Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Maldivian(s); adjective--Maldivian
Ethnic divisions: admixtures of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and black
Religion: Sunni Muslim
Language: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic); English
spoken by most government officials
Literacy: 36%
Labor force: 66,000 (est.); 80% engaged in fishing industry
Organized labor: none
- Government
Long-form name: Republic of Maldives
Type: republic
Capital: Male
Administrative divisions: 19 district (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu,
Gaafu
Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu,
Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Constitution: 4 June 1964
Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Executive branch: president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis)
Judicial branch: High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
(since since 11 November 1978)
Political parties and leaders: no organized political parties; country
governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Elections:
President--last held 23 September 1988 (next to be held September
1994);
results--President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom reelected;
Citizens' Council--last held on 7 December 1984 (next to be held
7 December 1989);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(48 total, 40 elected)
Communists: negligible
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth (special member), ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD,
IFC, IMF, IMO, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Maldives does not maintain an embassy
in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York;
US--the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and
makes periodic visits there; US Consular Agency, Mahduedurage, Violet
Magu, Henveru, Male; telephone 2581
Flag: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical
white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
- Economy
Overview: The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping.
Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide
only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 80%
of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an
important source of government revenue. During the 1980s tourism has become one
of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988
industry accounted for about 14% of GDP. Real GDP is officially
estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during the period
1974-86, and GDP estimates for 1988 show a further growth of 9% on
the strength of a record fish catch and an improved tourist season.
GDP: $136 million, per capita $670; real growth rate 9.2% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $51 million; expenditures $50 million, including
capital expenditures of $25 million (1988 est.)
Exports: $47.0 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--fish 57%,
clothing 39%; partners--Thailand, Western Europe, Sri Lanka
Imports: $90.0 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--
intermediate and capital goods 47%, consumer goods 42%, petroleum products 11%;
partners--Japan, Western Europe, Thailand
External debt: $70 million (December 1988)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (1988 est.)
Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced,
50 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat
building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope),
handicrafts
Agriculture: accounts for almost 30% of GDP (including fishing);
fishing more important than farming; limited production of coconuts, corn,
sweet potatoes; most staple foods must be imported
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $84 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million
Currency: rufiyaa (plural--rufiyaa); 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laaris
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1--9.3043 (January 1990),
9.0408 (1989), 8.7846 (1988), 9.2230 (1987), 7.1507 (1986), 7.0981 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications
Highways: Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city
Ports: Male, Gan
Merchant marine: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,066
GRT/112,480 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum, oils, and
lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 bulk
Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft
Airports: 2 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
Telecommunications: minimal domestic and international facilities;
2,325 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
station
- Defense Forces
Branches: no military force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 49,261; 27,519 fit for military
service
Defense expenditures: $1.8 million (1984 est.)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Mali
- Geography
Total area: 1,240,000 km2; land area: 1,220,000 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 7,243 km total; Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km,
Guinea 858 km, Ivory Coast 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal
419 km
Coastline: none--landlocked
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
Disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was
submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the
ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept;
Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including
the tripoint with Niger
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,
humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna
in south, rugged hills in northeast
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone,
uranium; bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known
but not exploited
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 25% meadows and
pastures; 7% forest and woodland; 66% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons;
desertification
Note: landlocked
- People
Population: 8,142,373 (July 1990), growth rate 2.3% (1990)
Birth rate: 51 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 116 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 47 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Malian(s); adjective--Malian
Ethnic divisions: 50% Mande (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), 17% Peul, 12%
Voltaic, 6% Songhai, 5% Tuareg and Moor, 10% other
Religion: 90% Muslim, 9% indigenous beliefs, 1% Christian
Language: French (official); Bambara spoken by about 80% of the
population; numerous African languages
Literacy: 18%
Labor force: 2,666,000 (1986 est.); 80% agriculture, 19% services,
1% industry and commerce (1981); 50% of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor: National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM) is umbrella
organization for over 13 national unions
- Government
Long-form name: Republic of Mali
Type: republic; single-party constitutional government
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 7 regions (regions, singular--region); Gao,
Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou; note--there may be a new
capital district of Bamako
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France; formerly French Sudan)
Constitution: 2 June 1974, effective 19 June 1979; amended September 1981
and March 1985
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of State; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic,
22 September (1960)
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemble Nationale)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. Moussa TRAORE
(since 6 December 1968)
Political parties and leaders: only party--Democratic Union of
Malian People (UDPM)
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Elections:
President--last held on 9 June 1985 (next to be held June 1991);
results--General Moussa Traore was reelected without opposition;
National Assembly--last held on 26 June 1988 (next to be held June
1991); results--UDPM is the only party; seats--(82 total) UDPM 82
Communists: a few Communists and some sympathizers (no legal Communist
party)
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto),
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU,
OIC, OMVS (Organization for the Development of the Senegal River
Valley), UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO,
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Alhousseyni TOURE; Chancery
at 2130 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-2249 or
939-8950;
US--Ambassador Robert M. PRINGLE; Embassy at Rue Testard and
Rue Mohamed V., Bamako (mailing address is B. P. 34, Bamako); telephone 225834
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and
red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
- Economy
Overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about
80% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely
confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the
population lives as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in
agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on
processing farm commodities.
GDP: $1.94 billion, per capita $220; real growth rate - 0.9% (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% (1987)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $338 million; expenditures $559 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1987)
Exports: $260 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--livestock,
peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins; partners--mostly franc zone and
Western Europe
Imports: $493 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--textiles,
vehicles, petroleum products, machinery, sugar, cereals; partners--mostly
franc zone and Western Europe
External debt: $2.1 billion (December 1988 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 92,000 kW capacity; 165 million kWh produced,
20 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: small local consumer goods and processing, construction,
phosphate, gold, fishing
Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small
subsistence farms; cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of
exports; other crops--millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts;
livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $313 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.4 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
$190 million
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs);
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987),
346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications
Railroads: 642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail
system through Kayes
Highways: about 15,700 km total; 1,670 km bituminous, 3,670 km
gravel and improved earth, 10,360 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 37 total, 29 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 9 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: domestic system poor but improving; provides only
minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations;
expansion of radio relay in progress; 11,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM,
2 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT
- Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air Force; paramilitary, Gendarmerie,
Republican Guard, National Guard
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,585,878; 913,000 fit for military
service; no conscription
Defense expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (1987)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Malta
- Geography
Total area: 320 km2; land area: 320 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Natural resources: limestone, salt
Land use: 38% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 59% other; includes 3% irrigated
Environment: numerous bays provide good harbors; fresh water very
scarce--increasing reliance on desalination
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean, 93 km south
of Sicily, 290 km north of Libya
- People
Population: 353,465 (July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)
Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Maltese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Maltese
Ethnic divisions: mixture of Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian,
English
Religion: 98% Roman Catholic
Language: Maltese and English (official)
Literacy: 83%
Labor force: 125,674; 30% services, 24% manufacturing, 21% government
(except job corps), 8% construction, 5% utilities and drydocks, 4% agriculture
(1987)
Organized labor: about 40% of labor force
- Government
Long-form name: Republic of Malta
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administration directly from Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
Constitution: 26 April 1974, effective 2 June 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday: Freedom Day, 31 March
Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court and Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State--President Vincent (Censu) TABONE (since 4 April 1989);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH
ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO
(since 14 May 1987)
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party, Edward Fenech Adami;
Malta Labor Party, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Representatives--last held on 9 May 1987 (next to be
held by May 1992);
results--NP 51.1%, MLP 48.9%;
seats--(usually 65 total, but additional seats are given to the party with the
largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total 69)
MLP 34, NP 31 before popular vote adjustment; MLP 34, NP 35
after adjustment
Communists: fewer than 100 (est.)
Member of: CCC, Commonwealth, Council of Europe, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council,
NAM,UN, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Salvatore J. STELLINI; Chancery at
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 462-3611
or 3612; there is a Maltese Consulate General in New York;
US--Ambassador Sally J. NOVETZKE; Embassy at 2nd Floor, Development House,
St. Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta (mailing address is P. O. Box 535,
Valletta); telephone [356] 623653 or 620424, 623216
Flag: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper
hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red
- Economy
Overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic
location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its
food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy
sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and
services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the
economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 30% of GDP, with the textile and
clothing industry a major contributor. In 1988 inflation was held to a low 0.9%.
Per capita GDP at $5,100 places Malta in the middle-income range of the world's
nations.
GDP: $1.9 billion, per capita $5,100; real growth rate 7.1% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (1987)
Budget: revenues $844 million; expenditures $938 million, including
capital expenditures of $226 million (1989 est.)
Exports: $710 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--clothing,
textiles, footwear, ships; partners--FRG 31%, UK 14%, Italy 14%
Imports: $1,360 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--food,
petroleum, nonfood raw materials; partners--FRG 19%, UK 17%, Italy 17%,
US 11%
External debt: $90 million, medium and long-term (December 1987)
Industrial production: growth rate 6.2% (1987)
Electricity: 328,000 kW capacity; 1,110 million kWh produced,
2,990 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism, ship repair yard, clothing, construction,
food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco
Agriculture: overall, 20% self-sufficient; main products--potatoes,
cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green
peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables,
poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain,
animal fodder, fruits, other basic foodstuffs
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $332 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
$48 million
Currency: Maltese lira (plural--liri); 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3332 (January 1990),
0.3483 (1989), 0.3306 (1988), 0.3451 (1987), 0.3924 (1986), 0.4676 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
- Communications
Highways: 1,291 km total; 1,179 km paved (asphalt), 77 km crushed stone or
gravel, 35 km improved and unimproved earth
Ports: Valletta, Marsaxlokk
Merchant marine: 314 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,677,797
GRT/6,357,733 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 4 short-sea passenger, 127 cargo,
2 container, 1 passenger-cargo, 13 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 vehicle carrier,
6 refrigerated cargo, 7 chemical tanker, 4 combination ore/oil,
1 specialized tanker, 61 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
72 bulk, 11 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry;
China owns 1 ship, Cuba owns 8, and Vietnam owns 1
Civil air: 8 major transport aircraft
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
Telecommunications: modern automatic system centered in Valletta;
153,000 telephones; stations--9 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 1 submarine cable; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station
- Defense Forces
Branches: Armed Forces, Police, Paramilitary Dejima Force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 92,610; 74,256 fit for military service
Defense expenditures: 1.3% of GDP, or $25 million (1989 est.)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Man, Isle of
(British crown dependency)
- Geography
Total area: 588 km2; land area: 588 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 113 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half
the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Natural resources: lead, iron ore
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures;
NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; extensive arable land and forests
Environment: strong westerly winds prevail
Note: located in Irish Sea equidistant from England, Scotland,
and Ireland
- People
Population: 64,859 (July 1990), growth rate 0.2% (1990)
Birth rate: 11 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Manxman, Manxwoman, adjective--Manx
Ethnic divisions: native Manx of Norse-Celtic descent; British
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
Society of Friends
Language: English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: NA%, but compulsory education between ages of 5 and 15
Labor force: 25,864 (1981)
Organized labor: 22 labor unions patterned along British lines
- Government
Long-form name: none
Type: British crown dependency
Capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system: English law and local statute
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, prime minister,
Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Tynwald) consists of an upper
house or Legislative Council and a lower house or House of Keys
Judicial branch: High Court of Justice
Leaders:
Chief of State--Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Maj. Gen. Laurence NEW
(since 1985);
Head of Government--President of the Legislative Council J. C. NIVISON
(since 1985)
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and members sit
as independents
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Elections:
House of Keys--last held in 1986 (next to be held 1991);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(24 total) independents 24
Communists: probably none
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