← The 2006 CIA World Factbook, Volume 2
Gwp (part 3)
Economy - overview:
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest
republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is
almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and
the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry
remains greatly overstaffed, a holdover from the socialist economic
structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military
industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia was saddled
with a host of industrial firms with little commercial potential.
The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by
80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace
in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from
a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in
output was made up in 2003-05. National-level statistics are limited
and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The
konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency
introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the
currency and the banking sector has increased. Implementation of
privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only
reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform
accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were
shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Western Europe, now control
most of the banking sector. A sizeable current account deficit and
high unemployment rate remain the two most serious economic
problems. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction
assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but
will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.09 billion
note: Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much
as 50% of official GDP (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.495 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.2% industry: 30.8% services: 55% (2002)
Labor force: 1.026 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to
25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.2 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.373 billion
expenditures: $4.401 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
29% of GDP
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle
assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and
aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
10.51 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.5% hydro: 46.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
8.849 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
3.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
2.271 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
160 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$-2.087 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:
Croatia 18.4%, Italy 17.1%, Slovenia 14.6%, Germany 12.8%, Austria
6.5%, Hungary 5.2%, China 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Croatia 24.7%, Germany 13.7%, Slovenia 13.1%, Italy 11%, Austria
6.9%, Hungary 5.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.531 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.116 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$650 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):
marka (BAM)
Currency code:
BAM
Exchange rates:
marka per US dollar - 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004), 1.7329 (2003),
2.0782 (2002), 2.1857 (2001)
note: the marka is pegged to the euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:
968,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.594 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone and telegraph network needs
modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average as
contrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republics
domestic: NA
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.ba
Internet hosts:
31,490 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
806,400 (2005)
Transportation Bosnia and Herzegovina
Airports:
28 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Heliports:
5 (2006)
Railways:
total: 608 km (777 km electrified)
standard gauge: 608 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,425 km (4,686 km of interurban roads)
unpaved: 10,421 km (2005)
Waterways:
Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all
inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje
Military Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:
VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands
within the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces are
subordinate commands within the Army)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age in times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18 and 55; service obligation is four months (July 2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,119,508
females age 18-49: 1,079,435 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 910,539
females age 18-49: 881,446 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 32,942
females age 18-49: 31,466 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$234.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimited
most of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River remain in
dispute; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed
sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinder
ratification of the 1999 border agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,213 (Croatia)
IDPs: 309,200 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in
1992-95 war) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to
Western Europe; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering
activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak
law enforcement, and instances of corruption
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Botswana
Introduction Botswana
Background:
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted
its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of
uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and
significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic
economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,
dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due
to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature
preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of
HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and
comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Geography Botswana
Location:
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 600,370 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe
813 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in
southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore,
silver
Land use: arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west,
carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure
visibility
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
People Botswana
Population:
1,639,833
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 319,531/female 309,074)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 460,692/female 488,577)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,374/female 38,585) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 20 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
23.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
29.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 33.74 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 33.56 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
37.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
33,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including
Kgalagadi and white 7%
Religions:
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none
20.6% (2001 census)
Languages:
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1%
(official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Government Botswana
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
local long form: Republic of Botswana
local short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*,
Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast,
Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution:
March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review
limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998)
and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004
(next to be held in 2009); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 52%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely
advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting of the
chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving
5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members
selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63
seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are
appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and
Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004
(next to be held October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%,
BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
Judicial branch:
High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each
district)
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO];
Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana
Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front
or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP; MELS
Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the
United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence
Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union
[D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: (202) 244-4990
FAX: (202) 244-4164
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. CANAVAN embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: 353982 FAX: 312782
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
Economy Botswana
Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth
rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and
sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the
poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per
capita GDP of $10,000 in 2005. Two major investment services rank
Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has
fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than
one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism,
financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are
other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with
high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is
23.8%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS
infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten
Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in
diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.53 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.046 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 46.9% (including 36% mining) services: 50.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 288,400 formal sector employees (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
23.8% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
30.3% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.766 billion
expenditures: $3.767 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
6.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
891 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.641 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
1.39 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
16,000 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$1.584 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.68 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Exports - partners:
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African
Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004)
Imports:
$3.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment,
textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products,
metal and metal products
Imports - partners:
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4%
(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.309 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$519 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$73 million (1995)
Currency (code):
pula (BWP)
Currency code:
BWP
Exchange rates:
pulas per US dollar - 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003),
6.3278 (2002), 5.8412 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:
132,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
823,100 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of
mobile cellular service and participation in regional development
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile
cellular service is growing fast
international: country code - 267; two international exchanges;
digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
252,720 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bw
Internet hosts:
5,499 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2001)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Botswana
Airports: 85 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 17 (2006)
Railways: total: 888 km narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 25,233 km paved: 8,867 km unpaved: 16,366 km (2003)
Military Botswana
Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (includes an air wing) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official
qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 350,649
females age 18-49: 361,642 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 136,322
females age 18-49: 136,315 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 21,103
females age 18-49: 21,379 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$325.5 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Botswana
Disputes - international:
commission established with Namibia has yet to resolve small
residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu
marshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents
protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric
dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana has built electric fences to
stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escape
political persecution; Namibia has long supported and in 2004
Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to
build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing
their short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Bouvet Island
Introduction Bouvet Island
Background:
This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by
glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by
a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was
made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK
waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island
the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent
territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977,
Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.
Geography Bouvet Island
Location:
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good
Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
People Bouvet Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2006 est.)
Government Bouvet Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Dependency status:
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the
Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Legal system:
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
Economy Bouvet Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications Bouvet Island
Internet country code:
.bv
Internet hosts:
6 (2006)
Communications - note:
automatic meteorological station
Transportation Bouvet Island
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bouvet Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Bouvet Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Brazil
Introduction Brazil
Background:
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became
an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far the
largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame
more than half a century of military intervention in the governance
of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded
power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and
agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast
natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South
America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly
unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
Geography Brazil
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 sq km
water: 55,455 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,
Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao
Paulo
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 16,884.4 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia
1,644 km, French Guiana 730.4 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365
km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela
2,199 km
Coastline:
7,491 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,
mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum,
tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use: arable land: 6.93% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
29,200 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in
south
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a
multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there
is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in
Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land
degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining
activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with
every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People Brazil
Population:
188,078,227
note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a
population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this
country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant
mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 24,687,656/female 23,742,998)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 63,548,331/female 64,617,539)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,712,675/female 6,769,028) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 29 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
16.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.97 years
male: 68.02 years
female: 76.12 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
660,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups:
white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%,
other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist
1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4%
(2000 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Government Brazil
Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil
Government type:
federative republic
Capital:
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into four time zones, including one for the
Fernando de Noronha islands
Administrative divisions:
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*
(distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara,
Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco,
Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul,
Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence:
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution:
5 October 1988
Legal system:
based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory
over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not
vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 1
October 2006 with runoff 29 October 2006 (next to be held 3 October
2010 and, if necessary, 31 October 2010)
election results: Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (PT) reelected president
- 60.83%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 39.17%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the
Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each
state and federal district elected according to the principle of
majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a
four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year
period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513
seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held 1 October 2006 for one-third
of the Senate (next to be held October 2010 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held October 2010)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB 3, PT 2, PFL 1, PDT 1,
PSB 1, PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1; total seats following
election - PFL 18, PMDB 15, PSDB 15, PT 11, PDT 5, PTB 4, PSB 3, PL
3, PCdoB 2, PRB 2, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83, PFL
65, PSDB 65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13,
PV 13, PSC 9, other 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed for life by
the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of
Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life);
note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federal
employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel
TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Flavio de CASTRO MARTINEZ];
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy Fidelix DA CRUZ];
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo DOS SANTOS];
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Tasso JEREISSATI];
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy Eduardo Henrique
Accioly CAMPOS]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato
RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI];
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Luis Marques MENDES]; Green Party
or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or
PHS [leader NA]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA
Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy
Dr. Eneas Ferreira CARNEIRO]; Partido Municipalista Renovador or PMR
[Natal Wellington Rodrigues FURUCHO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS
[Federal Deputy Roberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal
Deputy Pedro CORREA]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge
ABDALA NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Ricardo Jose Ribeiro BERZOINI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions and federations; large
farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical
Christian churches and the Catholic Church
International organization participation:
AfDB, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto P. ABDENUR chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 238-2700 FAX: (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: (61) 3312-7000 FAX: (61) 3225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife
Flag description:
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue
celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state
and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night
sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the
motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy Brazil
Economy - overview:
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining,
manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that
of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence
in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy
grew, on average only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a
series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil
absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the
resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in
place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA
DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded
increases in employment and real wages. The three pillars of the
economic program are a floating exchange rate, an
inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, all reinforced
by a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in
2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account
adjustment; in 2003 to 2005, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and
recorded its first current account surpluses since 1992.
Productivity gains - particularly in agriculture - also contributed
to the surge in exports, and Brazil in 2005 surpassed the previous
year's record export level. While economic management has been good,
there remain important economic vulnerabilities. The most
significant are debt-related: the government's largely domestic debt
increased steadily from 1994 to 2003 - straining government finances
- before falling as a percentage of GDP in 2005, while Brazil's
foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation
to Brazil's small (but growing) export base. Another challenge is
maintaining economic growth over a period of time to generate
employment and make the government debt burden more manageable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.536 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$619.7 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.4% industry: 40% services: 51.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 90.41 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 14% services: 66% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 31.27% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
59.7 (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $140.6 billion
expenditures: $172.4 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)
Public debt:
51.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,
aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
3.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
387.5 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.3% hydro: 82.7% nuclear: 4.4% other: 4.6% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
359.6 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
6 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
37.4 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2004)
Oil - production:
2.01 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.61 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
241,700 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
572,600 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
15.12 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
15.79 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
21.74 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.947 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
240 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$14.19 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$115.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
US 19.6%, China 7.5%, Argentina 6.9%, Germany 5.3%, Mexico 4.3%
(2005)
Imports:
$78.02 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,
oil
Imports - partners:
US 19.7%, Germany 8.7%, Argentina 8.2%, China 6.2%, Nigeria 6.1%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$53.8 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$188 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$30 billion (2002)
Currency (code):
real (BRL)
Currency code:
BRL
Exchange rates:
reals per US dollar - 2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003),
2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:
42.382 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
86.21 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good working system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 64 earth stations
international: country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to
Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM
stations) (1999)
Radios:
71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
138 (1997)
Televisions:
36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.br
Internet hosts:
6,508,431 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
25.9 million (2005)
Transportation Brazil
Airports: 4,276 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 714 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 24 1,524 to 2,437 m: 164 914 to 1,523 m: 464 under 914 m: 54 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3,562 1,524 to 2,437 m: 81 914 to 1,523 m: 1,634 under 914 m: 1,847 (2006)
Heliports:
417 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 244 km; gas 11,669 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;
oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 29,252 km
broad gauge: 4,877 km 1.600-m gauge (939 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,785 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
dual gauge: 396 km 1.000 m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km
electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 1,724,929 km paved: 94,871 km unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
Waterways:
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 137 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,038,923 GRT/3,057,820 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 21, cargo 21, chemical tanker 8, container 8,
liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, roll
on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 15 (Chile 1, Germany 7, Norway 2, Spain 4, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Ghana 1, Liberia 3, Marshall
Islands 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Gebig, Itaqui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, San Sebasttiao, Santos,
Sepetiba Terminal, Tubarao, Vitoria
Military Brazil
Military branches:
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes
Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian
Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - nine to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 19-49: 45,586,036
females age 19-49: 45,728,704 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 33,119,098
females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,785,930
females age 19-49: 1,731,648 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.94 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Brazil
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders
is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics
trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations;
uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in the
Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting
tripoint with Argentina; in 2004 Brazil submitted its claims to the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to extend
its maritime continental margin
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Brazil is a source and destination country for
women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation within Brazil and
to destinations in South America, the Caribbean, Western Europe,
Japan, the US, and the Middle East, and for men trafficked within
the country for forced agricultural labor; child sex tourism is a
problem within the country, particularly in the resort areas and
coastal cities of Brazil's northeast; foreign victims from Bolivia,
Peru, China, and Korea are trafficked to Brazil for labor
exploitation in factories
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Brazil has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to fight trafficking, specifically for its
failure to apply effective criminal penalties against traffickers
who exploit forced labor
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in
the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a
large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important
transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine
headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for
narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in
drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for
Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics
proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial
system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@British Indian Ocean Territory
Introduction British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:
Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to
the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently,
BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the
Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands,
Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of
the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers,
earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to
Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In
2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration
order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the
special military status of Diego Garcia.
Geography British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the
way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 54,400 sq km
land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km
water: 54,340 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
Area - comparative:
land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
698 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost
island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island
is site of joint US-UK military facility
People British Indian Ocean Territory
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in
the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,
were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and
1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a
British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in
November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military
personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego
Garcia (July 2006 est.)
Government British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner,
resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004);
Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both
reside in the UK
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and
administrator appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is
in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm
tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of
Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.
Construction projects and various services needed to support the
military installations are done by military and contract employees
from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no
industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois
return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
The country makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage
stamps.
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Currency (code):
both the British Pound (GBP) and the US Dollar (USD) are accepted
Communications British Indian Ocean Territory
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: separate facilities for military and public
needs are available
domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including
connection to the Internet
international: international telephone service is carried by
satellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.io
Internet hosts:
65 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: NA
paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on
Diego Garcia
Ports and terminals:
Diego Garcia
Military British Indian Ocean Territory
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego
Garcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues British Indian Ocean Territory
Disputes - international:
Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including
Diego Garcia; in 2001 the former inhabitants of the Chagos
Archipelago, evicted in 1965 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius,
were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; the UK
resists the Chagossians' demand for an immediate return to the
islands; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military
lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest island in
the chain;
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@British Virgin Islands
Introduction British Virgin Islands
Background:
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin
Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the
English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the
Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967.
The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US
Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Geography British Virgin Islands
Location:
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 153 sq km
land: 153 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited
islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda,
Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
People British Virgin Islands
Population:
23,098 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331)
15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.4 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 31.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.97% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
9.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.68 years
male: 75.56 years
female: 77.84 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:
black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Religions:
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other
15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government British Virgin Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution:
1 June 1977, amended in 2000
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Dr. Orlando D. SMITH (since 17
June 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts,
4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NDP 8, VIP 5
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of
Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a
resident of the islands and presides over the High Court);
Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory
MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS
(associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a
vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin
word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy British Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:
The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the
Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated
45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly
from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002
because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the
government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing
to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate
substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore
registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance
law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with
regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses,
made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to
international business. Livestock raising is the most important
agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet
domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links
with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the
US dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$853.4 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$839.7 million
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4%
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (1997)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2005)
Budget:
revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of
$33.8 million (1997)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries:
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,
offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
34.55 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
32.13 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
410 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$134.3 million
Exports:
$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Imports:
$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Debt - external:
$36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
9,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vg
Internet hosts:
525 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
4,000 (2002)
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 177 km
paved: 177 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Road Town
Military British Virgin Islands
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,410 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 201 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues British Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable
to money laundering
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Brunei
Introduction Brunei
Background:
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and
17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of
northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently
entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal
succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In
1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was
achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six
centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas
fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the
developing world.
Geography Brunei
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:
4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:
flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues:
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and
Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost
an enclave within Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:
379,444 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 54,411/female 52,134)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,129/female 123,017)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,584/female 6,169) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.4 years
male: 28 years
female: 26.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
3.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.01 years
male: 72.57 years
female: 77.59 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous
beliefs and other 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 91.4% (2002)
Government Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate
Capital:
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 52 S, 114 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and
Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the
date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of
independence from British protection
Constitution:
29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of
Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1
January 1984)
Legal system:
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law
supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah
(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah
(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by
the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a
Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on
religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the
monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of
Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the
succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20
years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional
amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members;
Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new
council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch
for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London
is final court of appeal for civil cases; Shariah courts deal with
Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:
Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji
Zainal Abidin]; National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi];
People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]
note: parties are small and have limited activity (2005)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH
chancery: 3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 237-1838
FAX: (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODON
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar
Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone: 222-0384
FAX: 222-5293
Flag description:
yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width)
and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in
red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a
swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned
crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy Brunei
Economy - overview:
This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and
domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures,
and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account
for nearly half of GDP and more than 90% of government revenues. Per
capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and
substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from
domestic production. The government provides for all medical
services and free education through the university level and
subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that
steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine
internal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent player
by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic
Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor
force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist
sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond
oil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.842 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.486 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 56.1%
services: 40.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
146,300
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary
residents make up about 40% of labor force (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 61.1%
services: 36% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.8% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $3.765 billion
expenditures: $4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
7.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.906 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.726 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
200,800 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
10,770 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
192,700 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
11.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
$4.514 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners:
Japan 36.8%, Indonesia 19.3%, South Korea 12.7%, US 9.5%, Australia
9.3% (2005)
Imports:
$1.641 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 23.3%, Japan 6.9%, UK 5.3%, Thailand
4.5%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)
Debt - external:
$0 $NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$770,000 (2004)
Currency (code):
Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:
BND
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004),
1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
90,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
205,900 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;
international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine
cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits
two FM signals with English and Nepali service (2006)
Radios:
329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 4; note - including two UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service (2006)
Televisions:
201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
27 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
56,000 (2005)
Transportation Brunei
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
3 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,525 km paved: 2,338 km unpaved: 187 km (2000)
Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Lumut, Muara, Seria
Military Brunei
Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei
Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 103,885
females age 18-49: 93,024 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 85,045
females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 3,478
females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$290.7 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.1% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Brunei
Disputes - international:
in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their
disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have
stalemated prompting consideration of international legal
adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is
in dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone
encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but
makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has
eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally
binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are
serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Bulgaria
Introduction Bulgaria
Background:
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local
Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first
Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with
the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the
end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman
Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of
Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having
fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within
the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in
1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its
first multiparty election since World War II and began the
contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a
market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption,
and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and is slated to join the
EU in 2007.
Geography Bulgaria
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and
Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 110,910 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km
water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km,
Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Coastline:
354 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 29.94% permanent crops: 1.9% other: 68.16% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,880 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, landslides
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw
sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from
air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy
metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes
from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People Bulgaria
Population:
7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 527,881/female 502,334)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,496,054/female 2,579,680)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 527,027/female 752,391) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.8 years
male: 38.7 years
female: 42.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.86% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
9.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
14.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.3 years
male: 68.68 years
female: 76.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
346 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:
Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including
Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
Religions:
Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other
4% (2001 census)
Languages:
Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified
1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Bulgaria
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
local long form: Republika Balgariya
local short form: Balgariya
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Sofia
geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas,
Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana,
Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,
Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:
3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman
Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman
Empire)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution:
adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:
civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002);
Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August
2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, and
Emel ETEM (since 16 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011);
chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by
the president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime
ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the
National Assembly
election results: Georgi PURVANOV reelected president; percent of
vote - Georgi PURVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Sergei STANISHEV
elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%,
MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%; seats by party
- CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17, BPU 13,
independents 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;
Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year
terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the
two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;
responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and
investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the
Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by
the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:
ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack
National Union); Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; Bulgarian
Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia MOZER];
Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU);
Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for
Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei
STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir
KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed
DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic
Forces or UDF [Petar STOYANOV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD
[Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition
of center-right parties dominated by UDF)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;
Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and
national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-0174 FAX: (202) 234-7973 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Ross BEYRLE embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: (2) 937-5100 FAX: (2) 937-5320
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; note -
the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe,
has been removed
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:
Bulgaria, a former communist country soon to enter the European
Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth
since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then
socialist government. As a result, the government became committed
to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals,
including coal, copper, and zinc, play an important role in
industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the
imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German
D-mark - the currency is now fixed against the euro - and the
negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady
progress on structural reforms improved the business environment;
Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract
significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the
public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of
organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.67 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$25.79 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.3% industry: 30.4% services: 60.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 3.34 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11% industry: 32.7% services: 56.3% (3rd qtr. 2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.9% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
Below $2.15 per day (PPP) 4% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 23.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.9 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.18 billion
expenditures: $10.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
31.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar
beets; livestock
Industries:
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and
equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum,
nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:
7.9% (2005)
Electricity - production:
45 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.8% hydro: 8.1% nuclear: 44.1% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
25.1 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
1.3 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
98,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2005)
Natural gas - production:
1.13 million cu m (2003)
Natural gas - consumption:
3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2003)
Natural gas - imports:
2.9 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.67 billion cu m (1 January 2005)
Current account balance:
$-3.919 billion (2005)
Exports:
$11.67 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 9.5%, France 4.6%
(2005)
Imports:
$16.78 billion f.o.b. (2005)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;
fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners:
Russia 15.6%, Germany 13.6%, Italy 9%, Turkey 6.1%, Greece 5%,
France 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.695 billion (2005)
Debt - external:
$15.32 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$475 million per year in EU pre-accession aid (2004-06)
Currency (code):
lev (BGL)
Currency code:
BGN
Exchange rates:
leva per US dollar - 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003),
2.077 (2002), 2.1847 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,483,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.245 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: extensive but antiquated
domestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential;
telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern
digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of
the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio
relay
international: country code - 359; direct dialing to 58 countries;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2
Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.bg
Internet hosts:
184,975 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
200 (2001)
Internet users:
2.2 million (2005)
Transportation Bulgaria
Airports: 217 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 132 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 96 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 85 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 72 (2006)
Heliports:
4 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,505 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 102,016 km
paved: 93,855 km (including 328 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,161 km (2003)
Waterways:
470 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 75 ships (1000 GRT or over) 872,653 GRT/1,294,877 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 17, chemical tanker 4, container 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 41 (Cambodia 1, Comoros 1, Malta 13,
Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17, Slovakia 7, unknown
1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Burgas, Varna
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air
Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription into the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and Naval Forces will become fully professional by end of 2006 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,661,211
females age 18-49: 1,660,982 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,302,037
females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 51,023
females age 18-49: 48,651 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bulgaria
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and,
to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market;
limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of
drug-related proceeds through financial institutions
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
Background:
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from
France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s
were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Burkina
Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result
in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent
unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability
of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find
employment in neighboring countries.
Geography Burkina Faso
Location:
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km,
Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and
southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:
manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates,
pumice, salt
Land use: arable land: 17.66% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 82.12% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black,
Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population:
13,902,972
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 3,267,202/female 3,235,190)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,513,559/female 3,538,623)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 140,083/female 208,315) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
45.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
15.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 91.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 99.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.85 years
male: 47.33 years
female: 50.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
300,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
29,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly Roman
Catholic) 10%
Languages:
French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic
family spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
local long form: none
local short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:
2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted;
amended April 2000
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest YONLI (since 6
November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 November 2005
(next to be held in 2010); in April 2000, the constitution was
amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years,
enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of
popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA
4.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to
be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, other 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy
or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress
or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and
Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African
Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and
Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS; Union of
Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe
Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National
Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of
Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the
country in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM,
OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU,
WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 332-5577
FAX: (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: 50-30-67-23
FAX: 50-30-38-90, 50-31-23-68
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors
of Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso
has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of
the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is
vulnerable to harsh climatic conditions. Cotton is the key crop and
the government has joined with other cotton producing countries in
the region to lobby for improved access to Western markets. GDP
growth has largely been driven by increases in world cotton prices.
Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled
corporations. Following the CFA franc currency devaluation in
January 1994, the government updated its development program in
conjunction with international agencies; exports and economic growth
have increased. The government devolved macroeconomic policy and
inflation targeting to the West African regional central bank
(BCEAO), but maintains control over fiscal and microeconomic
policies, including implementing reforms to encourage private
investment. The bitter internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire
continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the
need for international assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.66 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.405 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 19.6%
services: 48.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
45% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.033 billion
expenditures: $1.382 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
livestock
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
375.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.9% hydro: 30.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
349.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-460 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$395 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:
China 38.3%, Singapore 12.6%, Thailand 5.7%, Ghana 5.2%, Taiwan
4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$992 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
France 24.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 23.7%, Togo 6.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$764 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.85 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$468.4 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:
97,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
572,200 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:
.bf
Internet hosts:
399 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
64,600 (2005)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Airports: 34 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Railways:
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire
(2005)
Roadways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso),
National Gendarmerie (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age
for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,651,687 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$74.83 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:
two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Benin
accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso border
regions remain a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebels
and an asylum for refugees caught in local fighting; the Ivoirian
Government accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian rebels
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Burma
Introduction Burma
Background:
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and
incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a
province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,
self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and
later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections
in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National
League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling
junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize
recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to
1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently
transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually
incommunicado. In November 2005, the junta extended her detention
for at least another six months. Her supporters, as well as all
those who promote democracy and improved human rights, are routinely
harassed or jailed.
Geography Burma
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:
1,930 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest
monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild
temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)
Terrain:
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead,
coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 14.92%
permanent crops: 1.31%
other: 83.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
18,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;
inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
People Burma
Population:
47,382,633
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 6,335,236/female 6,181,216)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 16,011,723/female 16,449,626)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,035,853/female 1,368,979) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 27.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.81% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
17.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.97 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 64.03 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
330,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
20,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,
Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim
4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages:
Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.3%
male: 89.2%
female: 81.4% (2002)
Government Burma
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the
US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of
Myanmar)
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the
name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision
was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US
Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the
Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:
military junta
Capital:
name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates: 16 47 N, 96 10 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Naypyidaw is being established as a government center
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi
ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)
divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi,
Yangon
states: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon
State, Rakhine State, Shan State
Independence:
4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Constitution:
3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; national
convention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution but
collapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not include
participation of democratic opposition
Legal system:
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by the SPDC; military junta, so named
15 November 1997, assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
elections: none
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by
junta to convene
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),
other 60
Judicial branch:
remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is
no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not
independent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (pro-regime) [THA KYAW] (at last report); Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary]
International organization participation:
APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT LWIN chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-3344 FAX: (202) 332-4351 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shari
VILLAROSA
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: (1) 379-880, 379-881
FAX: (1) 256-018
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,
14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk
of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven administrative divisions
and seven states
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:
Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government
controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. The
junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after
decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but those
efforts stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were
rescinded. Burma does not have monetary or fiscal stability, so the
economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including
inflation, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the
Burmese kyat, and a distorted interest rate regime. Most overseas
development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the
democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the
results of the 1990 legislative elections. In response to the
government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her
convoy, the US imposed new economic sanctions against Burma -
including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on
provision of financial services by US persons. A poor investment
climate further slowed the inflow of foreign exchange. The most
productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries,
especially oil and gas, mining, and timber. Other areas, such as
manufacturing and services, are struggling with inadequate
infrastructure, unpredictable import/export policies, deteriorating
health and education systems, and corruption. A major banking crisis
in 2003 shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the
economy. As of December 2005, the largest private banks operate
under tight restrictions limiting the private sector's access to
formal credit. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published
statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the
size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often
estimated to be as large as the official economy. Burma's trade with
Thailand, China, and India is rising. Though the Burmese government
has good economic relations with its neighbors, better investment
and business climates and an improved political situation are needed
to promote foreign investment, exports, and tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$80.11 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.464 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 56.4% industry: 8.2% services: 35.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 27.75 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 7% services: 23% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $473.3 million
expenditures: $716.6 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(FY04/05 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish
and fish products
Industries:
agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood
products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;
pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement; natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
7.393 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.5% hydro: 43.4% nuclear: 0% other: 12.1% (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
6.875 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
18,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
3,356 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:
49,230 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:
less than 1 billion bbl (2005)
Natural gas - production:
9.98 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.569 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
8.424 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
283.2 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$700 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.111 billion f.o.b.
note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the
value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled
to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2004)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:
Thailand 44.3%, India 12.3%, China 6.8%, Japan 5% (2005)
Imports:
$3.454 billion f.o.b.
note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of
consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from
Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2004)
Imports - commodities:
fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport
equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products
Imports - partners:
China 28.8%, Thailand 21.8%, Singapore 18.3%, Malaysia 7.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$763 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.99 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$127 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):
kyat (MMK)
Currency code:
MMK
Exchange rates:
kyats per US dollar - 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003),
6.5734 (2002), 6.6841 (2001)
note: these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange rates
ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar,
and by year-end 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US
dollar
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:
476,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
183,400 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: barely meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government; international service
is fair
domestic: NA
international: country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2,
Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1 (2004)
Radios:
4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2004)
Televisions:
320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.mm
Internet hosts:
42 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1
note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for
the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:
78,000 (2005)
Transportation Burma
Airports: 85 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 32 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,224 km; oil 558 km (2006)
Railways: total: 3,955 km narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 27,000 km paved: 3,200 km unpaved: 23,800 km (2005)
Waterways:
12,800 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 34 ships (1000 GRT or over) 402,699 GRT/620,642 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 20, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Germany 5, Japan 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe
Military Burma
Military branches:
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 12,268,850
females age 18-49: 12,469,771 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,946,701
females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 469,841
females: 455,689 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:
over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups
with substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despite
continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain
with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic
rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karens
flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and
Burmese troops; in 2005 Thailand sheltered about 121,000 Burmese
refugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese
hydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border;
environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concern
over China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the
Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperation
from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remote
Burmese uplands
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 550,000-1,000,000 (government offensives against ethnic
insurgent groups near borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni,
Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Burma is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexual
exploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; a
significant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up in
forced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent,
Burma is a country of transit and destination for women trafficked
from China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of persons
occurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agricultural
estates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexual
exploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas;
the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses,
and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma's
large trafficking problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:
remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimated
production in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due to
eradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900
hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will to take
on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment
against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug
effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional
consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force
countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate
money-laundering controls (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated
in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread
ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Over 200,000
Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen
years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced
or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally
brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated
government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a
transition process that led to an integrated defense force,
established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu
government in 2005. The new government, led by President Pierre
NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the
country's last rebel group in the summer of 2006 but still faces
many challenges.
Geography Burundi
Location:
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda
290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772
m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies
with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally
moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual
rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and
September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and
December to January)
Terrain:
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum,
vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin,
tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 35.57%
permanent crops: 13.12%
other: 51.31% (2005)
Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
flooding, landslides, drought
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of
agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land
remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat
loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the
Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote
headstream of the White Nile
People Burundi
Population:
8,090,068
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 1,884,825/female 1,863,200)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,051,451/female 2,082,017)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 83,432/female 125,143) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.7% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
42.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
13.46 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 70.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.81 years
male: 50.07 years
female: 51.58 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups:
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans
3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions:
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous
beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Languages:
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
former: Urundi
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 23 S, 29 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, Bururi,
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,
Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:
28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005);
First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29 August
2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8
September 2006)
head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August
2005); First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29
August 2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8
September 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted
in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected
by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidents
nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament
election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the
parliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in
February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by
a two-thirds majority of the legislature
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National Assembly
or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats - 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi
with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a
National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic
representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 by indirect vote to
serve five year terms, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic
groups and former chiefs of state)
elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be
held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%,
MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59,
FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30,
FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of
Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First
Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders:
the three national, mainstream, governing parties are: Burundi
Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA, president];
National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defense
of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Hussein RADJABU, president]; Unity for
National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:
National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD; National
Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or
MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National
Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: (202) 342-2574
FAX: (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: 223454
FAX: 222926
Flag description:
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom)
and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk
superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,
two stars below)
Economy Burundi
Economy - overview:
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an
underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly
agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on
subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea
exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The
ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather
conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi
minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the
coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the
population. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade
resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000
refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally.
Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 10
adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short
supply. Political stability and the end of the civil war have
improved aid flows and economic activity has increased, but
underlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate, poor education rates, a
weak legal system, and low administrative capacity - risk
undermining planned economic reforms.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.404 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$730 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46.3% industry: 20.3% services: 33.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.99 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
68% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $215.4 million
expenditures: $278 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc
(tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Industries:
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of
imported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
18% (2001)
Electricity - production:
141.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
141.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
10 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-29 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$52 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners:
Germany 24.4%, Belgium 11.1%, Netherlands 8%, Switzerland 5.8%, US
4.6%, Pakistan 4% (2005)
Imports:
$200 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Kenya 12.9%, Tanzania 10.6%, Belgium 10.4%, Italy 8.1%, France
5.4%, Uganda 5.3%, China 5%, India 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$105 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$105.5 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code:
BIF
Exchange rates:
Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91 (2004),
1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002), 830.35 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Burundi
Telephones - main lines in use:
27,700 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
153,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
440,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bi
Internet hosts:
160 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
25,000 (2005)
Transportation Burundi
Airports: 8 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,452 km (1999)
Waterways:
mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2003)
Ports and terminals:
Bujumbura
Military Burundi
Military branches:
National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN): Army
(includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie
(being disbanded) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,676,855
females age 16-49: 1,656,366 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 955,616
females age 16-49: 932,767 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 91,331
females age 16-49: 90,685 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$43.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.6% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Burundi
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political
rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting
in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda in an effort to
gain control over populated and natural resource areas; government
heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues
despite the presence of about 6,000 peacekeepers from the UN
Operation in Burundi (ONUB) since 2004; although some 150,000
Burundian refugees have been repatriated, as of February 2005,
Burundian refugees still reside in camps in western Tanzania as well
as the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 48,424 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo)
IDPs: 145,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most
IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Cambodia
Introduction Cambodia
Background:
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of
the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and
reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by
the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire
ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country
under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of French
Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II,
Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April
1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces
captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5
million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or
starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December
1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside,
began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13
years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic
elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the
Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some
semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional
fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second
round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another
coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining
elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the
remaining leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for
crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively
peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending
political parties before a coalition government was formed.
Geography Cambodia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between
Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries: total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season
(December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources:
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 20.44% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 78.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues:
illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining
for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have
resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular,
destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil
erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access
to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing
and overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
Tonle Sap
People Cambodia
Population:
13,881,427
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754)
15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 77.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.29 years
male: 57.35 years
female: 61.32 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations note: at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal risk; during outbreaks among birds, rare cases could occur among US citizens who have close contact with infected birds or poultry (2005)
Nationality: noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
Government Cambodia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic
pronunciation)
local short form: Kampuchea
former: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea,
People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
Government type:
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*
(krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,
Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh, Preah Seihanu
Independence:
9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution:
promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system:
primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period,
royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of
customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing
influence of common law in recent years; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)
and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK
AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16
July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in
practice named by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;
following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or
majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the
National Assembly and appointed by the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61
seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National
Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be
held in July 2008); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be
held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP
47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73,
FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%,
FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2
(January 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution
and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts)
exercises judicial authority
Political parties and leaders:
Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party) or CPP [CHEA
SIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful,
and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Sam Rangsi
Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATH
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: (202) 726-7742
FAX: (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: (23) 728-000 FAX: (23) 728-600
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue
with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined
in black in the center of the red band; only national flag to
incorporate an actual building in its design
Economy Cambodia
Economy - overview:
In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government
made progress on economic reforms. The US and Cambodia signed a
Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota
of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working
conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international
labor standards in the industry. From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew
at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the
garment sector and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of a
WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile
producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced
producing countries such as China and India. Although initial 2005
GDP growth estimates were less than 3%, better-than-expected garment
sector performance led the IMF to forecast 6% growth in 2005. Faced
with the possibility that its vibrant garment industry, with more
than 200,000 jobs, could be in serious danger, the Cambodian
government has committed itself to a policy of continued support for
high labor standards in an attempt to maintain favor with buyers.
The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign
visitors surpassing 1 million for the year by September 2005. In
2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath
Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for
the government once commercial extraction begins in the coming
years. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting
challenge. The Cambodian government continues to work with bilateral
and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to
address the country's many pressing needs. In December 2004,
official donors pledged $504 million in aid for 2005 on the
condition that the Cambodian government implement steps to reduce
corruption. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next
decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the
private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's
demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is 20 years
or younger. The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from
an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fully 75% of the
population remains engaged in subsistence farming.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$34.08 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.729 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
13.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 30% services: 35% (2004)
Labor force: 7 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: NA% services: NA% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $559.4 million
expenditures: $772 million; including capital expenditures of $291
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industries:
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
22% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
123.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65% hydro: 35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
115 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
3,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-166 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.663 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:
US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6% (2005)
Imports:
$3.538 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 16.1%, China 13.6%, France 12.1%, Thailand 11.2%, Taiwan
10.2%, South Korea 7.5%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4.9%, Japan 4.1%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.145 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$800 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2005 by international donors
Currency (code):
riel (KHR)
Currency code:
KHR
Exchange rates:
riels per US dollar - 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33
(2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:
36,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.062 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile phone coverage is
rapidly expanding in rural areas
domestic: NA
international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline
and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and
major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 17 (2003)
Radios:
1.34 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (including two TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV stations (2006)
Televisions:
94,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kh
Internet hosts:
1,378 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
41,000 (2005)
Transportation Cambodia
Airports:
20 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
2 (2006)
Railways: total: 602 km narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 12,323 km paved: 1,996 km unpaved: 10,327 km (2000)
Waterways:
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 544 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,777,907 GRT/2,529,708 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 443, chemical tanker 11, container
10, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 407 (Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 128, Cyprus 12,
Egypt 8, Gabon 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 15, Indonesia 1, Japan 4,
South Korea 23, Latvia 2, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1,
Philippines 1, Russia 105, Singapore 4, Spain 1, Syria 20, Taiwan 2,
Turkey 26, UAE 1, Ukraine 17, US 8, Yemen 3, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Phnom Penh
Military Cambodia
Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation: conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service obligation is 18 months (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,002,718
females age 18-49: 3,108,254 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,955,141
females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 175,497
females age 18-49: 172,788 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY01 est.)
Transnational Issues Cambodia
Disputes - international:
Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check
the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of
boundary with missing boundary markers and Thai encroachments into
Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by
unresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailand
of obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to
Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; in 2004, Cambodian-Laotian and
Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commissions re-erected missing markers
completing most of their demarcations
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of women
and children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for commercial
sexual exploitation and forced labor; men are trafficked primarily
to Thailand for forced labor in the construction and agricultural
sectors, particularly the fishing industry, while women and girls
are trafficked for factory and domestic work; children are
trafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the purpose of forced
begging; Cambodia is a transit and destination point for women from
Vietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation; trafficking for sexual
exploitation also occurs within Cambodia's borders, from rural areas
to the cities
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however,
it is committed to making significant efforts to sustain progress
over the coming year
Illicit drugs:
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; possible small-scale heroin and
methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to
its cash-based economy and porous borders
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Cameroon
Introduction Cameroon
Background:
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in
1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed
stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture,
roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow
movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in
the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA.
Geography Cameroon
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial
Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 475,440 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298
km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline:
402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 50 nm
Climate:
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot
in north
Terrain:
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in
center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12.54% permanent crops: 2.52% other: 84.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
260 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from
Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the
country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of
current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest
mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
People Cameroon
Population:
17,340,702
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 3,614,430/female 3,531,047)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 4,835,453/female 4,796,276)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 260,342/female 303,154) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
33.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 67.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.16 years
male: 50.98 years
female: 51.34 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
560,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
49,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups:
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani
10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%,
non-African less than 1%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
24 major African language groups, English (official), French
(official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
Government Cameroon
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of
Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
20 May 1972 approved by referendum, 2 June 1972 formally adopted;
revised January 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, with common law influence;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted
by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004
(next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -
Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga
Haman ADJI 3.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term
of the legislature
elections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court
of Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges,
elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Democratic
Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the
Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the
Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO];
Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National
Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA];
Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian
Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human Rights
Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-8790 FAX: (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: 220 15 00; Consular: 220 16 03 FAX: 220 16 20; Consular FAX: 220 17 52 branch office(s): Douala
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow
with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Cameroon
Economy - overview:
Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions,
Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in
sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems
facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil
service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.
Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World
Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase
efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the
nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an
IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however,
the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget
transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.
International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the
economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$39.75 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.35 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 44.8% industry: 17% services: 38.2% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 6.86 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17%
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.6 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.263 billion
expenditures: $2.705 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
65.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root
starches; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food
processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
4.2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.988 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.7% hydro: 97.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.779 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
85 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
110.4 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$39 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.236 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
Spain 17.2%, Italy 13.7%, France 9.4%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8%,
Netherlands 7.8%, Belgium 4.8%, US 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$2.514 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
France 25%, Nigeria 12.5%, Belgium 6.6%, China 5.8%, US 5.3%,
Thailand 4.7%, Germany 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$964.8 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$9.168 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
in January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of
$1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:
99,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.259 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
450,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cm
Internet hosts:
39 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
167,000 (2005)
Transportation Cameroon
Airports: 47 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 70 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,107 km (2006)
Railways: total: 987 km narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 80,932 km paved: 5,398 km unpaved: 75,534 km (2002)
Waterways:
navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 38,613 GRT/68,820 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Douala, Limboh Terminal
Military Cameroon
Military branches:
Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air
Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(1999)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,525,307
females age 18-49: 3,461,406 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,946,767
females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 191,619
females age 18-49: 187,082 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.2 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Cameroon
Disputes - international:
ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime
boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission, which
continues to meet regularly to resolve differences bilaterally and
have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the
boundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; implementation of the
ICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime
boundary in the Gulf of Guinea is impeded by imprecisely defined
coordinates and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and
Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeria
initially rejected cession of the Bakassi Peninsula, then agreed,
but much of the indigenous population opposes cession; only Nigeria
and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to
ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger
and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 39,290 (Chad) 16,686 (Nigeria) 9,634
(Cote d'Ivoire) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Canada
Introduction Canada
Background:
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became
a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the
British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across
an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is
meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and
education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces
questions about integrity in government following revelations
regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has
helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly
francophone Quebec.
Geography Canada
Location:
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the
east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the
north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative:
somewhat larger than the US
Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 202,080 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain:
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash,
diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural
gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.57%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 94.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,850 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to
development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a
result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and
North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and
snow east of the mountains
Environment - current issues:
air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and
damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and
vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity;
ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial,
mining, and forestry activities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location
between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of
the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border
People Canada
Population:
33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388)
15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006
est.)
Median age: total: 38.9 years male: 37.8 years female: 39.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.88% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.22 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
56,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups:
British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%,
Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed
background 26%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church
9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian
4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001
census)
Languages:
English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Canada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Government type:
constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and
a federation
Capital:
name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 40 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: Canada is divided into six time zones
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence:
1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December
1931 (independence recognized)
National holiday:
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution:
made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions,
and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the
Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of
four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which
transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to
Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well
as procedures for constitutional amendments
Legal system:
based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law
system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February
2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a
five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House
of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the
governor general
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the
prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal
limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des
Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to
serve for up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 23 January 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party
17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 103, New Democratic Party 29,
Bloc Quebecois 51, other 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister
through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal
Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court
of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and
Court of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (a
merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative
Party) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party
[Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSON
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: (202) 682-1740
FAX: (202) 682-7701
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix,
San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson
consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New
Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430 telephone: (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: (613) 688-3082 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Flag description:
two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with
white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered
in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Economy Canada
Economy - overview:
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion dollar
class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic
system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since
World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining,
and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural
economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic
increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its
great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital
plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscal
management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997,
although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost
of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for
roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus
with its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs more than
85% of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier
of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.111 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.035 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 29.4% services: 68.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 16.3 million (December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.9%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $159.6 billion
expenditures: $152.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)
Public debt:
69.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy
products; forest products; fish
Industries:
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products,
petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
566.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 28% hydro: 57.9% nuclear: 12.9% other: 1.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
520.9 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
22 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
33 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
2.4 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
2.3 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
1.6 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
963,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: 178.9 billion bbl note: includes oil sands (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:
165.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
90.95 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
91.52 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.673 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:
$24.96 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$364.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners:
US 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)
Imports:
$317.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 56.7%, China 7.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.02 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$439.8 billion (30 November 2005)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)
Currency (code):
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code:
CAD
Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004),
1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:
18.276 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.6 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1-xxx; 5 coaxial submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)
Radios:
32.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
21.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ca
Internet hosts:
3,934,223 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
760 (2000 est.)
Internet users:
21.9 million (2005)
Transportation Canada
Airports: 1,337 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 509 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 151 914 to 1,523 m: 248 under 914 m: 77 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 828 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523 m: 355 under 914 m: 407 (2006)
Heliports:
319 (2006)
Pipelines:
crude and reined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km
(2005)
Railways:
total: 48,467 km
standard gauge: 48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 1,042,300 km
paved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)
Waterways:
631 km
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 173 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,129,243 GRT/2,716,340 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 62, cargo 10, chemical tanker 9, container 2,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 63, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll
off 8
foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Australia 1, Bahamas 18,
Barbados 8, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong
28, Liberia 2, Malta 18, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 4, Russia 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint
John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver
Military Canada
Military branches:
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air
Command, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,216,510
females age 16-49: 8,034,939 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,740,490
females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 223,821
females age 16-49: 212,900 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9,801.7 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Canada
Disputes - international:
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed
Machias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greater
cooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossing
the border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans
Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and
export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant
large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point
for ecstasy entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money
laundering because of its mature financial services sector
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Cape Verde
Introduction Cape Verde
Background:
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the
Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a
trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and
resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Geography Cape Verde
Location:
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west
of Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain:
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring
dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major
north-south sea routes; important communications station; important
sea and air refueling site
People Cape Verde
Population:
420,979 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19 years
female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.64% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.73 years
male: 67.41 years
female: 74.15 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.035% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001)
Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups:
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant
(mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages:
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Government Cape Verde
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista,
Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande,
Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao
Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution:
new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a
major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the
powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of
national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1
February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006
(next to be held February 2011); prime minister nominated by the
National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, ADM 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria
Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr.
Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic
Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic
Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic and
Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement
for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president];
Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: (202) 965-6820
FAX: (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: 2-60-89-00
FAX: 2-61-13-55
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white
(with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue;
a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist
end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
Economy Cape Verde
Economy - overview:
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base,
including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term
drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,
tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although
nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of
agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted
for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential,
mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually
runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances
from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%.
Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and
attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future
prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the
encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the
government's development program.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.99 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.128 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.1% industry: 21.9% services: 66% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
120,600
Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $328.1 million
expenditures: $393.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts;
fish
Industries:
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt
mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
44.15 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
41.06 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-82 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$73.35 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.2%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)
Imports:
$500 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Portugal 41.5%, Italy 8%, Netherlands 7.3%, Spain 5.5%, France
4.8%, Belgium 4.7%, Brazil 4.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$150 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$325 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$136 million (1999)
Currency (code):
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code:
CVE
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.67 (2005), 88.808
(2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:
71,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
81,700 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from
1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber
optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet
access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998
international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF
radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
100,000 (2002 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:
15,000 (2002 est.)
Internet country code:
.cv
Internet hosts:
234 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
25,000 (2005)
Transportation Cape Verde
Airports: 7 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,300 GRT/7,726 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Military Cape Verde
Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard
(includes maritime air wing)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 84,641
females age 18-49: 87,310 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 65,614
females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.18 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Cape Verde
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin
America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Cayman Islands
Introduction Cayman Islands
Background:
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British
during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica
after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the
Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in
1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography Cayman Islands
Location:
Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)
group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of
Jamaica
Geographic coordinates:
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 262 sq km
land: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool,
relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain:
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to November)
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America
People Cayman Islands
Population: 45,436 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)
65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 37.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006
est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.45 years
female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups:
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic
groups 20%
Religions:
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist,
Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Cayman Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
British crown colony
Capital:
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake
Bay, West End, Western
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Constitution:
1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994
Legal system:
British common law and local statutes
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)
head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS
(since 18 May 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the
governor Leader of Government Business
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 appointed members from
the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were
formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP
[leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader
Kurt TIBBETTS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with
three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the
bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy Cayman Islands
Economy - overview:
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore
financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the
Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust
companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was
opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70%
of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is
aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North
America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with
600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer
goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest
outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the
world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.939 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
4.4% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
441.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
411 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
2,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$2.52 million (2004)
Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners:
mostly US (2004)
Imports:
$866.9 million (2004)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004)
Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
$390,000 $NA
Currency (code):
Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code:
KYD
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3
November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in
falling prices and improving services
international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables
(Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 with cable system (2004)
Televisions:
7,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ky
Internet hosts:
8,611 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
9,909 (2003)
Transportation Cayman Islands
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied
gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll
on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12,
Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1,
Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Cayman Brac, George Town
Military Cayman Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Central African Republic
Introduction Central African Republic
Background:
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African
Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades
of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was
established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix
PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March
2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois
BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the
government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the
main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal,
legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of
2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist.
Geography Central African Republic
Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain:
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in
northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are
common
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's
reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People Central African Republic
Population:
4,303,356
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.53% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 92.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.54 years
male: 43.46 years
female: 43.62 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
13.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
260,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
23,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups:
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,
Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim
15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority
Languages:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),
tribal languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Government Central African Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic
prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture
economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**,
Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei,
Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,
Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Independence:
13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Constitution:
ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27
December 2004
Legal system:
based on French law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005);
note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13
March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister
appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held
NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD
6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges
appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National
Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Inferior Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];
Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic
Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for
Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or
MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central
African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed
president); National Convergence or KNK; Patriotic Front for
Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or
UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul
NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 483-7800
FAX: (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James PANOS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: 61 02 00 FAX: 61 44 94 note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow
with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed
star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Central African Republic
Economy - overview:
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the
backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with
more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The
agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for
about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%.
Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's
landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely
unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic
policies. Factional fighting between the government and its
opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growth
at only 0.5% in 2004 and 2.5% in 2005. Distribution of income is
extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international
community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.677 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.462 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn,
bananas; timber
Industries:
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear,
assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002)
Electricity - production:
106 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
98.58 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$131 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Belgium 34.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 8.5%, Italy 7.9%, China 6.9%,
Indonesia 6.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6%, US 4.4%,
Turkey 4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$203 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
France 16.7%, Netherlands 10.4%, Cameroon 9.8%, US 7.4% (2005)
Debt - external:
$1.06 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $59.8 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France
(2002 est.)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
283,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cf
Internet hosts:
10 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
9,000 (2005)
Transportation Central African Republic
Airports:
50 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 23,810 km (1999)
Waterways:
2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Military Central African Republic
Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Military Air
Service; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG),
Republican Guard, National Police (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation is two years (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 853,760
females age 18-49: 835,426 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 416,091
females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$16.37 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Central African Republic
Disputes - international:
about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CAR
still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water and
grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border
with southern Sudan persist
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,470 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484
(Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Central African Republic is a source and
destination country for children trafficked for domestic servitude,
sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and commercial labor
activities; while the majority of child victims are trafficked
within the country, some are also trafficked to and from Cameroon
and Nigeria
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Central African Republic failed
to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in
persons during 2005, specifically its inadequate law enforcement
response to trafficking crimes
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Chad
Introduction Chad
Background:
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three
decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a
semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several
peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new
rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks
into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.
In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully
removing constitutional term limits.
Geography Chad
Location:
Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain:
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
northwest, lowlands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold,
limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Land use: arable land: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts;
locust plagues
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in
rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the
Sahel
People Chad
Population:
9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,396,393/female 2,369,261)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16 years
male: 15.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.93% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 91.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 100.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.88 years
female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
18,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups:
200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane
(Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,
Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are
Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang,
Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000
French citizens live in Chad
Religions:
Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%
Languages:
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than
120 different languages and dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
Government Chad
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form: Tchad/Tshad
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: N'Djamena
geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,
Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,
Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative
structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department) and
1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha
Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,
N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile
Occidental, Tibesti
Independence:
11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution:
passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed
constitutional term limits
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4
December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3
February 2005)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year
term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the
two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second
round of voting; last held 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%,
Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum
altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and
permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection
Legislative branch:
bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National
Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,
members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable
every two years)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be
held by April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, other 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh
KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar
Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh
AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol
Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean
ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: (202) 462-4009
FAX: (202) 265-1937
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc M. WALL embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: 516-211 FAX: 515-654
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra
and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in
the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Chad
Economy - overview:
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted
by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that
began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence
farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has
long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs,
and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and
foreign capital for most public and private sector investment
projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing
$3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion
barrels - in southern Chad. The nation's total oil reserves has been
estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in
late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum
arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.98 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.799 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33.5% industry: 25.9% services: 40.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.719 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) industry and services: 20%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $765.2 million
expenditures: $653.3 million; including capital expenditures of $146
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca);
cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (1995)
Electricity - production:
120 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
111.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-602 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.016 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil
Exports - partners:
US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
$749.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
France 21.1%, Cameroon 15.5%, US 12.1%, Belgium 6.8%, Portugal
4.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$297 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan
(August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank;
ODA $246.9 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:
13,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
210,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:
1.67 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.td
Internet hosts:
9 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
35,000 (2005)
Transportation Chad
Airports: 52 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 10 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 205 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)
Waterways:
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)
Military Chad
Military branches:
Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force,
Gendarmerie (2004)
Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 1,527,580
females age 20-49: 1,629,510 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 20-49: 794,988
females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 94,536
females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$68.95 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Chad
Disputes - international:
since the expulsions of residents from Darfur in 2003 by Janjawid
armed militia and Sudanese military, about 200,000 refugees remain
in eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese
civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from
cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern
Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad
Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which
also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 224,924 (Sudan), 29,683 (Central
African Republic) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Chile
Introduction Chile
Background:
Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern
Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central
and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated by
Spain until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its
independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not
achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile
defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A
three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown
in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET,
who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.
Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s,
have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the
country's commitment to democratic and representative government.
Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership
roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.
Geography Chile
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries: total: 6,339 km border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Climate:
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool
and damp in south
Terrain:
low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
Natural resources:
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum,
hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.62% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
19,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air
pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution
from raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);
Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People Chile
Population:
16,134,219 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 31.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.94% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.77 years
male: 73.49 years
female: 80.21 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
26,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,400 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups:
white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Chile
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Santiago
geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March
Administrative divisions:
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos
Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,
Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,
Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana
(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution:
11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989, 1991,
1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005
Legal system:
based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes
influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction; note - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of
its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March
2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11
March 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year
term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held
15 January 2006 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent
of vote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique
46.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (38 seats elected by popular vote; members serve
eight-year terms - one-half elected every four years) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held
December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005
(next to be held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8),
independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI
34, RN 20), independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the
president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates
provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is
elected every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional
Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal
or RN [Sergio DIEZ Urzia] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI
[Jovino NOVOA Vasquez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy
("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC
[Adolfo ZALDIVAR Larrain], Socialist Party or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ],
Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social
Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist
Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]
Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations
International organization participation:
APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZ
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: (202) 530-4104, 530-4106, 530-4107
FAX: (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)