AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY]; Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar
or AREMA [leader vacant]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or
AKFM/Fanavaozana [leader NA]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action
for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana
Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]; Group of Reflection and Action for
the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo; Judged by Your Work or AVI
[Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]; Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM
[Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]; Tranobe (Big House) [Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federalist Movement; National
Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Zina
ANDRIANARIVELO-RAZAFY consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202)
265-3034 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 chancery: 2374 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Wanda L. NESBITT embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo telephone: [261]
(20) 22-212-57 FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green
with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview: Madagascar faces problems of chronic malnutrition,
underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual
population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by
erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay
of the economy, accounting for one-third of GDP and contributing more
than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and
the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97
averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been
held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in
world coffee prices, and the erratic commitment of the government to
economic reform. The extent of government reforms, outside financial aid,
and foreign investment will be key determinants of future growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $870 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 11% services:
55% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 37.3% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 46 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 7 million (1999)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $553 million expenditures: $735 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 820 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.59% hydro: 63.41%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 762.6 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa,
rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $680 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth,
chromite, petroleum products
Exports - partners: France 41%, US 21%, Germany 7%, Japan 4%, UK 1%
(2000)
Imports: $919 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital goods,
petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners: France 38%, Hong Kong 10%, China 5%, Singapore 5%,
Japan 3%
Debt - external: $4.5 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient: $838 million (1997)
Currency: Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code: MGF
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,531.4 (December 2001),
6,588.5 (2001), 6,767.5 (2000), 6,283.8 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9
(1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use: 55,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 63,100 (2000)
Telephone system: system is above average for the region domestic:
scatter links connect regions international: submarine cable to Bahrain;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations),
FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios: 3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions: 325,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 30,000 (2000)
Transportation Madagascar
Railways: total: 893 km narrow gauge: 893 km 1.000-m gauge (2001)
Highways: total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996)
Waterways: note: of local importance only
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina,
Toliara
Merchant marine: total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,199
GRT/37,462 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 (2002 est.)
Airports: 130 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047
m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 101 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to
1,523 m: 55 under 914 m: 44 (2001)
Military Madagascar
Military branches: People's Armed Forces (comprising Intervention
Force, Development Force, Aeronaval [Navy and Air] Force), Gendarmerie,
Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,758,940 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,229,304
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 153,856
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $48.7 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso
Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered
by France)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point
for heroin
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Martinique
Introduction
Martinique
Background: Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently
remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign
occupation.
Geography Martinique
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 water: 40 sq km land: 1,060 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: 10% permanent crops: 11% other: 79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average
of one major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on
8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre,
killing 30,000 inhabitants
People Martinique
Population: 422,277 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 49,261; female 47,843) 15-64
years: 66.8% (male 140,616; female 141,460) 65 years and over: 10.2%
(male 19,274; female 23,823) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.89% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 15.37 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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:
0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 77.92 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural) adjective:
Martiniquais
Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%,
East Indian, 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.)
Government Martinique
Country name: Department of Martinique conventional short form:
la Martinique
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: Bastille Day, 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 Michel CADOT (since 21 June 2000) elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a five-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 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
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 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); 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 - left-wing parties 29, right-wing parties 14, independents 2;
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 2001 (next to be held September 2004); 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,
first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held
June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Martinique Independence Movement or MIM
[Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Camille
DARSIERES]; note - may no longer be in existence; Martinique Socialist
Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats and Ecologists
for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA]; Rally for the
Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Socialist Revolution Group or GRS
[Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance
or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR];
Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action
Group or GAP
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
Economy Martinique
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, which employs more than 11,000 people, 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 - $4.39 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1997 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: 27.2% (1998)
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: 1.125 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 1.046 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
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: euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Currency code: EUR; FRF
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar -
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use: 170,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: 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 country code: .mq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 5,000 (2000)
Transportation Martinique
Railways: 0 km (2002)
Highways: total: 2,105 km (2000) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Military Martinique
Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces
(Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Martinique
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
the US and Europe
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Macau
Introduction
Macau
Background: Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was
the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau
Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. China
has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's
socialist economic system will not be practiced in Macau and that Macau
will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and
defense affairs.
Geography Macau
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 25.4 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline: 41 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point:
Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green
areas" represent 22.4% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges
connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People Macau
Population: 461,833 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.8% (male 52,262; female 48,439) 15-64
years: 70.9% (male 154,942; female 172,647) 65 years and over: 7.3%
(male 13,616; female 19,927) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.75% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 12.19 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 3.78 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 9.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68
male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 84.73 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.31 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian
ancestry), Portuguese, other
Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35%
(1997 est.)
Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% (1981 est.)
Government Macau
Country name: conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative
Region conventional short form: Macau local short form: Aomen (Chinese);
Macau (Portuguese) local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese);
Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of China)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the
People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999
is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution: Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National
People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent
residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election
limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are
currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Executive branch: chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin
(since 27 March 1993) elections: chief executive chosen by a 200-member
selection committee for up to two five-year terms cabinet: Executive
Council consists of all five government secretaries, three legislators,
and two businessmen head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah
(since 20 December 1999)
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats;
10 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by
the chief executive; members serve four-year terms) election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc - Entertainment Industry
3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union 2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood
Association 2, pro-business 1 elections: last held 23 September 2001
(next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special
Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders: there are no formal political parties,
however, there are civic associations that, for purposes of legislative
voting, join together to form political blocs
Political pressure groups and leaders: Catholic Church [Domingos LAM,
bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley
HO, managing director]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG
Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate),
IHO, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO
(associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative region
of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in Macau,
and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description: light green with a lotus flower above a stylized
bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed
stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau