Chapter 115
$103.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$168.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$349.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Industries:
food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
243.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
202 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
1.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
484.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 78.7% hydro: 14.2% nuclear: 4.2% other: 2.9% (2001)
Oil - production:
3.501 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.119 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
2.204 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
385,400 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
11.65 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
55.98 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
68.29 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
2.973 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
11.69 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
392.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$5.525 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$271.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 82.2%, Canada 2.4%, Germany 1.5% (2007)
Imports:
$281.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Imports - partners:
US 49.6%, China 10.5%, Japan 5.8%, South Korea 4.5% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$189.4 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$87.19 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$179.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$260.9 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$39.01 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$348.3 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Mexican peso (MXN)
Currency code:
MXN
Exchange rates:
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004), 10.789 (2003)
Communications Mexico
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.754 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
68.254 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers far outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable domestic: low telephone density with about 18 fixed lines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmex remains dominant; legal challenges to Telmex's alleged anti-competitive behavior in the mobile and fixed-line markets culminated in a World Trade Organization ruling in 2004 against Mexico prompting some strengthening of the powers granted Mexico's telecom regulator; mobile cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)
Radios:
31 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
25.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.mx
Internet hosts:
10.653 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
51 (2000)
Internet users:
22.812 million (2007)
Transportation Mexico
Airports:
1,834 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 231 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84 914 to 1,523 m: 77 under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,603 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 408 under 914 m: 1,131 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km; oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 17,665 km standard gauge: 17,665 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 356,945 km paved: 178,473 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways) unpaved: 178,472 km (2006)
Waterways:
2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 55 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 23, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 20 (Brazil 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Spain 3, Venezuela 5, unknown 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Veracruz
Military Mexico
Military branches:
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, Sedena): Army (Ejercito, includes Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM)); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air Force (FAN) and naval infantry) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy and Air Force service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,774,688 females age 16-49: 29,376,791 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,188,284 females age 16-49: 24,884,614 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,110,544 female: 1,073,223 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Transnational Issues Mexico
Disputes - international:
abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 5,500-10,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2007 rose to 6,900 hectares yielding a potential production of 18 metric tons of pure heroin, or 50 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation increased to 8,900 hectares in 2007 and yielded a potential production of 15,800 metric tons; government conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in the world; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market (2007)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Micronesia, Federated States of
Introduction Micronesia, Federated States of
Background:
In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
Geography Micronesia, Federated States of
Location:
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6,112 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Terrain:
islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources:
forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People Micronesia, Federated States of
Population:
107,665 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.3% (male 19,344/female 18,687) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 33,142/female 33,389) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,320/female 1,783) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.6 years male: 21.1 years female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.191% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-21.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.65 years male: 68.79 years female: 72.61 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:
Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Languages:
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)
Education expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2000)
Government Micronesia, Federated States of
Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none local long form: Federated States of Micronesia local short form: none former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts abbreviation: FSM
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Capital:
name: Palikir geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:
10 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the eight executive departments elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2007 (next to be held May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote) elections: last held 6 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam K. HUGHES embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:
Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$232 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
37,410 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.9% industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$22.45 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$72.49 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
NA (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:
NA
Current account balance:
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
Exports:
$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2006)
Imports:
$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$106.4 million (2005)
Debt - external:
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,700 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
27,400 (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (cable TV also available) (2004)
Televisions:
2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fm
Internet hosts:
866 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
15,000 (2007)
Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of
Airports:
6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Tomil Harbor
Military Micronesia, Federated States of
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,310 female: 1,262 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major consumer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Moldova
Introduction Moldova
Background:
Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.
Geography Moldova
Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,390 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources:
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 54.52% permanent crops: 8.81% other: 36.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
11.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%) per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
landslides
Environment - current issues:
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People Moldova
Population:
4,324,450 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 361,000/female 341,785) 15-64 years: 72.9% (male 1,528,080/female 1,622,620) 65 years and over: 10.9% (male 174,448/female 296,517) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.3 years male: 32.4 years female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.092% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
11.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.5 years male: 66.81 years female: 74.41 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.26 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: