members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of
candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties
gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held
NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VMRO
49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected
by the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of
president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
International organization participation: BIS (pending member),
CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA
chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending
to the edges of the red field
Economy
Economy--overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived
Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large
transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign
aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued
recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to
redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to
maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can
meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of
its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,050 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.4%
industry: 38.6%
services: 41% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note--many employed workers
are, in fact, furloughees
Budget:
revenues: $1.06 billion
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107
million (1996 est.)
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel,
textiles, wood products, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 19.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton,
sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry,
mutton
Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machinery
and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%
Exports--partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics,
Germany, Italy
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%,
fuels 12%
Imports--partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany,
Bulgaria, Italy, Austria
Debt--external: $1.06 billion (June 1997)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $100 million (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni
Exchange rates: denars per US$1--52.156 (January 1999), 54.462
(1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 125,000
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations
and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 922 km
standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)
Highways:
total: 10,591 km
paved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police
Force
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 539,329 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 17,291 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $71 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Greece over name; in
September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving
their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions;
Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia; the border commission formed by The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April
1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border
has made no progress so far; Albanians in Macedonia claim
discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and
representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA),
which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite
of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and
allow for regional autonomy
Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine
destined for Europe
======================================================================
@Madagascar
----------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in
center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt,
quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment--current issues: soil erosion results from
deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water
contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several
species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location
along Mozambique Channel
People
Population: 14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056)
15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209)
65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.24 years
male: 52.01 years
female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups: 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:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 88%
female: 73% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
Data code: MA
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo,
Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
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 Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO
(since NA 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates
nominated by the National Assembly
election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of
vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms); note--the legislature is scheduled to
become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate;
two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional
assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the
remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president;
the total number of seats will be determined by the National
Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms
elections: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held
NA 2002)
election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6,
MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents
34
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High
Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of
RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or
and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo
RAZANAMASY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of
Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair
Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T.
PERLOW
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition,
underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual
population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied
by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the
mainstay of the economy, accounting for 32% of GDP and contributing
more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile
manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in
output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the
population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and
demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic
commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable
obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its
considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms,
outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key
determinants.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 13%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1997)
Labor force: 7 million (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $477 million
expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264
million (1996 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar,
textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1993 est.)
Electricity--production: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.18%
hydro: 58.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa,
rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish,
sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
Exports--partners: France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%,
Reunion 5.7% (1996)
Imports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods
28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
Imports--partners: France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%,
Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)
Debt--external: $4.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $298.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January
1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6
(1995), 3,067.3 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 34,000 (1994)
Telephone system: system is above average for Africa
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter links
international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth
stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.74 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 36
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 280,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 883 km
narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 49,837 km
paved: 5,781 km
unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small
portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga,
Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1,
oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 133 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 104
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 59
under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention
Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces--includes Navy and Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,415,726 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 144,779 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $29 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all
administered by France)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point
for heroin
======================================================================
@Malawi
------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 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: 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 3,002 m
Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 10,000,416 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,265,526; female 2,246,135)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,580,125; female 2,637,464)
65 years and over: 3% (male 112,813; female 158,353) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 23.84 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 132.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.3 years
male: 36.49 years
female: 36.11 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups: 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:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.4%
male: 71.9%
female: 41.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: Nyasaland
Data code: MI
Government type: multiparty democracy
Capital: Lilongwe
Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe,
Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba,
Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima,
Thyolo, Zomba
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6
July (1966)
Constitution: 18 May 1995
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
election results: Bakili MULUZI elected president; percent of vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (177 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UDF
84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note--because of defections and
byelections, the distribution of seats in the National Assembly had
changed at the end of the 1996 as follows: UDF 84, MCP 47, AFORD 34,
independents 8, and vacant 4
note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the
age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years,
provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the
existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected
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:
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008