malawi, People
Population:
9,732,409 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-1.09% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
50.42 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
23.19 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-38.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
141.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
39.73 years
male:
38.93 years
female:
40.55 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.43 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Malawian(s)
adjective:
Malawian
Ethnic divisions:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian,
European
Religions:
Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditional indigenous
beliefs
Languages:
English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important
regionally
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
total population:
22%
male:
34%
female:
12%
Labor force:
428,000 wage earners
by occupation:
agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services 15%, commerce
9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other permanently
employed 6% (1986)
@Malawi, Government