Labor force: 37.5 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 28.8%, agriculture, forestry,
hunting, and fishing 21.8%, commerce 17.1%, manufacturing 16.1%,
construction 5.2%, public administration and national defense 4.4%,
transportation and communications 4.1%
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1998) urban; plus considerable
underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $117 billion
expenditures: $123 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and
steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles,
consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 154.395 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 71.46%
hydro: 20.16%
nuclear: 4.85%
other: 3.53% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 154.448 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.263 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.316 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton,
coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports: $117.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond
industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)
Exports--commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver,
engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics
Exports--partners: US 87.5%, Canada 1.3%, Japan 0.8%, Spain 0.6%,
Chile 0.6%, Brazil 0.5% (1998 est.)
Imports: $111.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond
industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)
Imports--commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products,
agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for
assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft
parts
Imports--partners: US 74.2%, Japan 3.7%, Germany 3.7%, Canada
1.8%, South Korea 1.5%, Italy 1.3%, France 1.2% (1998 est.)
Debt--external: $154 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.166 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1--10.1104 (January
1999), 9.1360 (1998), 7.9141 (1997), 7.5994(1996), 6.4194 (1995),
3.3751 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive
microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened to
competition January 1997
domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,
but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with
120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in November
1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improved
access to South America, Central America and much of the US as well
as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central American
Microwave System of trunk connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 824 (1999 est.), FM 500 (1998 est.),
shortwave 19 (1999 est.)
Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 236 (not including repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 31,048 km
standard gauge: 30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 252,000 km
paved: 94,248 km (including 6,740 km of expressways)
unpaved: 157,752 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km;
natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada,
Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso,
Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,004 GRT/1,236,475
DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 28, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,805 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 232
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 78
under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,573
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
914 to 1,523 m: 468
under 914 m: 1,040 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army
and Air Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 25,675,266 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 18,675,524 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,085,042 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.3% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in
1998--5,500 hectares; potential production--60 metric tons) and
cannabis cultivation in 1998--4,600 hectares; government eradication
efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major
supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the
primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South
America; involved in the production and distribution of
methamphetamines
======================================================================
@Micronesia, Federated States of
-------------------------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae
Area--comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the
eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasionally severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands
to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and
Truk
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Totolom 791 m
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People
Population: 131,500 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.48 years
male: 66.52 years
female: 70.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%
Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands)
abbreviation: FSM
Data code: FM
Government type: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3
November 1986
Capital: Palikir
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae,
Pohnpei, Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of
Micronesia, 10 May (1979)
Constitution: 10 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July
1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM
(since 9 May 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state
and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting
president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a
stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as
provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still
unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;
he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA
July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM
(since 9 May 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state
and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting
president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a
stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as
provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still
unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;
he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last
held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note--because of the
vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to
become acting president, a new election to fill the position of vice
president for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May
1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)
election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of
Congress vote--NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of
Congress vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members
elected by popular vote; four--one elected from each of state--to
serve four-year terms and 10--elected from single-member districts
delineated by population--to serve two-year terms)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995
(next to be held 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats
last held 3 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT
embassy: address NA, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of
Micronesia 96941
Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars
centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity consists primarily of
subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral
deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The
potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the
location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development.
Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue,
with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s.
Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are
major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$220 million (1996 est.)
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100
million annually
GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,760 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items
from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: black pepper, tropical fruits and
vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs,
chickens
Exports: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports--partners: Japan, US, Guam
Imports: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and
equipment, beverages
Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia
Debt--external: $129 million
Economic aid--recipient: $77.4 million (1995); note?under terms of
the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in
grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 960
Telephone system:
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a
sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM
is totally dependent on the US for its defense
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Midway Islands
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 6.2 sq km
land: 6.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Area--comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 4 m
Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife
refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the
form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing,
snorkeling, and scuba diving
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands
Data code: MQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly
administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has
been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October
1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and
control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based on providing support
services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the
islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation
Highways:
total: 32 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Moldova
-------
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Nistru River 2 m
highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 53%
permanent crops: 14%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment--current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals,
including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and
groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,460,838 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 555,096; female 535,625)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,408,334; female 1,529,542)
65 years and over: 10% (male 160,317; female 271,924) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.39 years
male: 59.76 years
female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian
13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians in the Transdniester
region
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only
about 1,000 members) (1991)
note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldovans
Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 99%
female: 94% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Data code: MD
Government type: republic
Capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: 40 raions (singular--raion) and 4
municipalities*; Anenii Noi, Balti*, Basarabeasca, Bender*, Briceni,
Cahul, Cainari, Calarasi, Camenca, Cantemir, Causeni, Ceadir-Lunga,
Chisinau*, Cimislia, Comrat, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Grigoriopol, Hincesti, Ialoveni,
Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Ribnita, Riscani, Singerei,
Slobozia, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia,
Telenesti, Tiraspol*, Ungheni, Vulcanesti
note: in accordance with the Law on Territorial Administrative
Reform, the 40 raions have been reorganized into 9 counties
(judets), one municipality*, and 2 territorial units**: Baltsi,
Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubossary district (Transnistria)**,
Edinets, Gagauzia**, Lapushna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni; the
status of the Dubossary district is still under negotiation
Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991
Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old
Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court
reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal