3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Rueben MEADE (since 10 September
2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance
secretary
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats; 9 members popularly
elected to serve five-year terms; the attorney general and financial
secretary sit as ex-officio members)
elections: last held on 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MCAP 6, independents 3
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female
personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and
embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp
are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry;
blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and
righteousness
National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is
official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Montserrat
Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper
on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997
closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and
social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the
island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the
number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack
of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects
for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the
volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK
has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help
reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain
uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.04% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
9.89% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$14.13 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 188
$14.51 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$69.63 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
$62.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.93 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$5.537 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock
products
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - imports:
521 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Exports:
$700,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes,
live plants; cattle
Imports:
$17 million (2001); $17 million
country comparison to the world: 219
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)
country comparison to the world: 191
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Communications ::Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 220
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 213
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems available
international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad
Broadcast media:
Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station
and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater
transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago
provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV are
obtainable (2007)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet hosts:
552 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 177
Internet users:
1,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212
Transportation ::Montserrat
Airports:
2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 205
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the
227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the
north end of the island (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Little Bay, Plymouth
Military ::Montserrat
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,339 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,127
females age 16-49: 1,217 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 38
female: 36 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Montserrat
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
and Europe
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Morocco (Africa)
Introduction ::Morocco
Background:
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa,
successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th
century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR
(1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age.
The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family
belongs, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in the 17th
century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a
half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw
Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a
protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle
with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city
of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new
country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's
grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy
and in 1957 assumed the title of King. Morocco annexed Western
Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of
the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the
1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature,
which first met in 1997. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999
succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved.
Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government
occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three
broad subjects considered to be taboo: the monarchy, Islam, and the
status of Western Sahara. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate
authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
Geography ::Morocco
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
country comparison to the world: 57
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of
bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
29 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from
farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation);
water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs;
oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People ::Morocco
Population:
31,627,428 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 4,548,808/female 4,418,768)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 10,009,928/female 10,437,103)
65 years and over: 6% (male 851,190/female 1,019,377) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 25.9 years
female: 27 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.077% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Death rate:
4.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Net migration rate:
-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Urbanization:
urban population: 56% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 76
male: 33.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.69 years
country comparison to the world: 77
male: 72.63 years
female: 78.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.23 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of
business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
Government ::Morocco
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,
Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,
Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz,
Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer,
Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al
Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political
status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government;
portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco
also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls
entirely within Western Sahara
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July
(1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996
note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral
legislature
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19
September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper
house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,
professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year
terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and
Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members
elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of
women; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next
to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7
September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39,
USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the
Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant)
Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of
Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj
[Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM
[Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal
(Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH];
Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and
Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional
Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement
or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL
KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed
BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI];
Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development
Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI
[Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah
BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal
Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND
[Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI
[Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi
AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL
MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah
IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and
Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party
or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV
[Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR];
Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic
Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or
USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU
[Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General
Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan
Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union
of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or
UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris
Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel L. KAPLAN
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green
are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is
more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;
the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the
association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912
National anthem:
name: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)
lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN
note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970
Economy ::Morocco
Economy - overview:
Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low
labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the
economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and
remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of
phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and
economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King
MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with
generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady
progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006,
Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in
2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association
Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and
unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges,
King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human
Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and
underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and
replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among
other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010,
and reducing govenment spending and adapting to sluggish economic
growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term
challenges include improving education and job prospects for young
Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the
poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports
beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$153.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$147.6 billion (2009 est.)
$140.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
4.9% (2009 est.)
5.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$4,700 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.1%
industry: 31.6%
services: 51.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force: