Kingdom of Bhutan
Type:
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:
Thimphu
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang,
Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence:
8 August 1949 (from India)
Constitution:
no written constitution or bill of rights
Legal system:
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December
(1907)
Executive branch:
monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council
(Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers
(Lhengye Shungtsog)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Judicial branch:
High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
Political parties and leaders:
no legal parties
Suffrage:
each family has one vote in village-level elections
Elections:
no national elections
Communists:
no overt Communist presence
Other political or pressure groups:
Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations
leading militant antigovernment campaign
Member of:
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, ITU, NAM,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation:
no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese
mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US
Flag:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is
orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a
large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side
:Bhutan Economy
Overview:
The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and
forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and
account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make
the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The
economy is closely aligned with that of India through strong trade and
monetary links. Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in
agriculture. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on
Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for
tourists are its most important natural resources.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $320 million, per capita $200; real growth rate
3.1% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (FY90)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues $112 million; expenditures $121 million, including capital
expenditures of $58 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$74 million (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit
partners:
India 93%
Imports:
$106.4 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
commodities:
fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics
partners:
India 67%
External debt:
$80 million (FY91 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA; accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium
carbide
Agriculture:
accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry;
self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other production - rice,
corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$115 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million
Currency:
ngultrum (plural - ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian
currency is also legal tender
Exchange rates:
ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 25.927 (January 1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504
(1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987); note - the Bhutanese
ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
:Bhutan Communications
Highways:
1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km unimproved earth
Civil air:
1 jet, 2 prop
Airports:
2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
inadequate; 1,990 telephones (1988); 22,000 radios (1990 est.); 85 TVs
(1985); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)
:Bhutan Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 406,360; 217,348 fit for military service; 17,316 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
:Bolivia Geography
Total area:
1,098,580 km2
Land area:
1,084,390 km2
Comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
6,743 km; Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km,
Peru 900 km
Coastline:
none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
none - landlocked
Disputes:
has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama
area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water
rights
Climate:
varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Terrain:
rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland
plains of the Amazon basin
Natural resources:
tin, natural gas, crude oil, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron ore,
lead, gold, timber
Land use:
arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 25%; forest and
woodland 52%; other 20%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
with Peru
:Bolivia People
Population:
7,323,048 (July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992)
Birth rate:
33 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
--1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
82 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
59 years male, 64 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
4.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Bolivian(s); adjective - Bolivian
Ethnic divisions:
Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mixed 25-30%, European 5-15%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%; active Protestant minority, especially Evangelical
Methodist
Languages:
Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara (all official)
Literacy:
78% (male 85%, female 71%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
1,700,000; agriculture 50%, services and utilities 26%, manufacturing 10%,
mining 4%, other 10% (1983)
Organized labor:
150,000-200,000, concentrated in mining, industry, construction, and
transportation; mostly organized under Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) labor
federation
:Bolivia Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Bolivia
Type:
republic
Capital:
La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
Administrative divisions:
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca,
Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence:
6 August 1825 (from Spain)
Constitution:
2 February 1967
Legal system:
based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber
or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber
of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Jaime PAZ Zamora (since 6 August 1989); Vice President Luis OSSIO
Sanjines (since 6 August 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jaime PAZ Zamora; Nationalist
Democratic Action (ADN), Hugo BANZER Suarez; Nationalist Revolutionary
Movement (MNR), Gonzalo SANCHEZ de Lozada; Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Max
FERNANDEZ Rojas; Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE
Aviles; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge AGREDO; Free Bolivia
Movement (MBL), led by Antonio ARANIBAR; United Left (IU), a coalition of
leftist parties that includes Patriotic National Convergency Axis (EJE-P)
led by Walter DELGADILLO, and Bolivian Communist Party (PCB) led by Humberto
RAMIREZ; Revolutionary Vanguard - 9th of April (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE Reich
Suffrage:
universal and compulsory at age 18 (married) or 21 (single)
Elections:
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - percent of vote
by party NA; note - legislative and presidential candidates run on a unified
slate, so vote percentages are the same as in section on presidential
election results; seats - (130 total) MNR 40, ADN 35, MIR 33, IU 10, CONDEPA
9, PDC 3
Chamber of Senators:
last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - percent of vote
by party NA; note - legislative and presidential candidates run on a unified
slate, so vote percentages are the same as in section on presidential
election results; seats - (27 total) MNR 9, ADN 7, MIR 8, CONDEPA 2, PDC 1
:Bolivia Government
President:
last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - Gonzalo SANCHEZ
de Lozada (MNR) 23%, Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%, Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR)
19%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Jaime PAZ Zamora
(MIR) formed a coalition with Hugo BANZER (ADN); with ADN support PAZ Zamora
won the congressional runoff election on 4 August and was inaugurated on 6
August 1989
Member of:
AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Jorge CRESPO; Chancery at 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-4410 through 4412; there are
Bolivian Consulates General in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San
Francisco
US:
Ambassador Charles R. BOWERS; Embassy at Banco Popular del Peru Building,
corner of Calles Mercado y Colon, La Paz (mailing address is P. O. Box 425,
La Paz, or APO AA 34032); telephone [591] (2) 350251 or 350120; FAX [591]
(2) 359875
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat
of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has
a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band
:Bolivia Economy
Overview:
The Bolivian economy steadily deteriorated between 1980 and 1985 as La Paz
financed growing budget deficits by expanding the money supply, and
inflation spiraled - peaking at 11,700%. An austere orthodox economic
program adopted by then President Paz Estenssoro in 1985, however, succeeded
in reducing inflation to between 10% and 20% annually since 1987, eventually
restarting economic growth. Since August 1989, President Paz Zamora has
retained the economic policies of the previous government, keeping inflation
down and continuing moderate growth. Nevertheless, Bolivia continues to be
one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with widespread poverty and
unemployment, and it remains vulnerable to price fluctuations for its
limited exports - agricultural products, minerals, and natural gas.
Moreover, for many farmers, who constitute half of the country's work force,
the main cash crop is coca, which is sold for cocaine processing.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, per capita $630; real growth rate
4% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
7% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $900 million; expenditures $825 million, including capital
expenditures of $300 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$970 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
metals 45%, natural gas 25%, other 30% (coffee, soybeans, sugar, cotton,
timber)
partners:
US 15%, Argentina
Imports:
$760 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
food, petroleum, consumer goods, capital goods
partners:
US 22%
External debt:
$3.3 billion (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6% (1991); accounts for almost 30% of GDP
Electricity:
849,000 kW capacity; 1,798 million kWh produced, 251 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverage, tobacco, handicrafts,
clothing; illicit drug industry reportedly produces significant revenues
Agriculture:
accounts for about 20% of GDP (including forestry and fisheries); principal
commodities - coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, timber;
self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
world's second-largest producer of coca (after Peru) with an estimated
47,900 hectares under cultivation; voluntary and forced eradication program
unable to prevent production from rising to 78,400 metric tons in 1991 from
74,700 tons in 1989; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit;
intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia and
Brazil to the US and other international drug markets
:Bolivia Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $990 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2,025 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $340 million
Currency:
boliviano (plural - bolivianos); 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 3.7534 (January 1992), 3.5806 (1991), 3.1727
(1990), 2.6917 (1989), 2.3502 (1988), 2.0549 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Bolivia Communications
Railroads:
3,684 km total, all narrow gauge; 3,652 km 1.000-meter gauge and 32 km
0.760-meter gauge, all government owned, single track
Highways:
38,836 km total; 1,300 km paved, 6,700 km gravel, 30,836 km improved and
unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 km
Ports:
none; maritime outlets are Arica and Antofagasta in Chile, Matarani and Ilo
in Peru
Merchant marine:
2 cargo and 1 container ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,951 GRT/26,320
DWT
Civil air:
56 major transport aircraft
Airports:
1,105 total, 943 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways
over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 146 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
radio relay system being expanded; improved international services; 144,300
telephones; broadcast stations - 129 AM, no FM, 43 TV, 68 shortwave; 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Bolivia Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 1,727,101; 1,122,224 fit for military service; 72,977 reach
military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $80 million, 1.6% of GDP (1990 est).
:Bosnia and Herzegovina Geography
Total area:
51,233 km2
Land area:
51,233 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
1,369 km; Croatia (northwest) 751 km, Croatia (south) 91 km, Serbia and
Montenegro 527 km
Coastline:
20 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
NA nm
Continental shelf:
20-meter depth
Exclusive economic zone:
12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
Serbia and Croatia seek to cantonize Bosnia and Herzegovina; Muslim majority
being forced from many areas
Climate:
hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool
summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Terrain:
mountains and valleys
Natural resources:
coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, timber, wood products, copper, chromium,
lead, zinc
Land use:
20% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 25% meadows and pastures; 36% forest
and woodland; 16% other; includes 1% irrigated
Environment:
air pollution from metallurgical plants; water scarce; sites for disposing
of urban waste are limited; subject to frequent and destructive earthquakes
Note:
Controls large percentage of important land routes from Western Europe to
Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits
:Bosnia and Herzegovina People
Population:
4,364,000 (July 1991), growth rate 0.5% (1991)
Birth rate:
14.5 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate:
6.5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate:
NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate:
15.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth:
68 years male, 73 years female (1980-82)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (1991)
Nationality:
noun - Muslim, Serb, Croat (s); adjective - Muslim, Serbian, Croatian
Ethnic divisions:
Muslim 44%, Serb 33%, Croat 17%
Religions:
Slavic Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%
Languages:
Serbo-Croatian 99%
Literacy:
85.5% (male 94.5%, female 76.7%) age 10 and over can read and write (1981
est.)
Labor force:
1,026,254; 2% agriculture, industry, mining 45% (1991 est.)
Organized labor:
NA
:Bosnia and Herzegovina Government
Long-form name:
none
Type:
emerging democracy
Capital:
Sarajevo
Administrative divisions:
NA
Independence:
December 1918; April 1992 from Yugoslavia
Constitution:
NA
Legal system:
based on civil law system
National holiday:
NA
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
NA
Judicial branch:
NA
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since December 1990), Vice President NA
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Jore PELIVAN (since January 1991), Deputy Prime Minister
Muhamed CENGIC and Rusmir MAHMUTCEHAJIC (since January 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Party of Democratic Action, Alija IZETBEGOVIC; Croatian Democratic Union,
Mate BOBAN; Serbian Democratic Party, Radovah KARADZIC; Muslim Bosnian
Organization, Muhamed Zulfikar PASIC; Socialist Democratic Party, Nijaz
DURAKOVIC
Suffrage:
at age 16 if employed; universal at age 18
Elections:
NA
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
CSCE
Diplomatic representation:
NA
Flag:
NA
:Bosnia and Herzegovina Economy
Overview:
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest component in
the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in
private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic
traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly
overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of Communist central planning
and management. Tito had pushed the development of military industries in
the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of
Yugoslavia's defense plants. As of April 1992, the newly independent
republic was being torn apart by bitter interethnic warfare that has caused
production to plummet, unemployment and inflation to soar, and human misery
to multiply. The survival of the republic as a political and economic unit
is in doubt. Both Serbia and Croatia have imposed various economic blockades
and may permanently take over large areas populated by fellow ethnic groups.
These areas contain most of the industry. If a much smaller core Muslim
state survives, it will share many Third World problems of poverty,
technological backwardness, and dependence on historically soft foreign
markets for its primary products. In these circumstances, other Muslim
countries might offer assistance.
GDP:
$14 billion; real growth rate --37% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
80% per month (1991)
Unemployment rate:
28% (February 1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $NA million; expenditures $NA million, including capital
expenditures of $NA million (19__)
Exports:
$2,054 million (1990)
commodities:
manufactured goods (31%), machinery and transport equipment (20.8%), raw
materials (18%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (17.3%), chemicals
(9.4%), fuel and lubricants (1.4%), food and live animals (1.2%)
partners:
principally the other former Yugoslav republics
Imports:
$1,891 million (1990)
commodities:
fuels and lubricants (32%), machinery and transport equipment (23.3%), other
manufactures (21.3%), chemicals (10%), raw materials (6.7%), food and live
animals (5.5%), beverages and tobacco (1.9%)
partners:
principally the other former Yugoslav republics
External debt:
NA
Industrial production:
sharply down because of interethnic and interrepublic warfare (1991-92)
Electricity:
14,400 million kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, 3,303 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
steel production, mining (coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, and
bauxite), manufacturing (vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products,
wooden furniture, 40% of former Yugoslavia's armaments including tank and
aircraft assembly, domestic appliances), oil refining
:Bosnia and Herzegovina Economy
Agriculture:
accounted for 8.6% of national income in 1989; regularly produces less than
50% of food needs; the foothills of northern Bosnia support orchards,
vineyards, livestock, and some wheat and corn; long winters and heavy
precipitation leach soil fertility reducing agricultural output in the
mountains; farms are mostly privately held, small, and not very productive
Illicit drugs:
NA
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $NA billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
Currency:
none; note - Croatian dinar used in ethnic Croat areas, Yugoslav dinar used
in all other areas
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Bosnia and Herzegovina Communications
Railroads:
NA km all 1.000-meter gauge (includes NA km electrified)
Highways:
21,168 km total (1991); 11,436 km paved, 8,146 km gravel, 1,586 km earth
Inland waterways:
NA km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 174 km, petroleum products NA km, natural gas NA km
Ports:
maritime - none; inland - Bosanski Brod
Merchant marine:
NA ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling NA GRT/NA DWT; includes NA cargo, NA
container, NA liquefied gas, NA petroleum tanker
Civil air:
NA major transport aircraft
Airports:
2 main, NA usable; NA with permanent-surface runways; NA with runways over
3,659 m; NA with runways 2,440-3,659 m; NA with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
Bosnia's telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and
expansion, many urban areas being below average compared with services in
other former Yugoslav republics; 727,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 9
AM, 2 FM, 6 (0 repeaters) TV; 840,000 radios; 1,012,094 TVs; NA submarine
coaxial cables; satellite ground stations - none
:Bosnia and Herzegovina Defense Forces
Branches:
Territorial Defense Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; 39,000 reach military age (18)
annually
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
:Botswana Geography
Total area:
600,370 km2
Land area:
585, 370 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
4,013 km; Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline:
none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
none - landlocked
Disputes:
none
Climate:
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:
predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda, ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver,
natural gas
Land use:
urable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 75%; forest and
woodland 2%; other 21%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
rains in early 1988 broke six years of drought that had severely affected
the important cattle industry; overgazing; desertification
Note:
landlocked
:Botswana People