hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and

April

international agreements: 

party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not

ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Note: 

most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the

southern part of the country

@Mauritania, People

Population: 

2,192,777 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

3.16% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

47.65 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

16.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

85.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

48.06 years 

male: 

45.23 years 

female: 

51.01 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

6.99 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Mauritanian(s) 

adjective: 

Mauritanian 

Ethnic divisions: 

mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30% 

Religions: 

Muslim 100% 

Languages: 

Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)

Literacy: 

age 10 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

total population: 

34% 

male: 

47% 

female: 

21% 

Labor force: 

465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)

by occupation: 

agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government

10%

note: 

53% of population of working age (1985)

@Mauritania, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Islamic Republic of Mauritania 

conventional short form: 

Mauritania 

local long form: 

Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah 

local short form: 

Muritaniyah 

Digraph: 

MR

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Nouakchott 

Administrative divisions: 

12 regions (regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna,

Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el

Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

note: 

there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott

Independence: 

28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday: 

Independence Day, 28 November (1960) 

Constitution: 

12 July 1991

Legal system: 

three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state

security courts (in the process of being eliminated)

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state and head of government: 

President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984);

election last held January 1992 (next to be held January 1998);

results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers 

Legislative branch: 

bicameral legislature

Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh): 

elections last held 15 April 1994 (one-third of the seats up for

re-election in 1996)

National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): 

elections last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held March 1997)

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) 

Political parties and leaders: 

legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics

continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and

Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould

Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces - New Era (UFD/NE), headed

by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed

Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed

Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida

BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU;

Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI

BADI

Other political or pressure groups: 

Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)

Member of: 

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC,

CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,

ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,

UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Mohamed Fall Ould AININA 

chancery: 

2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 

telephone: 

(202) 232-5700 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Gordon S. BROWN 

embassy: 

address NA, Nouakchott 

mailing address: 

B. P. 222, Nouakchott 

telephone: 

[222] (2) 526-60 or 526-63 

FAX: 

[222] (2) 515-92 

Flag: 

green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal

crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star,

and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

@Mauritania, Economy

Overview: 

A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and

livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many

subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts

in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore,

which account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world

demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The

nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the

world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of

revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in

1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have

resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has

begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation

with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.2 billion (1992 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

3.3% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: 

$1,050 (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

11.5% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

20% (1991 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$280 million 

expenditures: 

$346 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1989

est.)

Exports: 

$432 million (f.o.b., 1992 est)

commodities: 

iron ore, fish and fish products

partners: 

Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

Imports: 

$413 million (c.i.f., 1992 est)

commodities: 

foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods

partners: 

Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy

External debt: 

$1.9 billion (1992 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

190,000 kW

production: 

135 million kWh 

consumption per capita: 

70 kWh (1991)

Industries: 

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Agriculture: 

accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence

farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in Senegal river

valley; crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish products

number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3

billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million; Communist

countries (1970-89), $277 million; Arab Development Bank (1991), $20

million 

Currency: 

1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums

Exchange rates: 

ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 124.480 (December 1993), 87.082 (1992),

81.946 (1991), 80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Mauritania, Communications

Railroads: 

690 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, single track, owned and operated

by government mining company

Highways: 

total: 

7,525 km 

paved: 

1,685 km 

unpaved: 

gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km; unimproved earth

4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)

Inland waterways: 

mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports: 

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Merchant marine: 

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290 GRT/1,840 DWT

Airports: 

total: 

28 

usable: 

28 

with permanent-surface runways: 

9 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

5 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

17 

Telecommunications: 

poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay

links, and radio communications stations (improvements being made);

broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations - 1

Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

@Mauritania, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National

Police, Presidential Guard 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 467,677; fit for military service 228,385 

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 4.2% of GDP (1989)

@Mauritius, Geography

Location: 

Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 900 km east of

Madagascar

Map references: 

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

1,860 sq km 

land area: 

1,850 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC

note: 

includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and

Rodrigues

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

177 km 

Maritime claims: 

contiguous zone: 

24 nm

continental shelf: 

200 nm or the edge of continental margin

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island

of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory;

claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Climate: 

tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to

November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain: 

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling

central plateau

Natural resources: 

arable land, fish 

Land use: 

arable land: 

54% 

permanent crops: 

4% 

meadows and pastures: 

4% 

forest and woodland: 

31% 

other: 

7% 

Irrigated land: 

170 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: 

current issues: 

water pollution

natural hazards: 

subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded

by reefs

international agreements: 

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,

Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life

Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;

signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

@Mauritius, People

Population: 

1,116,923 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

0.92% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

19.28 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

-3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

70.54 years 

male: 

66.62 years 

female: 

74.63 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

2.22 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Mauritian(s) 

adjective: 

Mauritian 

Ethnic divisions: 

Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions: 

Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%),

Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1% 

Languages: 

English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

total population: 

80% 

male: 

85% 

female: 

75% 

Labor force: 

335,000 

by occupation: 

government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%, manufacturing

22%, other 22%

note: 

43% of population of working age (1985)

@Mauritius, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Republic of Mauritius 

conventional short form: 

Mauritius 

Digraph: 

MP

Type: 

parliamentary democracy 

Capital: 

Port Louis 

Administrative divisions: 

9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,

Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines

Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne

Independence: 

12 March 1968 (from UK)

National holiday: 

Independence Day, 12 March (1968) 

Constitution: 

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Legal system: 

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law

in certain areas

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992); Vice President

Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992) 

head of government: 

Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June 1982); Deputy Prime

Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September 1990) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of

the prime minister

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

Legislative Assembly: 

elections last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be held by 15

September 1996); results - MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%; seats - (70

total, 62 elected) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2);

MLP/PMSD 3

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

government coalition: 

Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH; Mauritian Militant

Movement (MMM), Prem NABABSING (less 12 legislators under the

leadership of Paul BERENGER, now voting with the opposition);

Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR;

Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO

opposition: 

Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN; Socialist Workers

Front, Sylvio MICHEL; Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), X.

DUVAL; MMM-Berenger Faction, Paul BERENGER

Other political or pressure groups: 

various labor unions

Member of: 

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,

ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,

IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,

UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Anund NEEWOOR 

chancery: 

Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 

telephone: 

(202) 244-1491 or 1492 

FAX: 

(202) 966-0983 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER 

embassy: 

4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis 

mailing address: 

use Embassy street address 

telephone: 

[230] 208-9763 through 208-9767 

FAX: 

[230] 208-9534 

Flag: 

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

@Mauritius, Economy

Overview: 

The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and

tourism. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area

and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's development

strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to exports),

agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in

1992 was impressive, with 6% real growth and low unemployment.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.6 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

6.3% (1992 est.)

National product per capita: 

$7,800 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

4.6% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

2.4% (1991 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$557 million 

expenditures: 

$607 million, including capital expenditures of $111 million (1990

est.)

Exports: 

$1.32 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities: 

textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%

partners: 

EC and US have preferential treatment, EU 77%, US 15%

Imports: 

$1.63 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities: 

manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%,

petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%

partners: 

EC, US, South Africa, Japan

External debt: 

$991 million (1992 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 7% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

235,000 kW

production: 

630 million kWh 

consumption per capita: 

570 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel,

chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical

machinery, tourism

Agriculture: 

accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in sugarcane;

other products - tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses, cattle, goats,

fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish

Illicit drugs: 

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin

consumption and transshipment are growing problems

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million; Western

(non-US) countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communist countries

(1970-89), $54 million 

Currency: 

1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: 

Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 18.696 (January 1994), 17.648

(1993), 15.563 (1992), 15.652 (1991), 14.839 (1990), 15.250 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

1 July - 30 June

@Mauritius, Communications

Highways: 

total: 

1,800 km 

paved: 

1,640 km 

unpaved: 

earth 160 km 

Ports: 

Port Louis

Merchant marine: 

14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 162,387 GRT/260,552 DWT, bulk 6,

cargo 7, liquefied gas 1 

Airports: 

total: 

5 

usable: 

4 

with permanent-surface runways: 

2 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

1 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

0 

Telecommunications: 

small system with good service utilizing primarily microwave radio

relay; new microwave link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to

several countries; over 48,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM,

no FM, 4 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Mauritius, Defense Forces

Branches: 

National Police Force, including the paramilitary Special Mobile Force

(SMF), Special Support Units (SSU), and National Coast Guard

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 316,975; fit for military service 161,634 

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $5 million, 0.2% of GDP (FY89)

@Mayotte

Header

Affiliation: 

(territorial collectivity of France) 

@Mayotte, Geography

Location: 

Southern Africa, in the northern Mozambique Channel about halfway

between Madagascar and Mozambique

Map references: 

Africa 

Area: 

total area: 

375 sq km 

land area: 

375 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

185.2 km 

Maritime claims: 

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

claimed by Comoros

Climate: 

tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon

(November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Terrain: 

generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines

Natural resources: 

negligible 

Land use: 

arable land: 

NA%

permanent crops: 

NA%

meadows and pastures: 

NA%

forest and woodland: 

NA%

other: 

NA%

Irrigated land: 

NA sq km

Environment: 

current issues: 

NA 

natural hazards: 

subject to cyclones during rainy season

international agreements: 

NA 

Note: 

part of Comoro Archipelago

@Mayotte, People

Population: 

93,468 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

3.8% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

48.84 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

10.84 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

57.81 years 

male: 

55.63 years 

female: 

60.06 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

6.77 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Mahorais (singular and plural) 

adjective: 

Mahoran 

Ethnic divisions: 

NA

Religions: 

Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Languages: 

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French 

Literacy: 

total population: 

NA%

male: 

NA%

female: 

NA%

Labor force: 

NA

@Mayotte, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte 

conventional short form: 

Mayotte 

Digraph: 

MF

Type: 

territorial collectivity of France 

Capital: 

Mamoutzou 

Administrative divisions: 

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: 

none (territorial collectivity of France)

National holiday: 

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) 

Constitution: 

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: 

French law

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) 

head of government: 

Prefect Jean-Jacques DERACQ (since NA); President of the General

Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1976) 

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

General Council (Conseil General): 

elections last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results -

percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 12, RPR 5

French Senate: 

elections last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September

1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MPM 1

French National Assembly: 

elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 1998);

results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats - (1 total) UDF-CDS 1

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel) 

Political parties and leaders: 

Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the

Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for

the Republic (RPR), Mansour KAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy

(UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center of Social Democrats (CDS),

Member of: 

FZ 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

none (territorial collectivity of France)

US diplomatic representation: 

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Flag: 

the flag of France is used

@Mayotte, Economy

Overview: 

Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector,

including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not

self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food

requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development

of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance.

Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of

tourism.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $54 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

NA%

National product per capita: 

$600 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

NA%

Unemployment rate: 

NA%

Budget: 

revenues: 

$NA

expenditures: 

$37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)

Exports: 

$4 million (f.o.b., 1984)

commodities: 

ylang-ylang, vanilla

partners: 

France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%

Imports: 

$21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984)

commodities: 

building materials, transportation equipment, rice, clothing, flour

partners: 

France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%

External debt: 

$NA

Industrial production: 

growth rate NA%

Electricity: 

capacity: 

NA

production: 

NA

consumption per capita: 

NA

Industries: 

newly created lobster and shrimp industry

Agriculture: 

most important sector; provides all export earnings; crops - vanilla,

ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food needs

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments

(1970-89), $402 million 

Currency: 

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: 

French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993),

5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Mayotte, Communications

Highways: 

total: 

42 km 

paved: 

bituminous 18 km 

unpaved: 

24 km 

Ports: 

Dzaoudzi

Airports: 

total: 

1 

usable: 

1 

with permanent-surface runways: 

1 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

1 

Telecommunications: 

small system administered by French Department of Posts and

Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency radio

communications for links to Comoros and international communications;

450 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

@Mayotte, Defense Forces

Note: 

defense is the responsibility of France

@Mexico, Geography

Location: 

Middle America, between Guatemala and the US

Map references: 

North America, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

1,972,550 sq km 

land area: 

1,923,040 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 

total 4,538 km, Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km 

Coastline: 

9,330 km 

Maritime claims: 

contiguous zone: 

24 nm

continental shelf: 

200 nm or the natural prolongation of continental margin

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

claims Clipperton Island (French possession)

Climate: 

varies from tropical to desert

Terrain: 

high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert

Natural resources: 

petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber 

Land use: 

arable land: 

12% 

permanent crops: 

1% 

meadows and pastures: 

39% 

forest and woodland: 

24% 

other: 

24% 

Irrigated land: 

51,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: 

current issues: 

natural water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and

poor quality in center and extreme southeast; untreated sewage and

industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation;

widespread erosion; desertification; serious air pollution in the

national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border

natural hazards: 

subject to tsunamis along the Pacific coast, destructive earthquakes

in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and Caribbean

coasts

international agreements: 

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous

Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,

Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,

Whaling

Note: 

strategic location on southern border of US

@Mexico, People

Population: 

92,202,199 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

1.94% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

27.17 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

4.73 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

-3.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

27.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

72.94 years 

male: 

69.36 years 

female: 

76.7 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

3.17 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Mexican(s) 

adjective: 

Mexican 

Ethnic divisions: 

mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian

30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%, other 1% 

Religions: 

nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6% 

Languages: 

Spanish, various Mayan dialects 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

total population: 

87% 

male: 

90% 

female: 

85% 

Labor force: 

26.2 million (1990)

by occupation: 

services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 28%,

commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%, transportation

4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%

@Mexico, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

United Mexican States 

conventional short form: 

Mexico 

local long form: 

Estados Unidos Mexicanos 

local short form: 

Mexico 

Digraph: 

MX

Type: 

federal republic operating under a centralized government

Capital: 

Mexico 

Administrative divisions: 

31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*

(distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California

Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Distrito

Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico,

Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro,

Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas,

Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence: 

16 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday: 

Independence Day, 16 September (1810) 

Constitution: 

5 February 1917

Legal system: 

mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial

review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with

reservations

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Executive branch: 

chief of state and head of government: 

President Carlos SALINAS de Gortari (since 1 December 1988); election

last held on 6 July 1988 (next to be held 21 August 1994); results -

Carlos SALINAS de Gortari (PRI) 50.74%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano

(FDN) 31.06%, Manuel CLOUTHIER (PAN) 16.81%; other 1.39%; note -

several of the smaller parties ran a common candidate under a

coalition called the National Democratic Front (FDN)

cabinet: 

Cabinet; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: 

bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la Union)

Senate (Camara de Senadores): 

elections last held on 18 August 1991 (next to be held 21 August

1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats in full Senate -

(64 total; Senate will expand to 128 seats following next election)

PRI 62, PRD 1, PAN 1

Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): 

elections last held on 18 August 1991 (next to be held 21 August

1994); results - PRI 53%, PAN 20%, PFCRN 10%, PPS 6%, PARM 7%, PMS

(now part of PRD) 4%; seats - (500 total) PRI 320, PAN 89, PRD 41,

PFCRN 23, PARM 15, PPS 12

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) 

Political parties and leaders: 

(recognized parties) Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Ignacio

Pichardo PAGAZA; National Action Party (PAN), Carlos CASTILLO; Popular

Socialist Party (PPS), Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic

Revolutionary Party (PRD), Porfirio MUNOZ Ledo; Cardenist Front for

the National Reconstruction Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes;

Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution (PARM), Rosa Maria MARTINEZ

Denagri; Democratic Forum Party (PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican

Green Ecologist Party (PVEM), Jorge GONZALEZ Torres

Other political or pressure groups: 

Roman Catholic Church; Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM);

Confederation of Industrial Chambers (CONCAMIN); Confederation of

National Chambers of Commerce (CONCANACO); National Peasant

Confederation (CNC); Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT); Revolutionary

Confederation of Workers and Peasants (CROC); Regional Confederation

of Mexican Workers (CROM); Confederation of Employers of the Mexican

Republic (COPARMEX); National Chamber of Transformation Industries

(CANACINTRA); Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations

(COECE); Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services (FESEBES)

Member of: 

AG (observer), BCIE, CARICOM (observer), CCC, CDB, CG, EBRD, ECLAC,

FAO, G-3, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,

ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,

IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS,

OECD, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,

WFTI, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Jorge MONTANO Martinez 

chancery: 

1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 

telephone: 

(202) 728-1600 

consulate(s) general: 

Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles,

Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco,

San Juan (Puerto Rico) 

consulate(s): 

Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico

(California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Eagle Pass

(Texas), Fresno (California), Loredo, Mc Allen (Texas), Midland

(Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador James JONES 

embassy: 

Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, D.F. 

mailing address: 

P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087 

telephone: 

[52] (5) 211-0042 

FAX: 

[52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373 

consulate(s) general: 

Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana 

consulate(s): 

Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo 

Flag: 

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the

coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak)

is centered in the white band

@Mexico, Economy

Overview: 

Mexico's economy, made up predominantly of private manufacturing and

services and both large-scale and traditional agriculture, is

beginning to rebound from the economic difficulties of the 1980s but

still faces key challenges. During the 1980s, the accumulation of

large external debts, falling world petroleum prices, rapid population

growth, and mounting inflation and unemployment plagued the economy.

In recent years, the government has responded by implementing sweeping

economic reforms. Strict fiscal and monetary discipline have brought

inflation under control, reduced the internal debt, and produced

budgetary surpluses in 1992 and 1993. The tight money policies,

however, have restricted growth: barely 0.4% in 1993 after a rise of

2.6% in 1992 and 3.6% in 1991. Another aspect of the reform has been

the privatization of more than 80% of Mexico's businesses, including

all of the commercial banks. Seeking out increased trade and

investment opportunities, the government negotiated the North American

Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Canada, which

entered into force on 1 January 1994. Within Latin America, Mexico has

completed bilateral free trade agreements with Chile and Costa Rica,

and is continuing negotiations with Colombia and Venezuela for a

trilateral deal in addition to holding trade discussions with various

other nations. In January of 1993, Mexico replaced its old peso at the

rate of 1,000 old to 1 new peso. Despite its hard-won economic

progress and the prospects of long-term gains under NAFTA, Mexico

still faces difficult problems, including sluggish growth,

unemployment, continuing social inequalities, serious pollution, and

the prospect of increased competition with the opening of trade.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $740 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

0.4% (1993)

National product per capita: 

$8,200 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

8% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

10.7% (1992 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$58.1 billion 

expenditures: 

$53 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (1992

est.)

Exports: 

$50.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.), includes in-bond industries

commodities: 

crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor vehicles,

cotton, consumer electronics

partners: 

US 74%, Japan 8%, EC 4% (1992 est.)

Imports: 

$65.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.), includes in-bond industries

commodities: 

metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery,

electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor

vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

partners: 

US 74%, Japan, 11%, EC 6% (1992)

External debt: 

$125 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 2.8% (1992 est.); accounts for 28% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

27,000,000 kW

production: 

120.725 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

1,300 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum,

mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Agriculture: 

accounts for 9% of GDP and over 25% of work force; large number of

small farms at subsistence level; major food crops - corn, wheat,

rice, beans; cash crops - cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes

Illicit drugs: 

illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of

active government eradication program; major supplier to the US

market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound

cocaine and marijuana from South America

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.1 billion; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.7

billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $110 million 

Currency: 

1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: 

market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 3.3556 (March 1994),

3,094.9 (1992), 3,018.4 (1991), 2,812.6 (1990), 2,461.3 (1989)

note: 

the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new peso =

1,000 old pesos

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Mexico, Communications

Railroads: 

24,500 km total

Highways: 

total: 

242,300 km 

paved: 

84,800 km (including 3,166 km of expressways)

unpaved: 

gravel and earth 157,500 km 

Inland waterways: 

2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals

Pipelines: 

crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas 13,254

km; petrochemical 1,400 km 

Ports: 

Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, Manzanillo,

Mazatlan, Progreso, Puerto Vallarta, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Tuxpan,

Veracruz

Merchant marine: 

58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 853,161 GRT/1,269,018 DWT, cargo

3, chemical tanker 4, container 4, liquefied gas 7, oil tanker 32,

refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 4 

Airports: 

total: 

1,993 

usable: 

1,585 

with permanent-surface runways: 

202 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

3 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

35 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

286 

Telecommunications: 

highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links;

privatized in December 1990; connected into Central America Microwave

System; 6,410,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 679 AM, no FM, 238

TV, 22 shortwave; 120 domestic satellite terminals; earth stations - 4

Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT; launched

Solidarity I satellite in November 1993

@Mexico, Defense Forces

Branches: 

National Defense (including Army and Air Force), Navy (including

Marines)

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 22,779,635; fit for military service 16,619,809; reach

military age (18) annually 1,053,025 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

$NA, NA% of GDP

@Micronesia, Federated States of, Geography

Location: 

Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters

of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia

Map references: 

Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

702 sq km 

land area: 

702 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC

note: 

includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

6,112 km 

Maritime claims: 

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern

islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional

severe damage

Terrain: 

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral

atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Natural resources: 

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals 

Land use: 

arable land: 

NA%

permanent crops: 

NA%

meadows and pastures: 

NA%

forest and woodland: 

NA%

other: 

NA%

Irrigated land: 

NA sq km 

Environment: 

current issues: 

NA 

natural hazards: 

subject to typhoons (June to December)

international agreements: 

party to - Climate Change, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified -

Biodiversity

Note: 

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

@Micronesia, Federated States of, People

Population: 

120,347 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

3.36% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

28.3 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

37.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

67.63 years 

male: 

65.67 years 

female: 

69.62 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

4.01 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Micronesian(s) 

adjective: 

Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese 

Ethnic divisions: 

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: 

Christian (divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other

churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day

Adventist, Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith)

Languages: 

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,

Kosrean 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

total population: 

90% 

male: 

90% 

female: 

85% 

Labor force: 

NA

by occupation: 

two-thirds are government employees

note: 

45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65

@Micronesia, Federated States of, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Federated States of Micronesia 

conventional short form: 

none 

former: 

Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the

Pacific Islands) 

Abbreviation: 

FSM 

Digraph: 

FM

Type: 

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact

of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital: 

Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)

note: 

a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir

valley

Administrative divisions: 

4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap

Independence: 

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday: 

Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979) 

Constitution: 

10 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 and head of government: 

President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA

(since 21 May 1991); election last held ll May 1991 (next to be held

March 1995); results - President Bailey OLTER elected president;

Vice-President Jacob NENA

cabinet: 

Cabinet 

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

Congress: 

elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1993);

results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total)

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

no formal parties

Member of: 

AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN,

UNCTAD, WHO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU 

chancery: 

1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 

telephone: 

(202) 223-4383 

FAX: 

(202) 223-4391 

consulate(s) general: 

Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL 

embassy: 

address NA, Kolonia 

mailing address: 

P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 

telephone: 

691-320-2187 

FAX: 

691-320-2186 

Flag: 

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are

arranged in a diamond pattern

@Micronesia, Federated States of, Economy

Overview: 

Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and

fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,

except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry

exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate

facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the

primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in

the islands in the l990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly

developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

National product: 

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $150 million (1989 est.)

note: 

GNP numbers reflect US spending

National product real growth rate: 

NA%

National product per capita: 

$1,500 (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

NA%

Unemployment rate: 

27% (1989)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$165 million 

expenditures: 

$115 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1988

est.)

Exports: 

$2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988)

commodities: 

copra

partners: 

NA

Imports: 

$67.7 million (c.i.f., 1988)

commodities: 

NA

partners: 

NA

External debt: 

$NA

Industrial production: 

growth rate NA%

Electricity: 

capacity: 

18,000 kW

production: 

40 million kWh 

consumption per capita: 

380 kWh (1990)

Industries: 

tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood,

and pearls

Agriculture: 

mainly a subsistence economy; black pepper; tropical fruits and

vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide

$1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency: 

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: 

US currency is used

Fiscal year: 

1 October - 30 September

@Micronesia, Federated States of, Communications

Highways: 

total: 

226 km 

paved: 

39 km (on major islands)

unpaved: 

stone, coral, laterite 187 km 

Ports: 

Colonia (Yap), Truk, Okat and Lelu (Kosrae)

Airports: 

total: 

6 

usable: 

5 

with permanent-surface runways: 

4 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

4 

Telecommunications: 

telephone network - 960 telephone lines total at Kolonia and Truk;

islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government

purposes); 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987);

broadcast stations - 5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean

INTELSAT earth stations

@Micronesia, Federated States of, Defense Forces

Note: 

defense is the responsibility of the US

@Midway Islands

Header

Affiliation: 

(territory of the US) 

@Midway Islands, Geography

Location: 

Oceania, Polynesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,350 km

west-northwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way between

Honolulu and Tokyo

Map references: 

Oceania 

Area: 

total area: 

5.2 sq km 

land area: 

5.2 sq km 

comparative area: 

about 9 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

note: 

includes Eastern Island and Sand Island

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

15 km 

Maritime claims: 

contiguous zone: 

24 nm

continental shelf: 

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain: 

low, nearly level

Natural resources: 

fish, wildlife 

Land use: 

arable land: 

0% 

permanent crops: 

0% 

meadows and pastures: 

0% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

100% 

Irrigated land: 

0 sq km 

Environment: 

current issues: 

NA 

natural hazards: 

NA 

international agreements: 

NA 

Note: 

a coral atoll; closed to the public

@Midway Islands, People

Population: 

no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US military personnel

@Midway Islands, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

none 

conventional short form: 

Midway Islands 

Digraph: 

MQ

Type: 

unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, under

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division. This facility

has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993 and is currently

being transferred from Pacific Fleet to Naval Facilities Engineering

Command via a Memorandum of Understanding. 

Capital: 

none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: 

the US flag is used

@Midway Islands, Economy

Overview: 

The economy is based on providing support services for US naval

operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods

must be imported.

Electricity: 

supplied by US Military

@Midway Islands, Communications

Highways: 

total: 

32 km 

paved: 

NA 

Pipelines: 

7.8 km 

Ports: 

Sand Island

Airports: 

total: 

3 

usable: 

2 

with permanent-surface runways: 

1 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

1 

@Midway Islands, Defense Forces

Note: 

defense is the responsibility of the US

@Moldova, Geography

Location: 

Eastern Europe, between Ukraine and Romania

Map references: 

Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

33,700 sq km 

land area: 

33,700 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii

Land boundaries: 

total 1,389 km, Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km 

Coastline: 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: 

none; landlocked

International disputes: 

no official territorial claims by either Moldova or Romania, but

nationalists in Romania seek the merger of Moldova into Romania;

potential future dispute by Moldova and Romania against Ukraine over

former southern and northern Bessarabian areas and Northern Bukovina

ceded to Ukraine upon Moldova's incorporation into USSR

Climate: 

moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain: 

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Natural resources: 

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum 

Land use: 

arable land: 

50% 

permanent crops: 

13% 

meadows and pastures: 

9% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

28% 

Irrigated land: 

2,920 sq km (1990)

Environment: 

current issues: 

heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such

as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion

from poor farming methods

natural hazards: 

NA 

international agreements: 

signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note: 

landlocked

@Moldova, People

Population: 

4,473,033 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

0.38% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

16.02 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

10.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

30.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

68.07 years 

male: 

64.65 years 

female: 

71.67 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

2.18 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Moldovan(s) 

adjective: 

Moldovan 

Ethnic divisions: 

Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%,

Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 figures)

note: 

internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in the Dniester

region and Gagauz Turks in the south

Religions: 

Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000

members) (1991)

note: 

the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian

Languages: 

Moldovan (official; virtually the same as the Romanian language),

Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy: 

age 9-49 can read and write (1970)

total population: 

100% 

male: 

100% 

female: 

99% 

Labor force: 

2.05 million (1992)

by occupation: 

agriculture 34.4%, industry 20.1%, other 45.5% (1985 figures)

@Moldova, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Republic of Moldova 

conventional short form: 

Moldova 

local long form: 

Republica Moldoveneasca 

local short form: 

none 

former: 

Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia 

Digraph: 

MD

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Chisinau 

Administrative divisions: 

previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new

constitution in 1994

Independence: 

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: 

Independence Day, 27 August 1991 

Constitution: 

old Soviet constitution (adopted NA 1979) is still in effect but has

been heavily amended during the past few years; a new constitution is

expected in 1994

Legal system: 

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts;

does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and

CSCE documents

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Mircea SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990); election last held 8

December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Mircea SNEGUR ran

unopposed and won 98.17% of vote; note - President SNEGUR was named

executive president by the Supreme Soviet on 3 September 1990 and was

confirmed by popular election on 8 December 1991

head of government: 

Prime Minister Andrei SANGHALI (since 1 July 1992; reappointed 5 April

1994 after elections for new legislature) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of

the prime minister

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

Parliament: 

elections last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);

results - percent by party NA; seats - (104 total) Agrarian-Democratic

Party 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and Intellectual Bloc

11, Christian Democratic Popular Front 9

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

Christian Democratic Popular Front (formerly Moldovan Popular Front),

Iurie ROSCA, chairman; Yedinstvo Intermovement, V. YAKOVLEV, chairman;

Social Democratic Party, Oazu NANTOI, chairman, two other chairmen;

Agrarian-Democratic Party, Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman; Democratic Party,

Gheorghe GHIMPU, chairman; Democratic Labor Party, Alexandru ARSENI,

chairman; Reform Party, Anatol SELARU; Republican Party, Victor

PUSCAS; Socialist Party, Valeriu SENIC, chairman; Communist Party,

Vladimir VORONIN

Other political or pressure groups: 

United Council of Labor Collectives (UCLC), Igor SMIRNOV, chairman;

Congress of Intellectuals, Alexandru MOSANU; The Ecology Movement of

Moldova (EMM), G. MALARCHUK, chairman; The Christian Democratic League

of Women of Moldova (CDLWM), L. LARI, chairman; National Christian

Party of Moldova (NCPM), D. TODIKE, M. BARAGA, V. NIKU, leaders; The

Peoples Movement Gagauz Khalky (GKh), S. GULGAR, leader; The

Democratic Party of Gagauzia (DPG), G. SAVOSTIN, chairman; The

Alliance of Working People of Moldova (AWPM), G. POLOGOV, president;

Christian Alliance for Greater Romania; Stefan the Great Movement;

Liberal Convention of Moldova; Association of Victims of Repression;

Christian Democratic Youth League

Member of: 

BSEC, CE (guest), CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT

(nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,

WHO, WIPO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Nicolae TIU 

chancery: 

1511 K Street NW, Room 329, Washington, DC 

telephone: 

(202) 783-3012 or -2807 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Mary C. PENDLETON 

embassy: 

Strada Alexei Mateevich #103, Chisinau 

mailing address: 

use embassy street address 

telephone: 

373 (2) 23-37-72 or 23-34-76 

FAX: 

7-0422-23-30-44 

Flag: 

same color scheme as Romania - 3 equal vertical bands of blue (hoist

side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle

of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow

cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a

yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided

horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and

crescent all in black-outlined yellow

@Moldova, Economy

Overview: 

Moldova has pushed ahead boldly on economic reform since gaining its

independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It introduced a

convertible currency - the leu - in late 1993 that has remained stable

against the dollar, removed price controls on most products,

eliminated licenses and quotas on most imports and exports, and freed

interest rates. In 1994, Moldova aims to privatize at least one-third

of state enterprises, lower inflation to 1% per month, and reduce the

budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP. Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and

good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result,

Moldova's economy is primarily based on agriculture, featuring fruits,

vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova, however, must import all of

its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, and energy shortages have

contributed to sharp production declines since the break-up of the

Soviet Union. Activities by separatist groups in the Dniester region

have held back economic development in that area. Foreign economic

assistance has been a tangible plus for Moldova, whereas direct

foreign investment has been lacking.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $16.3 billion (1993 estimate from

the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and

published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as

extrapolated to 1993 using official Moldovan statistics, which are

very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)

National product real growth rate: 

-4% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: 

$3,650 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

30% per month (1993)

Unemployment rate: 

less than 1% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large

numbers of underemployed workers)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$NA

expenditures: 

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

note: 

budget deficit for 1993 approximately 6% of GDP

Exports: 

$108 million to outside the FSU countries (January-September 1993);

over 70% of exports go to FSU countries

commodities: 

foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery, chemicals

(1991)

partners: 

Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany

Imports: 

$145 million from outside the FSU countries (January-September 1993);

over 70% of imports are from FSU countries

commodities: 

oil, gas, coal, steel machinery, foodstuffs, automobiles, and other

consumer durables

partners: 

Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany

External debt: 

$325 million (end of 1993)

Industrial production: 

growth rate -10% (1993)

Electricity: 

capacity: 

3,115,000 kW

production: 

11.1 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

2,491 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

key products are canned food, agricultural machinery, foundry

equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery,

refined sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles

Agriculture: 

Moldova's principal economic activity; products are vegetables,

fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, meat, milk, tobacco

Illicit drugs: 

illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly for CIS

consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

Joint EC-US loan (1993), $127 million; IMF STF credit (1993), $64

million; IMF stand-by loan (1993), $72 million; US commitments

(1992-93), $61 million in humanitarian aid, $11 million in technical

assistance; World Bank loan (1993), $60 million; Russia (1993), 50

billion ruble credit; Romania (1993), 20 billion lei credit

Currency: 

the leu (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993

Exchange rates: 

NA