Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.27 years
male: 76.47 years
female: 82.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%,
white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 92%
female: 93% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique
Data code: MB
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998)
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Assembly--last held on NA March 1998 (next to be
held by March 2004)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--NA; note--the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PS 2; Martinique
also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
League of Workers and Peasants; Association for the Protection of
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)
Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four
quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a
white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas,
tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of
GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has
declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of
rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk
of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported,
contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual
transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than
agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority
of the work force is employed in the service sector and in
administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.24 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,700 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)
Labor force: 160,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%,
services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $775 million
expenditures: $2.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $118
million (1996)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 855 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 855 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, sugarcane
Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum,
pineapples
Exports--partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs,
construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports--partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
Debt--external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual aid from
France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 209,672 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and
Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 74,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are nine
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,724 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1994)
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force),
Gendarmerie
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana
bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Mauritania
----------
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of
New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil
erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification;
very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal
which is the only perennial river
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: most of the population concentrated in the cities
of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country
People
Population: 2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225)
15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951)
65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.2 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 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.48 years
male: 47.39 years
female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
(official), French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Data code: MR
Government type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular--region)
and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou,
Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri,
Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern
law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
(since 16 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December
2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
reelected with 90% of the vote
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000);
National Assembly--last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme
Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed
12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based;
emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union
MOHAMED, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT
(associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER
embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
Flag description: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a
yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is
down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of
Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: A majority of the population still depends on
agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the
nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by
recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive
deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports.
The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to
cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the
richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by
foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first
deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years,
drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial
buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage
of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank,
the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are
uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population
growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,890 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 31%
services: 43% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1996)
Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%,
industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $329 million
expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)
Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80%
hydro: 20%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 150 million kWh (1996
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle,
sheep; fish products
Exports: $562 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold
Exports--partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%
Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, capital goods
Imports--partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US
3%
Debt--external: $2.5 billion (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $227.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999),
151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor
microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 50,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 704 km (single track); note--owned and operated by government
mining company
standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 26 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $30 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Mauritius
---------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 1,860 sq km
land: 1,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area--comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry
winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely
surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment--current issues: water pollution
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,182,212 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 156,616; female 153,698)
15-64 years: 68% (male 398,557; female 402,674)
65 years and over: 6% (male 28,586; female 42,081) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.18% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
male: 67.21 years
female: 74.96 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,
Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%,
Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu,
Hakka, Bojpoori
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
Data code: MP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*;
Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq,
Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis,
Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice
President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27
December 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next
to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president and are responsible to the National
Assembly
election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi
Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the
National Assembly--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats--62
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from
the losing political parties to give representation to various
ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by
December 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%,
other 15%; seats by party--MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on
Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1,
Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
RAMGOOLAM]
Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD
Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008