The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on
tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and
accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts for about
4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent on
imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports
consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $53.7 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
3% (1987)
Budget:
revenues:
$12.1 million
expenditures:
$14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988
est.)
Exports:
$2.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants,
cattle
partners:
NA
Imports:
$80.6 million (f.o.b.,1992)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
partners:
NA
External debt:
$2.05 million (1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
5,271 kW
production:
12 million kWh
consumption per capita:
950 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Agriculture:
accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops - tomatoes,
onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock
products
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $90 million
Currency:
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Montserrat, Communications
Highways:
total:
280 km
paved:
200 km
unpaved:
gravel, earth 80 km
Ports:
Plymouth
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV
@Montserrat, Defense Forces
Branches:
Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Morocco, Geography
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean
Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
446,550 sq km
land area:
446,300 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved;
the UN is attempting to hold a referendum; the UN-administered
cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991; Spain
controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off
the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which
Morocco contests as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon
de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
mostly mountains with rich coastal plains
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land:
18%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
28%
forest and woodland:
12%
other:
41%
Irrigated land:
12,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming
of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water
supplies contaminated by untreated sewage; siltation of reservoirs;
oil pollution of coastal waters
natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
Note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
@Morocco, People
Population:
28,558,635 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.12% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
28.59 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
49.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
68.23 years
male:
66.36 years
female:
70.2 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.83 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Moroccan(s)
adjective:
Moroccan
Ethnic divisions:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of
business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
50%
male:
61%
female:
38%
Labor force:
7.4 million
by occupation:
agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)
@Morocco, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form:
Morocco
local long form:
Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form:
Al Maghrib
Digraph:
MO
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Rabat
Administrative divisions:
37 provinces and 5 municipalities* (wilayas, singular - wilaya);
Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane,
Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia,
Essaouira, Fes, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset,
Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Marrakech*, Meknes,
Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi
Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan,
Tiznit
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King Hassan II's
accession to the throne)
Constitution:
10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
head of government:
Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the King
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab):
elections last held 15 June 1993 (direct popular vote) and 17
September 1993 (indirect special interest vote); next to be held NA
1999; results - seats (333 total), direct popular vote (222 seats)
USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3,
SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect special interest vote (111 seats) UC 27,
MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6,
USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
opposition:
Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), leader NA; Istiqlal Party
(IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali
YATA; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), leader NA
pro-government:
Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID; Popular Movement (MP),
Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane
EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement, Mahjoubi AHARDANE
independents:
National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN; Democracy and
Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA), leader NA;
Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA
labor unions and community organizations (indirect
elections:
Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), leader NA; General Union of
Moroccan Workers (UGTM), leader NA; Moroccan Union of Workers (UTM),
leader NA; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, leader NA
Member of:
ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA,
FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LORCS, OAS (observer), NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery:
1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009;
telephone:
(202) 462-7979 through 7982
FAX:
(202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG
embassy:
2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
mailing address:
PSC 74, Box 003 APO AE 09718
telephone:
[212] (7) 76-22-65
FAX:
[212] (7) 76-56-61
consulate(s) general:
Casablanca
Flag:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional
color of Islam
@Morocco, Economy
Overview:
Morocco faces the typical problems of developing
countries--restraining government spending, reducing constraints on
private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within
bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic
program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World
Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The economy has substantial
assets to draw on: the world's largest phosphate reserves, diverse
agricultural and fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a
growing manufacturing sector, and large remittances from Moroccans
working abroad. However, a severe drought in 1992-93 has depressed
economic activity and held down experts. Real GDP contracted by 2.9%
in 1992, and growth for 1993 is estimated at only 2%. Despite these
setbacks, initiatives to relax capital controls, strengthen the
banking sector, and privatize state enterprises went forward in 1993.
Servicing the large debt, high unemployment, and vulnerability to
external economic forces remain long-term problems for Morocco.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $70.3 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$7.5 billion
expenditures:
$7.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1992
est.)
Exports:
$5.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%,
phosphates 17%
partners:
EC 64%, India 6%, Japan 4%, US 3%
Imports:
$8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel
and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9%
partners:
EC 63%, US 6%, Saudi Arabia 4%, FSU 4%, Japan 1%
External debt:
$21.3 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.1% (year NA); accounts for 31% of GDP (1991)
Electricity:
capacity:
2,384,000 kW
production:
8.864 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
317 kWh (1992)
Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods,
textiles, construction, tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 14% of GDP, 50% of employment, and 30% of export value;
not self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and livestock raising
predominate; barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine, vegetables, olives
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both
domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly
directed to Western Europe; occasional transit point for cocaine from
South America destined for Western Europe.
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3 billion; US
commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $123.6 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.5 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4.8 billion; Communist countries
(1970-89), $2.5 billion
note:
$2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991); IMF standby
agreement worth $13 million; World Bank, $450 million (1991)
Currency:
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.669 (January 1994), 9.299 (1993),
8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Morocco, Communications
Railroads:
1,893 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (246 km double track, 974 km
electrified)
Highways:
total:
59,198 km
paved:
27,740 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, improved earth, unimproved earth 31,458 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km; natural gas
241 km
Ports:
Agadir, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi,
Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Merchant marine:
47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 226,369 GRT/335,089 DWT, cargo
9, chemical tanker 11, container 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo
12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 2
Airports:
total:
73
usable:
64
with permanent-surface runways:
26
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
13
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
25
Telecommunications:
good system composed of wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay
links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers
are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan; 280,000 telephones
(10.5 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 20 AM, 7 FM,
26 TV and 26 repeaters; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations -
2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; microwave radio relay to
Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave to
Algeria; microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt,
Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco
@Morocco, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan Air Force,
Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 7,076,261; fit for military service 4,494,641; reach
military age (18) annually 317,093 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1993 budget)
@Mozambique, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel between South Africa
and Tanzania opposite the island of Madagascar
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
801,590 sq km
land area:
784,090 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total 4,571 km, Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105
km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
2,470 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in
northwest, mountains in west
Natural resources:
coal, titanium
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
56%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
20%
Irrigated land:
1,150 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
civil strife in the hinterlands has resulted in increased migration to
urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters
natural hazards:
severe drought and floods occur in central and southern provinces
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
@Mozambique, People
Population:
17,346,280 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
5.87% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
44.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
16.33 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
30.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
128.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
48.49 years
male:
46.63 years
female:
50.41 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.25 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Mozambican(s)
adjective:
Mozambican
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous tribal groups, Europeans about 10,000, Euro-Africans
35,000, Indians 15,000
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 60%, Christian 30%, Muslim 10%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
33%
male:
45%
female:
21%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
90% engaged in agriculture
@Mozambique, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form:
Mozambique
local long form:
Republica Popular de Mocambique
local short form:
Mocambique
Digraph:
MZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Maputo
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza,
Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986)
head of government:
Prime Minister Mario da Graca MACHUNGO (since 17 July 1986)
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica); draft
electoral law provides for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly
elections
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), Joaquim Alberto
CHISSANO, chairman; formerly a Marxist organization with close ties to
the USSR; FRELIMO was the only legal party before 30 November 1990,
when the new Constitution went into effect establishing a multiparty
system
note:
under the terms of the 1992 peace accords multiparty elections are
scheduled for October 1994; 11 parties, including the Mozambique
National Resistance (RENAMO), Alfonso DHLAKAMA, president, are
registered to participate
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Hipolito Pereira Zozimo PATRICIO
chancery:
Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 293-7146
FAX:
(202) 835-0245
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dennis JETT
embassy:
Avenida Kenneth Kuanda, 193 Maputo
mailing address:
P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone:
[258] (1) 49-27-97
FAX:
[258] (1) 49-01-14
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a
red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is
edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star
bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white
book
@Mozambique, Economy
Overview:
One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has failed to exploit
the economic potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and
transportation resources. Indeed, national output, consumption, and
investment declined throughout the first half of the 1980s because of
internal disorders, lack of government administrative control, and a
growing foreign debt. A sharp increase in foreign aid, attracted by an
economic reform policy, resulted in successive years of economic
growth in the late 1980s, but aid has declined steadily since 1989.
Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and grain has to
be imported. Industry operates at only 20-40% of capacity. The economy
depends heavily on foreign assistance to keep afloat. Peace accords
signed in October 1992 improved chances of foreign investment, aided
IMF-supported economic reforms, and supported continued economic
recovery.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $9.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
40% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
50% (1989 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$252 million
expenditures:
$607 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
$164.4 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
shrimp 48%, cashews 21%, sugar 10%, copra 3%, citrus 3%
partners:
US, Western Europe, Germany, Japan
Imports:
$1.03 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
partners:
US, Western Europe, USSR
External debt:
$5 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5% (1989 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
2,270,000 kW
production:
1.745 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
115 kWh (1991)
Industries:
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum
products, textiles, nonmetallic mineral products (cement, glass,
asbestos), tobacco
Agriculture:
accounts for 50% of GDP and about 90% of exports; cash crops - cotton,
cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, shrimp; other crops - cassava, corn,
rice, tropical fruits; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $350 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $37 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $890 million
Currency:
1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 4,941.3 (October 1993), 2,550.40 (1992),
1,763.99 (1991), 1,053.09 (1990), 844.34 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Mozambique, Communications
Railroads:
3,288 km total; 3,140 km 1.067-meter gauge; 148 km 0.762-meter narrow
gauge; Malawi-Nacala, Malawi-Beira, and Zimbabwe-Maputo lines are
subject to closure because of insurgency
Highways:
total:
26,498 km
paved:
4,593 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 829 km; unimproved earth
21,076 km
Inland waterways:
about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Pipelines:
crude oil (not operating) 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
Ports:
Maputo, Beira, Nacala
Merchant marine:
4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,686 GRT/9,742 DWT
Airports:
total:
194
usable:
134
with permanent-surface runways:
24
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
28
Telecommunications:
fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines, and radio relay;
broadcast stations - 29 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; earth stations - 2 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic Indian Ocean INTELSAT
@Mozambique, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia
note:
as of early 1994, Mozambique was demobilizing and reorganizing its
defence forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 3,890,532; fit for military service 2,233,824
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $118 million, 8% of GDP (1993)
@Namibia, Geography