lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 67,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services
60% (1995)
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Budget:
revenues: $166 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $192 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (1999 est.)
Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production: 85 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 79 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports: $98 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: fish, clothing
Exports - partners: US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Imports: $312 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods,
petroleum products
Imports - partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Debt - external: $188 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Maldives:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 300 (1999)
Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 10,000 (1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Maldives:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the
city (1988 est.)
Ports and harbors: Gan, Male
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,599 GRT/105,599 DWT
ships by type: cargo 17, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea
passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Maldives:Military
Military branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police
force)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 68,940 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 38,402 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Maldives:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MALI
@Mali:Introduction
Background: The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of
France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after
only a few months, the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by
dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional
government, and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential
election was held. Since his reelection in 1997, President KONARE has
continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight
corruption. In 1999 he indicated he would not run for a third term.
@Mali:Geography
Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858
km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal
419 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium,
hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known
but not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
seasons; recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test
Ban
Geography - note: landlocked
@Mali:People
Population: 10,685,948 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 2,537,586; female 2,508,782)
15-64 years: 50% (male 2,524,969; female 2,781,762)
65 years and over: 3% (male 156,447; female 176,402) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.98% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 49.23 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 19.1 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 123.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.66 years
male: 45.5 years
female: 47.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.89 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%,
Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31%
male: 39.4%
female: 23.1% (1995 est.)
@Mali:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Data code: ML
Government type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao,
Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22
September (1960)
Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was
formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since March
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of
vote - Alpha Oumar KONARE 95.9%, Mamadou DIABY 4.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in two
rounds in 2002); note - much of the opposition boycotted the election
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ADEMA 130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA
; Block of Alternative for the
Renewal of Africa or BARA ; Democratic and Social
Convention or CDS ; Movement for the
Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA [Mohamed
Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for Democratic
Initiative or CNID ; Party for Democracy and
Progress or PDP ; Party for National Renewal or
PARENA ;
Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT ; Rally for
Democracy and Progress or RDP ; Sudanese
Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE,
secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress or UFDP
; Union for Democracy and
Development or UDD
Political pressure groups and leaders: Patriotic Movement of the
Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH,
MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX: (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: 22 54 70
FAX: 22 37 12
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Mali:Economy
Economy - overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world,
with 65% 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 is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is
engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on
processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid
and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main
export. In 1997, the government continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50%
devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has pushed up
economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold
mining operations in 1996-98, and the government anticipates that Mali
will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years.
Annual growth should remain in the 5-6% range in 2000-01, and
inflation should drop under 3%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $820 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 46%
industry: 21%
services: 33% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 80% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $730 million
expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320
million (1997 est.)
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing;
construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1995 est.)
Electricity - production: 310 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 38.71%
hydro: 61.29%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 288 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables,
peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $640 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton 50%, gold, livestock (1998 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 20%, Italy 20%, China 9%, Brazil 5%,
Franc Zone (1997)
Imports: $650 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, construction
materials, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 19%, France 17%, other Franc Zone
and EU countries (1997)
Debt - external: $3.1 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $596.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
- 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997),
511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995)
note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate
of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mali:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 17,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides only
minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 7 (1998)
Radios: 570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 45,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Mali:Transportation
Railways:
total: 729 km (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes)
narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 15,100 km
paved: 1,827 km
unpaved: 13,273 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Koulikoro
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@Mali:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard,
National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,202,950 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,262,242 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $49 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96)
@Mali:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MALTA
@Malta:Introduction
Background: Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in
1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars
and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Over the last 15 years, the
island has become a major freight transshipment point, financial
center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU
membership.
@Malta:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the 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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the
three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
@Malta:People
Population: 391,670 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 41,046; female 38,273)
15-64 years: 67% (male 132,692; female 131,532)
65 years and over: 13% (male 20,091; female 28,036) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.74% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 12.75 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.94 years
male: 75.49 years
female: 80.62 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and
Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean
stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 91%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88% (1985)
@Malta:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 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 Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6
September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZE (since 4 May
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by
NA April 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime
minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister
election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House
of Representatives vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65
seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest
popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 65
seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD
1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30
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: Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for
Social Justice or AD ; Malta Labor Party or MLP
; Nationalist Party or PN
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George SALIBA
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone: 235960
FAX: 243229
Flag description: 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
@Malta:Economy
Economy - overview: Major 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. The economy is dependent on foreign trade,
manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the
state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1999, over 1
million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $13,800 places
Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is
divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable
budget deficit remains a key concern.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 143,700 (October 1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture
5% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (September 1999)
Budget:
revenues: $1.32 billion
expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair,
construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing,
tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.62 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.507 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley,
tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry,
eggs
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners: France 20.7%, US 18.1%, Germany 12.6%, UK 7.7%,
Italy 4.8% (1998)
Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)