Part 39
Exports: $23.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities--crude oil, oil products, coffee, shrimp, engines, cotton; partners--US 66%, EC 16%, Japan 11%
Imports: $23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities--grain, metal manufactures, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment; partners--US 62%, EC 18%, Japan 10%
External debt: $95.1 billion (1989)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.3% (1988)
Electricity: 26,900,000 kW capacity; 103,670 million kWh produced, 1,200 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, transportation equipment, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 9% of GDP and over 25% of work force; large number of small farms at subsistence level; major food crops--corn, wheat, rice, beans; cash crops--cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons among top 20 nations (1987)
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of government eradication efforts; major link in chain of countries used to smuggle cocaine from South American dealers to US markets
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $3.0 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $6.8 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $110 million
Currency: Mexican peso (plural--pesos); 1 Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1--2,660.3 (January 1990), 2,461.3 (1989), 2,273.1 (1988), 1,378.2 (1987), 611.8 (1986), 256.9 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications Railroads: 20,680 km total; 19,950 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 730 km 0.914-meter narrow gauge
Highways: 210,000 km total; 65,000 km paved, 30,000 km semipaved or cobblestone, 60,000 km rural roads (improved earth) or roads under construction, 55,000 km unimproved earth roads
Inland waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines: crude oil, 4,381 km; refined products, 8,345 km; natural gas, 13,254 km
Ports: Acapulco, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Puerto Vallarta, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Veracruz
Merchant marine: 68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,041,229 GRT/1,552,478 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 31 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 4 bulk, 4 combination bulk
Civil air: 174 major transport aircraft
Airports: 1,785 total, 1,484 usable; 190 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 31 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 259 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: highly developed system with extensive radio relay links; connection into Central American Microwave System; 6.41 million telephones; stations--679 AM, no FM, 238 TV, 22 shortwave; 120 domestic satellite terminals; satellite earth stations--4 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
- Defense Forces Branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps
Military manpower: males 15-49, 21,575,525; 15,803,322 fit for military service; 1,118,046 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (1987) ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Micronesia, Federated States of - Geography Total area: 702 km2; land area: 702 km2; includes Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae
Comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims:
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
Environment: subject to typhoons from June to December; four major island groups totaling 607 islands
Note: located 5,150 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia
- People Population: 104,937 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)
Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Micronesian(s); adjective--Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religion: predominantly Christian, divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist, Latter Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith
Language: English is the official and common language; most indigenous languages fall within the Austronesian language family, the exceptions are the Polynesian languages; major indigenous languages are Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Kosrean
Literacy: NA%, but education compulsory through eight grades
Labor force: NA; two-thirds are government employees; 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65
Organized labor: NA
- Government Long-form name: Federated States of Micronesia (no short-form name)
Type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
Capital: Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei); note--a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Truk, Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship; formerly the Kosrae, Pohnpei, Truk, and Yap districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Constitution: 10 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President John R. HAGLELGAM (since 11 May 1987); Vice President Hiroshi H. ISMAEL (since 11 May 1987)
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: President--last held 11 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991); results--John R. Haglelgam was elected;
House of Representatives--last held on NA (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(NA total)
Communists: none
Member of: SPF, ESCAP (associate)
Diplomatic representation: Deputy Representative Jesse B. MAREHALAN; Representative Office at 706 G Street SE, Washington DC 20003; telephone (202) 544-2640; US--Representative Michael G. WYGANT; US Office at address NA, Kolonia (mailing address is P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941); telephone 691-320-2187
Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
- Economy Overview: Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Micronesia also earns about $4 million a year in fees from foreign commercial fishing concerns. 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 remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development; note--GNP numbers reflect US spending.
GNP: $150 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 80%
Budget: revenues $110.8 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA (1987 est.)
Exports: $1.6 million (f.o.b., 1983); commodities--copra; partners--NA
Imports: $48.9 million (c.i.f., 1983); commodities--NA; partners--NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 15,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 340 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearl
Agriculture: mainly a subsistence economy; copra, black pepper; tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens
Aid: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency: US currency is used
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
- Communications Highways: 39 km of paved macadam and concrete roads on major islands, otherwise 187 km stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads
Ports: Colonia (Yap), Truk (Kosrae), Okat (Kosrae)
Airports: 11 total, 10 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439
Telecommunications: 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987); telephone network--960 telephone lines at both Kolonia and Truk; islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes); stations--5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
- Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the US ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Midway Islands (territory of the US) - Geography Total area: 5.2 km2; land area: 5.2 km2; includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
Comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 m;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Natural resources: fish and wildlife
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Environment: coral atoll
Note: located 2,350 km west-northwest of Honolulu at the western end of Hawaiian Islands group, about one-third of the way between Honolulu and Tokyo; closed to the public
- People Population: 453 US military personnel (1989)
- Government Long-form name: none
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, under command of the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii and managed cooperatively by the US Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: the US flag is used
- Economy Overview: The economy is based on providing support services for US naval operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
- Communications Highways: 32 km total
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports: Sand Island
Airports: 3 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
- Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the US ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Monaco - Geography Total area: 1.9 km2; land area: 1.9 km2
Comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundary: 4.4 km with France
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
Natural resources: none
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Environment: almost entirely urban
Note: second-smallest independent state in world (after Vatican City)
- People Population: 29,453 (July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)
Birth rate: 7 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 9 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 80 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 1.2 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Monacan(s) or Monegasque(s); adjective--Monacan or Monegasque
Ethnic divisions: 47% French, 16% Monegasque, 16% Italian, 21% other
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic
Language: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: 99%
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: 4,000 members in 35 unions
- Government Long-form name: Principality of Monaco
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Monaco
Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular--quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Independence: 1419, rule by the House of Grimaldi
Constitution: 17 December 1962
Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: National Day, 19 November
Executive branch: prince, minister of state, Council of Government (cabinet)
Legislative branch: National Council (Conseil National)
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal (Tribunal Supreme)
Leaders: Chief of State--Prince RAINIER III (since November 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958);
Head of Government Minister of State Jean AUSSEIL (since 10 September 1985)
Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union (UND), Democratic Union Movement (MUD), Monaco Action, Monegasque Socialist Party (PSM)
Suffrage: universal adult at age 25
Elections: National Council--last held on 24 January 1988 (next to be held 24 January 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(18 total) UND 18
Member of: IAEA, ICAO, IHO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, UN (permanent observer), UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation: Monaco maintains honorary consulates general in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco, and honorary consulates in Dallas, Honolulu, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Washington; US--no mission in Monaco, but the US Consul General in Marseille, France, is accredited to Monaco; Consul General R. Susan WOOD; Consulate General at 12 Boulevard Paul Peytral, 13286 Marseille Cedex (mailing address APO NY 09777); telephone [33] (91) 549-200
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
- Economy Overview: No data are published on the economy. Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. About 50% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector; about 25% of revenue comes from tourism. Living standards are high, that is, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan suburbs.
GNP: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: full employment (1989)
Budget: revenues $386 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EC market system through customs union with France
Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EC market system through customs union with France
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 10,000 kW standby capacity (1988); power supplied by France
Industries: pharmaceuticals, food processing, precision instruments, glassmaking, printing, tourism
Agriculture: NA
Aid: NA
Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.7598 (January 1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications Railroads: 1.6 km 1.435-meter gauge
Highways: none; city streets
Ports: Monaco
Merchant marine: 1 tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,268 GRT/4,959 DWT
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 1 usable airfield with permanent-surface runways
Telecommunications: served by the French communications system; automatic telephone system; 38,200 telephones; stations--3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; no communication satellite stations
- Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of France ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Mongolia - Geography Total area: 1,565,000 km2; land area: 1,565,000 km2
Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries: 8,114 km total; China 4,673 km, USSR 3,441 km
Coastline: none--landlocked
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Natural resources: coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
Land use: 1% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 79% meadows and pastures; 10% forest and woodland; 10% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: harsh and rugged
Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Soviet Union
- People Population: 2,187,275 (July 1990), growth rate 2.7% (1990)
Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Mongolian(s); adjective--Mongolian
Ethnic divisions: 90% Mongol, 4% Kazakh, 2% Chinese, 2% Russian, 2% other
Religion: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, about 4% Muslim, limited religious activity because of Communist regime
Language: Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese
Literacy: 80% (est.); 100% claimed (1985)
Labor force: NA, but primarily agricultural; over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor
Organized labor: 425,000 members of the Central Council of Mongolian Trade Unions (CCMTU) controlled by the government (1984)
- Government Long-form name: Mongolian People's Republic; abbreviated MPR
Type: Communist state
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular--aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular--hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China; formerly Outer Mongolia)
Constitution: 6 July 1960
Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: People's Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Executive branch: chairman and deputy chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Hural, Presidium of the People's Great Hural, chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Great Hural
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State--Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Hural Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 21 March 1990);
Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sharabyn GUNGAADORJ (since 21 March 1990);
Political parties and leaders: only party--Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Gombojabin Ochirbat, General Secretary
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: President--last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held July 1991); results--Punsalmaagiyn Ochirbat elected by the People's Great Hural;
People's Great Hural--last held on 22 June 1986 (next to be held June 1990); results--MPRP was the only party; seats--(370 total) MPRP 370
Communists: MPRP membership 88,150 (1986 est.)
Member of: CEMA, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, ILO, IPU, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Gendengiin NYAMDOO; US--Ambassador Richard L. WILLIAMS
Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is a five-pointed star above the national emblem (soyombo--a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representations for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)
- Economy Overview: Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock--Mongolia has the highest number of livestock per person in the world. In recent years extensive mineral resources have been developed with Soviet support. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production.
GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $880 (1985 est.); average real growth rate 3.6% (1976-85 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $2.2 billion; expenditures $2.19 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.9 billion (1987 est.)
Exports: $388 million (f.o.b., 1985); commodities--livestock, animal products, wool, hides, fluorspar, nonferrous metals, minerals; partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)
Imports: $1.0 billion (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea; partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 10.9% (1985)
Electricity: 657,000 kW capacity; 29,500 million kWh produced, 1,340 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: processing of animal products, building materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)
Agriculture: accounts for 90% of exports and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (sheep, goats, horses); crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, forage
Aid: about $500-$700 million annually from USSR
Currency: tughrik (plural--tughriks); 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1--3.355 (1986-1988), 3.600 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications Railroads: 1,750 km 1.524-meter broad gauge (1986)
Highways: 46,700 km total; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other surfaces (1986)
Inland waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1986)
Civil air: 22 major transport aircraft
Airports: 80 total, 30 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; fewer than 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: stations--13 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial relays); relay of Soviet TV; 60,000 TV sets; 186,000 radio receivers; at least 1 satellite earth station
- Defense Forces Branches: Mongolian People's Army, Air Force (negligible)
Military manpower: males 15-49, 518,482; 338,652 fit for military service; 24,783 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: NA ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Montserrat (dependent territory of the UK) - Geography Total area: 100 km2; land area: 100 km2
Comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: 20% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 10% meadows and pastures; 40% forest and woodland; 30% other
Environment: subject to severe hurricanes from June to November
Note: located 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea
- People Population: 12,467 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)
Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 4 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Montserratian(s); adjective--Montserratian
Ethnic divisions: mostly black with a few Europeans
Religion: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Language: English
Literacy: 77%
Labor force: 5,100; 40.5% community, social, and personal services, 13.5% construction, 12.3% trade, restaurants, and hotels, 10.5% manufacturing, 8.8% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 14.4% other (1983 est.)
Organized labor: 30% of labor force, three trade unions with 1,500 members (1984 est.)
- Government Long-form name: none
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Plymouth
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence: none (colony of the UK)
Constitution: 1 January 1960
Legal system: English common law and statute law
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
Executive branch: monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet), chief minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Christopher J. TURNER (since 1987);
Head of Government--Chief Minister John A. OSBORNE (since 1978)
Political parties and leaders: People's Liberation Movement (PLM), John Osborne; Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Howell Bramble; United National Front (UNF), Dr. George Irish; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand Osborne
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: Legislative Council--last held on 25 August 1987 (next to be held NA 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(11 total, 7 elected) PLM 4, NDP 2, PDP 1
Communists: probably none
Diplomatic representation: none (colony of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
- Economy Overview: The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounted for 20% of GDP in 1986. Agriculture accounted for about 4% of GDP and industry 9%. The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.
GDP: $45.4 million, per capita $3,780; real growth rate 12% (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 3.0% (1987)
Budget: revenues $10.0 million; expenditures $9.4 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1987)
Exports: $3.0 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--plastic bags, electronic parts, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle; partners--NA
Imports: $25.3 million (c.i.f., 1987); commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials; partners--NA
External debt: $3.7 million (1985)
Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1986)
Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced, 930 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism; light manufacturing--rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops--tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products
Aid: NA
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
- Communications Highways: 280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth
Ports: Plymouth