9,653,672 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992)
Birth rate:
49 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
16 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
--2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
117 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
52 years male, 53 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
7.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Burkinabe (singular and plural); adjective - Burkinabe
Ethnic divisions:
more than 50 tribes; principal tribe is Mossi (about 2.5 million); other
important groups are Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani
Religions:
indigenous beliefs about 65%, Muslim 25%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)
10%
Languages:
French (official); tribal languages belong to Sudanic family, spoken by 90%
of the population
Literacy:
18% (male 28%, female 9%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
3,300,000 residents; 30,000 are wage earners; agriculture 82%, industry 13%,
commerce, services, and government 5%; 20% of male labor force migrates
annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984); 44% of
population of working age (1985)
Organized labor:
four principal trade union groups represent less than 1% of population
:Burkina Government
Long-form name:
Burkina Faso
Type:
military; established by coup on 4 August 1983
Capital:
Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:
30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou,
Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga,
Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
Independence:
5 August 1960 (from France; formerly Upper Volta)
Constitution:
June 1991
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
Executive branch:
President, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved on 25
November 1980
Judicial branch:
Appeals Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
Political parties and leaders:
Organization for Popular Democracy (ODP/MT), ruling party; Coordination of
Democratic Forces (CFD), composed of opposition parties
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980; presidential election
held December 1991 and legislative election scheduled for 24 May 1992
Communists:
small Communist party front group; some sympathizers
Other political or pressure groups:
committees for the defense of the revolution, watchdog/political action
groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE; Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-5577 or 6895
US:
Ambassador Edward P. BYRNN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
(mailing address is 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou); telephone [226] 30-67- 23
through 25 and [226] 33-34-22; FAX [226] 31-23-68
Flag:
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
:Burkina Economy
Overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina has a high population
density, few natural resources, and relatively infertile soil. Economic
development is hindered by a poor communications network within a landlocked
country. Agriculture provides about 40% of GDP and is entirely of a
subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by unprofitable
government-controlled corporations, accounts for about 15% of GDP.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, per capita $320 (1988); real growth
rate 1.3% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
--0.5% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $275 million; expenditures $287 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
$262 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
oilseeds, cotton, live animals, gold
partners:
EC 42% (France 30%, other 12%), Taiwan 17%, Ivory Coast 15% (1985)
Imports:
$619 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
grain, dairy products, petroleum, machinery
partners:
EC 37% (France 23%, other 14%), Africa 31%, US 15% (1985)
External debt:
$962 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.7% (1990 est.), accounts for about 15% of GDP (1988)
Electricity:
120,000 kW capacity; 320 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles,
gold
Agriculture:
accounts for about 40% of GDP; cash crops - peanuts, shea nuts, sesame,
cotton; food crops - sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock; not
self-sufficient in food grains
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.9 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $113 million
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF)
= 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January 1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
(1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Burkina Communications
Railroads:
620 km total; 520 km Ouagadougou to Ivory Coast border and 100 km
Ouagadougou to Kaya; all 1.00-meter gauge and single track
Highways:
16,500 km total; 1,300 km paved, 7,400 km improved, 7,800 km unimproved
(1985)
Civil air:
2 major transport aircraft
Airports:
48 total, 38 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
all services only fair; radio relay, wire, and radio communication stations
in use; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station
:Burkina Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, Peoples' Militia
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 1,904,647; 971,954 fit for military service; no conscription
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 2.7% of GDP (1988 est.)
:Burma Geography
Total area:
678,500 km2
Land area:
657,740 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
5,876 km; Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km,
Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:
1,930 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
24 nm
Continental shelf:
edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
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
Natural resources:
crude oil, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some
marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas
Land use:
arable land 15%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and
woodland 49%; other 34%; includes irrigated 2%
Environment:
subject to destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
common during rainy season (June to September); deforestation
Note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
:Burma People
Population:
42,642,418 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)
Birth rate:
29 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
68 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
57 years male, 61 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
3.8 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Burmese (singular and plural); adjective - Burmese
Ethnic divisions:
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%,
other 5%
Religions:
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%,
animist beliefs 1%, other 2%
Languages:
Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
81% (male 89%, female 72%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
16,036,000; agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%, government 6.3%,
other 4.1% (FY89 est.)
Organized labor:
Workers' Asiayone (association), 1,800,000 members; Peasants' Asiayone,
7,600,000 members
:Burma Government
Long-form name:
Union of Burma; note - the local official name is Pyidaungzu Myanma
Naingngandaw, which has been translated by the US Government as Union of
Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar
Type:
military regime
Capital:
Rangoon (sometimes translated as Yangon)
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular -
pyine); Chin State, Irrawaddy*, Kachin State, Karan State, Kayah State,
Magwe*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Pegu*, Rakhine State, Rangoon*, Sagaing*, Shan
State, Tenasserim*
Independence:
4 January 1948 (from UK)
Constitution:
3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988)
Legal system:
martial law in effect throughout most of the country; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Executive branch:
chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, State Law and Order
Restoration Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw) was dissolved after the coup
of 18 September 1988
Judicial branch:
Council of People's Justices was abolished after the coup of 18 September
1988
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE
(since 23 April 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
National Unity Party (NUP; proregime), THA KYAW; National League for
Democracy (NLD), U AUNG SHWE; National Coalition of Union of Burma (NCGUB),
SEIN WIN - consists of individuals legitimately elected but not recognized
by military regime; fled to border area and joined with insurgents in
December 1990 to form a parallel government
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
People's Assembly:
last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened; results - NLD 80%; seats
- (485 total) NLD 396, the regime-favored NUP 10, other 79
Communists:
several hundred (est.) in Burma Communist Party (BCP)
Other political or pressure groups:
Kachin Independence Army (KIA), United Wa State Army (UWSA), Karen National
Union (KNU) , several Shan factions, including the Shan United Army (SUA)
(all ethnically based insurgent groups)
Member of:
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
:Burma Government
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador U THAUNG; Chancery at 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008;
telephone (202) 332-9044 through 9046; there is a Burmese Consulate General
in New York
US:
Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission, Charge d'Affaires Franklin P.
HUDDLE, Jr.; Embassy at 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (mailing address is GPO
Box 521, AMEMB Box B, APO AP 96546); telephone [95] (1) 82055, 82181; FAX
[95] (1) 80409
Flag:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in
white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of
rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions
:Burma Economy
Overview:
Burma is a poor Asian country, with a per capita GDP of about $500. The
nation has been unable to achieve any substantial improvement in export
earnings because of falling prices for many of its major commodity exports.
For rice, traditionally the most important export, the drop in world prices
has been accompanied by shrinking markets and a smaller volume of sales. In
1985 teak replaced rice as the largest export and continues to hold this
position. The economy is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector, which
generates about 40% of GDP and provides employment for 65% of the work
force. Burma has been largely isolated from international economic forces
and has been trying to encourage foreign investment, so far with little
success.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $22.2 billion, per capita $530; real growth rate
5.6% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
40% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
9.6% in urban areas (FY89 est.)
Budget:
revenues $7.2 billion; expenditures $9.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $6 billion (1991)
Exports:
$568 million
commodities:
teak, rice, oilseed, metals, rubber, gems
partners:
Southeast Asia, India, Japan, China, EC, Africa
Imports:
$1.16 billion
commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, food products
partners:
Japan, EC, China, Southeast Asia
External debt:
$4.2 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.6% (FY90 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
950,000 kW capacity; 2,900 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products;
petroleum refining; mining of copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction
materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP (including fish and forestry); self-sufficient in
food; principal crops - paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses;
world's largest stand of hardwood trees; rice and teak account for 55% of
export revenues; fish catch of 740,000 metric tons (FY90)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest illicit producer of opium poppy and minor producer of
cannabis for the international drug trade; opium production is on the
increase as growers respond to the collapse of Rangoon's antinarcotic
programs
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $158 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.9 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $424 million
:Burma Economy
Currency:
kyat (plural - kyats); 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
Exchange rates:
kyats (K) per US$1 - 6.0963 (January 1992), 6.2837 (1991), 6.3386 (1990),
6.7049 (1989), 6.46 (1988), 6.6535 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
:Burma Communications
Railroads:
3,991 km total, all government owned; 3,878 km 1.000-meter gauge, 113 km
narrow-gauge industrial lines; 362 km double track
Highways:
27,000 km total; 3,200 km bituminous, 17,700 km improved earth or gravel,
6,100 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km
Ports:
Rangoon, Moulmein, Bassein
Merchant marine:
71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,036,018 GRT/1,514,121 DWT; includes
3 passenger-cargo, 19 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 3 vehicle carrier, 3
container, 2 petroleum tanker, 6 chemical, 1 combination ore/oil, 27 bulk, 1
combination bulk, 1 roll-on/roll-off
Civil air:
17 major transport aircraft (including 3 helicopters)
Airports:
85 total, 82 usable; 27 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 38 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service; international
service is good; 53,000 telephones (1986); radiobroadcast coverage is
limited to the most populous areas; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV
(1985); 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Burma Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
eligible 15-49, 21,447,878; of the 10,745,530 males 15-49, 5,759,840 are fit
for military service; of the 10,702,348 females 15-49, 5,721,868 are fit for
military service; 424,474 males and 410,579 females reach military age (18)
annually; both sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.28 billion, FY(91-92)
:Burundi Geography
Total area:
27,830 km2
Land area:
25,650 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
974 km; Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km
Coastline:
none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
none - landlocked
Disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands
Terrain:
mostly rolling to hilly highland; some plains
Natural resources:
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet
exploited), vanadium
Land use:
arable land 43%; permanent crops 8%; meadows and pastures 35%; forest and
woodland 2%; other 12%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
soil exhaustion; soil erosion; deforestation
Note:
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
:Burundi People
Population:
6,022,341 (July 1992), growth rate 3.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
46 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
14 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
106 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
51 years male, 55 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.8 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Burundian(s); adjective - Burundi
Ethnic divisions:
Africans - Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%; other
Africans include about 70,000 refugees, mostly Rwandans and Zairians;
non-Africans include about 3,000 Europeans and 2,000 South Asians
Religions:
Christian about 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs
32%, Muslim 1%
Languages:
Kirundi and French (official); Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the
Bujumbura area)
Literacy:
50% (male 61%, female 40%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
1,900,000 (1983 est.); agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and
commerce 1.5%, services 1.5%; 52% of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor:
sole group is the Union of Burundi Workers (UTB); by charter, membership is
extended to all Burundi workers (informally); active membership figures NA
:Burundi Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Burundi
Type:
republic
Capital:
Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:
15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi,
Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Constitution:
20 November 1981; suspended following the coup of 3 September 1987; a
constitutional committee was charged with drafting a new constitution
created in February 1991; a referendum on the new constitution scheduled for
March 1992
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Executive branch:
president; chairman of the Central Committee of the National Party of Unity
and Progress (UPRONA), prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved following
the coup of 3 September 1987; at an extraordinary party congress held from
27 to 29 December 1990, the Central Committee of the National Party of Unity
and Progress (UPRONA) replaced the Military Committee for National
Salvation, and became the supreme governing body during the transition to
constitutional government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Major Pierre BUYOYA, President (since 9 September 1987)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Adrien SIBOMANA (since 26 October 1988)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - National Party of Unity and Progress (UPRONA), Nicolas MAYUGI,
secretary general; note - although Burundi is still officially a one-party
state, at least four political parties were formed in 1991 in anticipation
of proposed constitutional reform in 1992 - Burundi Democratic Front
(FRODEBU), Organization of the People of Burundi (RPB), Socialist Party of
Burundi (PSB), Movement for Peace and Democracy (MPD) - the Party for the
Liberation of the Hutu People (PALIPEHUTU), formed in exile in the early
1980s, is an ethnically based political party dedicated to majority rule;
the government has long accused PALIPEHUTU of practicing devisive ethnic
politics and fomenting violence against the state. PALIPEHUTU's exclusivist
charter makes it an unlikely candidate for legalization under the new
constitution that will require party membership open to all ethnic groups
Suffrage:
universal adult at age NA
Elections:
National Assembly:
dissolved after the coup of 3 September 1987; note - The National Unity
Charter outlining the principles for constitutional government was adopted
by a national referendum on 5 February 1991
:Burundi Government
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Julien KAVAKURE; Chancery at Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 342-2574
US:
Ambassador Cynthia Shepherd PERRY; B. P. 1720, Avenue des Etats-Unis,
Bujumbura; telephone [257] (222) 454; FAX [257] (222) 926
Flag:
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green
panels (hoist side and outer 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)
:Burundi Economy