Chapter 77
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget: revenues: $80.1 million expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1994)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1994)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Exports: $17.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: fish, coconut oil, fish, trochus shells
Exports--partners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: $71.8 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia, NZ
Debt--external: $125 million (FY96/97 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?approximately $65 million annually from the US
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: telex services domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other 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: 3 (of which one is an independent station and two are US military stations) (1997)
Televisions: NA
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: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,572,915 GRT/11,208,214 DWT ships by type: bulk 56, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada 1, China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (1998 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 Atoll
======================================================================
@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
People
Population: 411,539 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 47,933; female 46,957) 15-64 years: 67% (male 136,058; female 138,935) 65 years and over: 10% (male 17,530; female 24,126) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.03% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.27 years male: 76.47 years female: 82.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 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.)
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
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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998) head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
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 NA March 1998 (next to be held by March 2004) 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--NA 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 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for League of Workers and Peasants; Association for the Protection of
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--$4.24 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,700 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)
Labor force: 160,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $775 million expenditures: $2.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $118 million (1996)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 855 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 855 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Exports--partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports--partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
Debt--external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual aid from France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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: 11 (in addition, there are nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
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 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 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 ----------
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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
People
Population: 2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225) 15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951) 65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.2 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 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.48 years male: 47.39 years female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 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), French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
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
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular--region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern law
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 Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 16 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90% of the vote
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 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000); 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--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and 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 or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union MOHAMED, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
Flag description: 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
Economy
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. Short-term growth prospects are uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,890 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 31% services: 43% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1996)
Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $329 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)
Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 80% hydro: 20% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 150 million kWh (1996
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep; fish products
Exports: $562 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold
Exports--partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%
Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods
Imports--partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US 3%
Debt--external: $2.5 billion (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $227.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made) domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 50,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 704 km (single track); note--owned and operated by government mining company standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 26 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $30 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Mauritius ---------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: World