goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners: Italy 19.3%, France 17.8%, UK 12.4%, Germany
10.5%, US 8.9% (1998)
Debt - external: $130 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.4086 (January 2000),
0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529
(1995)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Malta:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 171,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,650 (1999)
Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios: 255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1999)
Televisions: 280,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Malta:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,742 km
paved: 1,677 km
unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:
total: 1,484 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,083,952
GRT/46,772,146 DWT
ships by type: bulk 431, cargo 424, chemical tanker 54, combination
bulk 16, combination ore/oil 14, container 64, liquified gas 2,
livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large load carrier 4, passenger
7, petroleum tanker 331, refrigerated cargo 44, roll-on/roll-off 48,
short-sea passenger 21, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 16 (1999
est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries
among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44,
Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco
24 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Malta:Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (including land forces, an air
squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps),
Maltese Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 98,850 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 78,677 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $201 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.5% (FY98/99)
@Malta:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the
commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their
countries, particularly for oil exploration
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa
to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
MAN
______________________________________________________________________
MARSHALL ISLANDS
@Marshall Islands:Introduction
Background: After almost four decades under US administration as the
easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the
Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free
Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear
testing on some of the islands between 1947 and 1962.
@Marshall Islands: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: 181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands
border typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes:
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%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - 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
@Marshall Islands:People
Population: 68,126 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 17,204; female 16,521)
15-64 years: 48% (male 16,826; female 16,111)
65 years and over: 2% (male 693; female 771) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.88% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 45.17 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.5 years
male: 63.72 years
female: 67.36 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.61 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: 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:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 100%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Marshall Islands:Government
Country name:
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
Government type: constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October
1986
Capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: 33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap,
Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat,
Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap,
Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang,
Utirik, Wotho, Wotje
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: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members
for a four-year term; election last held 15 November 1999 (next to be
held NA November 2003)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of
Parliament vote - 100%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held NA November 1999 (next to be held NA November
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no
formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely
resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party
headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two
"groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years -
Kabua Party and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa
TOMLING]
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-5414
FAX: (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: 247-4011
FAX: 247-4012
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
@Marshall Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: US Government assistance is the mainstay of this
tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small
farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes,
melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor
force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have
few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms
of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65
million in annual aid. Negotiations were underway in 1999 for an
extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in
construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to
the Asian financial difficulties caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $105 million (1998 est.), supplemented
by approximately $65 million annual US aid
GDP - real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,670 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 13%
services: 72% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $80.1 million
expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and
pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1994)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1994)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits;
pigs, chickens
Exports: $28 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports - commodities: fish, coconut oil, fish, trochus shells
Exports - partners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: $58 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels,
beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners: US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Guam, Singapore
Debt - external: $125 million (FY96/97 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: approximately $65 million annually from the
US
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Marshall Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 280 (1994)
Telephone system: telex services
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other 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 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which two are US military
stations) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Marshall Islands: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 and harbors: Majuro
Merchant marine:
total: 143 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,801,336 GRT/11,785,065
DWT
ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk
1, container 19, liquified gas 2, multi-functional large load carrier
1, petroleum tanker 58, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada 1,
China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@Marshall Islands:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be
established); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Marshall Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
______________________________________________________________________
MARTINIQUE
@Martinique:Introduction
Background: Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently
remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign
occupation.
@Martinique: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: 1,100 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km
water: 40 sq km
Area - comparative: 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
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
Elevation extremes:
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: 8%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
average of one major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues: NA
@Martinique:People
Population: 414,516 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 48,578; female 47,283)
15-64 years: 67% (male 137,724; female 139,241)
65 years and over: 10% (male 18,508; female 23,182) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.96% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 16.1 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.25 years
male: 79.03 years
female: 77.46 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 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.)
@Martinique: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 Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA)
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 15 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 - RPR-UDF 14, MIM 13,
PPM 7, left parties 4, PMS 3
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held NA September 1998 (next to be held September 2001); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 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: Combat Worker ;
Martinique Communist Party or PCM ; Martinique Forces
; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Patriots or PM ; Martinique
Progressive Party or PPM ; Martinique Socialist
Party or PMS ; Movement for a Liberated Martinique
; National Council of Popular Committees ;
Rally for Democratic Martinique ; Rally for the
Republic or RPR ; Republican Party or PR [Jean
BAILLY]; Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM ;
Union for French Democracy or UDF ; Union for the Renewal
of Ste. Marie
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for the Protection
of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist) ; Caribbean
Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or
CSTM ; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and
Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP; Socialist Revolution Group
or GRS
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
@Martinique: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: 170,000 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services
73% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $900 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140
million (1996)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.075 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, sugarcane
Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum,
pineapples
Exports - partners: France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (1997)
Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs,
construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US
3% (1997)
Debt - external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - substantial annual aid from
France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999);
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998),
5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Martinique:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 155,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
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 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 66,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Martinique:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,724 km (1994)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)