Chapter 74
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: 60% permanent pastures : NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range
@Marshall Islands:People
Population: 60,652 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 15,550; female 14,926) 15-64 years : 48% (male 14,732; female 14,032) 65 years and over: 2% (male 662; female 750) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.85% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 45.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.07 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 45.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.14 years male: 62.57 years female: 65.79 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 93% male: 100% female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Marshall Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form : Marshall Islands former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Data code: RM
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
National capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 May (1979)
Constitution: 1 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 14 January 1997 (next to be held NA January 2000); note - Imata KABUA elected to succeed and complete the term of the late President Amata KABUA election results : Imata KABUA elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 63%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : last held 14 January 1997 (next to be held NA 2000; note - new elections will be held upon the completion of the term of the late President Amata KABUA) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA note : the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Our Islands Party, leader NA, and Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general : Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379; Majuro, 20521-4380 (pouch) telephone : [692] 247-4011 FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy
Economy - overview: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange, employs about 10% of the labor force, and remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. The government is drafting economic reforms designed to increase revenue and compensate for reductions in US Government grants - in 1994, the US Government provided grants of $50 million, equal to 55% of the Marshall Islands' GDP. About 25% of the government's FY95/96 budget was devoted to debt repayment. In 1996, efforts to stabilize the economy included a 27% reduction in the government's work force and a 10% cut in the budget.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $94 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,680 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16% industry: 14% services : 70% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 4% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total : 4,800 (1986) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget: revenues : $67.2 million expenditures: $79.6 million, including capital expenditures of $21.6 million (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 16,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Exports: total value: $21.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: fish, coconut oil, live animals, trochus shells partners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: total value: $69.9 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco partners: US, Japan, Australia
Debt - external: $170 million (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Marshall Islands:Communications
Telephones: 800 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: telex services domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Marshall Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports and harbors: Majuro
Merchant marine: total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,040,788 GRT/6,780,092 DWT ships by type: bulk carrier 44, cargo 5, combination ore/oil 1, container 21, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 16 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island ______________________________________________________________________
MARTINIQUE
(overseas department of France)
@Martinique:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total : 1,100 sq km land: 1,060 sq km water: 40 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 17% forests and woodland: 44% other : 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
@Martinique:People
Population: 402,984 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 46,906; female 45,800) 15-64 years: 67% (male 133,500; female 136,773) 65 years and over : 10% (male 16,890; female 23,115) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 16.69 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.88 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.98 years male: 76.21 years female: 81.83 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural) adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 92% female: 93% (1982 est.)
@Martinique:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Martinique conventional short form: Martinique local long form : Departement de la Martinique local short form: Martinique
Data code: MB
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA) head of government : President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Assembly - last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2 note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 3, PS 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre LESUEUR]; Union for a Martinique of Progress or UMP; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM [Jean CRUSOL]; Martinique Communist Party or PCM [George ERICHOT]; Martinique Patriots or PM; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Miguel LAVENTURE]; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Republican Party or PR [Jean BAILLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group or GAP; Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group or GRS; Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste or PMS; Association for the Protection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)
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
Economy - overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.95 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 3.9% (1990)
Labor force: total: 160,000 by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 23.5% (1993)
Budget: revenues: $620 million expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $170 million (1992)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for rum
Exports: total value: $220 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
Imports: total value : $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
Debt - external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: substantial annual French aid
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Martinique:Communications
Telephones: 209,672 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate domestic: NA international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 74,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
@Martinique:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,724 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1994)
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________
MAURITANIA
@Mauritania:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total : 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 5,074 km border countries : Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland : 4% other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified : none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
@Mauritania:People
Population: 2,411,317 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 49% (male 586,972; female 580,408) 15-64 years: 49% (male 579,071; female 612,343) 65 years and over : 2% (male 22,098; female 30,425) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.17% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 46.55 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 14.82 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 80 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.49 years male : 46.52 years female: 52.58 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
@Mauritania:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah
Data code: MR
Government type: republic
National 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, and state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 2 January 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 12 April 1996 (next to be held NA 1998); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7