December 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
was elected for a five-year term by the House of Representatives
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI
(since 12 May 1987) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime
Minister (since 14 May 1987) and Foreign Minister (since 1990) Dr.
Guido DE MARCO
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on advice of the
prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives: elections last held 22 February 1992 (next
to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats -
(usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given
to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative
majority; current total: 69 (NP 36, MLP 33 after adjustment)
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal,
judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party (NP), Edward
FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr.
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
======================================================================
@Man, Isle of
------------
(British crown dependency)
Map
---
Location: 54 15 N, 4 30 W -- Western Europe, island in the Irish
Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
Flag
----
Description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in
the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the
knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of
the flag, a two-sided emblem is used
Geography
---------
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland
Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 588 sq km
land area: 588 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 113 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half
the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 620 m
Natural resources: lead, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the
southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
People
------
Population: 73,837 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 6,606; female 6,348)
15-64 years: 65% (male 23,917; female 23,815)
65 years and over: 17% (male 5,239; female 7,912) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 12.09 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 9.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.15 years
male: 73.56 years
female: 80.91 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Manxman, Manxwoman
adjective: Manx
Ethnic divisions: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: NA
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
Data code: IM
Type of government: British crown dependency
Capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United
Kingdom since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor
His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since NA 1995) who was appointed
for a five-year term by the queen
head of government: President of the Legislative Council Sir Charles
KERRUISH (since NA 1990); was elected by the Tynwald
cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald
Legislative Council: consists of a 10-member body composed of the
Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8
others named by the House of Keys
House of Keys: elections last held NA November 1991 (next to be held
NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (24 total)
independents 24
Judicial branch: High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by
the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant
governor
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members
sit as independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
Flag: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the
center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee;
in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the
flag, a two-sided emblem is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism
are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering
incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions
to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment
opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture
and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in
their shares of GDP. Banking now contributes about 45% to GDP. Trade
is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU
markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $780 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $10,800 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1992 est.)
Labor force: 31,829 (1991)
by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 11%, transport and
communication 6%, retail distribution 9%, professional and
scientific services 17%, public administration 7%, banking and
finance 8%
Unemployment rate: 1% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $130.4 million
expenditures: $114.4 million, including capital expenditures of
$18.1 million (1985 est.)
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 61,000 kW
production: 190 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,965 kWh (1992)
Agriculture: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Exports: $NA
commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
partners: UK
Imports: $NA
commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish
partners: UK
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Manx pound (LM) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1 - 0.6537 (January 1996),
0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652
(1991); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 52 km (27 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 640 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 320 km
Ports: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine:
total: 83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,099,888 GRT/3,569,632
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container 12,
liquefied gas tanker 8, oil tanker 18, passenger 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 13, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 10 ships, Switzerland
2, South Africa 2, Denmark 1, and Netherlands 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 41,000 (1995)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Marshall Islands
----------------
Map
---
Location: 9 00 N, 168 00 E -- Oceania, group of atolls and reefs
in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Papua New Guinea
Flag
----
Description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower
hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star
with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the
two stripes
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 181.3 sq km
land area: 181.3 sq km
comparative area: about the size of Washington, DC
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims US territory of Wake Island
Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border
typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep
seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 60%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: occasional typhoons
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Geographic note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and
1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
missile test range
People
------
Population: 58,363 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 51% (male 15,043; female 14,435)
15-64 years: 47% (male 14,084; female 13,399)
65 years and over: 2% (male 657; female 745) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.85% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 45.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 46.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.81 years
male: 62.25 years
female: 65.45 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic divisions: Micronesian
Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official
language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian
family, Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 93%
male: 100%
female: 88%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)
Data code: RM
Type of government: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21
October 1986
Capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, 1 May (1979)
Constitution: 1 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 and head of government: President Amata KABUA (since
NA 1979) was elected for a four-year term by the Nitijela from among
its own members; election last held 20 November 1995 (next to be
held NA 1999); results - President Amata KABUA was reelected
cabinet: Cabinet; president selects from among the members of
Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Nitijela): elections last held 20 November 1995 (next to
be held NA November 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33
total) seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
government: Our Islands Party, President Amata KABUA
opposition: Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan PLAISTED
embassy: Oceanside, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379; Majuro, 20521-4380 (pouch)
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side
corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four
large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of
the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms,
and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes,
melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic
meat market. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish
processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of
foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.
The government is drafting economic reforms designed to increase
revenue and compensate for reductions in US Government grants - in
1994, the US Government provided grants of $50 million, equal to 55%
of the Marshall Islands' GDP. About 25% of the government's 1995/96
budget is devoted to debt repayment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $94 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,680 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 4,800 (1986)
by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $67.2 million
expenditures: $79.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood,
and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 42,000 kW
production: 80 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,840 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs,
chickens
Exports: $21.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: coconut oil, fish, live animals, trochus shells
partners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: $69.9 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and
tobacco, fuels
partners: US, Japan, Australia
External debt: $170 million (1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the
US is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports: Majuro
Merchant marine:
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,068,782 GRT/5,073,125
DWT
ships by type: bulk carrier 43, cargo 4, combination ore/oil 1,
container 17, oil tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 16
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 5
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 800 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: telex services
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be
established); Police Force
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Martinique
----------
(overseas department of France)
Map
---
Location: 14 40 N, 61 00 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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
Geography
---------
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 1,100 sq km
land area: 1,060 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to
October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every
eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 8%
meadows and pastures: 30%
forest and woodland: 26%
other: 26%
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
average of one major natural disaster every five years)
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: 399,151 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 46,851; female 45,300)
15-64 years: 67% (male 132,161; female 135,707)
65 years and over: 10% (male 16,542; female 22,590) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.1% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.85 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.81 years
male: 76.07 years
female: 81.68 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
total population: 93%
male: 92%
female: 93%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique
Data code: MB
Type of government: overseas department of France
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 (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA) was appointed by the
French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile
CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992);
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
Regional Assembly
General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total)
number of seats by party NA; note - the PPM won a plurality
Regional Assembly: elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be
held by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(41 total) RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to
be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (4 total) RPR 2, UDF 1, PPM 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alex
URSULET; Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP); Martinique
Progressive Party (PPM), Aime CESAIRE; Socialist Federation of
Martinique (FSM), Jean CRUSOL; Martinique Communist Party (PCM),
George ERICHOT; Martinique Patriots (PM); Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Miguel LAVENTURE; Martinique Independence Movement (MIM),
Alfred MARIE-JEANNE; Republican Party (PR), Jean BAILLY