Chapter 76
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8 September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following House of Representatives elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note--additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 69 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party--PN 35, MLP 30
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or PN [Edward
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony DARMANIN chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red
Economy
Economy--overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 148,085 (September 1996)
Labor force--by occupation: public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 5% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $1.32 billion expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, cauliflowers, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactures (1996)
Exports--partners: France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy 6% (1997)
Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports--partners: Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US 8% (1997)
Debt--external: $130 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 189,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 300,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,582 km paved: 1,471 km unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine: total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956 GRT/40,706,665 DWT ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 18 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (including an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 99,067 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $65.5 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
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@Man, Isle of ------------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 588 sq km land: 588 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 113 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 620 m
Natural resources: lead, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 32% other: 0%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
People
Population: 75,686 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 6,906; female 6,597) 15-64 years: 65% (male 24,655; female 24,604) 65 years and over: 17% (male 5,156; female 7,768) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.79 years male: 74.28 years female: 81.47 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Manxman, Manxwoman adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man
Data code: IM
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since NA 1995) head of government: President of the Tynwald and the Legislative Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; president of theTwnwald and the Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the Legislative Council; percent of legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Keys--last held 21 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: House of Keys--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--independents 24
Judicial branch: High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members sit as independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking and other services now contribute more than four fifths of GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$985 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 16% services: 82% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 33,577 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, retail distribution 9%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%
Unemployment rate: 1% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $437.7 million expenditures: $432.5 million, including capital expenditures of $102.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Exports--partners: UK
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish
Imports--partners: UK
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Manx pound (LM) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994)); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 46,000 (1996)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives broadcasts from the UK) (1997)
Televisions: 24,450 (1996)
Transportation
Railways: total: 52 km (27 km electrified)
Highways: total: 640 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 320 km
Ports and harbors: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine: total: 148 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,161,154 GRT/6,880,170 DWT ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 7, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 14, oil tanker 43, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, vehicle carrier 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 8 ships, Denmark 1, Sweden 1, Belgium 1, and Netherlands 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@Marshall Islands ----------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Area--comparative: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
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, Desertication, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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
People
Population: 65,507 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 16,622; female 15,957) 15-64 years: 48% (male 16,106; female 15,386) 65 years and over: 2% (male 677; female 759) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.86% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.81 years male: 63.21 years female: 66.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.67 children born/woman (1999 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.)
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
Capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: 33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje
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 November 1999); 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 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999) 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
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, 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 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
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: US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island 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, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid, equal to about 70% of GDP. Negotiations will get underway in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties have caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$91 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 13% services: 72% (1995)