Chapter 73
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 39% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Environment--current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People
Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.) note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491) 15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923) 65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.05 years male: 70.93 years female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 2%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: none local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija abbreviation: FYROM
Data code: MK
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular--opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: 8 September
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note--cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote--Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats--85 members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VMRO 49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
International organization participation: BIS (pending member), CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field
Economy
Economy--overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,050 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 20.4% industry: 38.6% services: 41% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note--many employed workers are, in fact, furloughees
Budget: revenues: $1.06 billion expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107 million (1996 est.)
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 19.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machinery and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%
Exports--partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Italy
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12%
Imports--partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria
Debt--external: $1.06 billion (June 1997)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $100 million (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni
Exchange rates: denars per US$1--52.156 (January 1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 125,000
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 922 km standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)
Highways: total: 10,591 km paved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 539,329 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 17,291 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $71 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for regional autonomy
Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe
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@Madagascar ----------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 587,040 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment--current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
People
Population: 14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209) 65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.24 years male: 52.01 years female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry--Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic
Data code: MA
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note--the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms elections: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 34
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo RAZANAMASY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Madagascar suffers from 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 32% 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 demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 13% services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1997)
Labor force: 7 million (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $477 million expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264 million (1996 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1993 est.)
Electricity--production: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 41.18% hydro: 58.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
Exports--partners: France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%, Reunion 5.7% (1996)
Imports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
Imports--partners: France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%, Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)
Debt--external: $4.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $298.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 34,000 (1994)
Telephone system: system is above average for Africa domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.74 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 36 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 280,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine: total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 133 (1998 est.)
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 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces--includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 3,415,726 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 144,779 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $29 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1994)
Transnational Issues
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
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@Malawi ------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m
Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations