total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 30 (1997 est.)
@Belize:Military
Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 56,142 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 33,328 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 2,536 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $15 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2%
@Belize:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to
resolve the dispute are ongoing
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit
producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center
______________________________________________________________________
BENIN
@Benin:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Tanekas 641 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble,
timber
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in
winter
Environment-current issues: recent droughts have severely affected
marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water;
poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation;
desertification
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: no natural harbors
@Benin:People
Population: 6,100,799 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,465,067; female 1,455,852)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,455,224; female 1,582,880)
65 years and over: 2% (male 61,523; female 80,253) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.31% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 45.82 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.77 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.61 years
male: 51.56 years
female: 55.72 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.48 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being
Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars
in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25.8% (1995 est.)
@Benin:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
Data code: BN
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped
Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February
1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
National capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the
seat of government
Administrative divisions: 6 departments; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Mono, Oueme, Zou
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)
Constitution: 2 December 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government;
Prime Minister Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (since 9 April 1996) acts as
assistant to the president; a prime minister is not provided for in
the constitution but was appointed by President KEREKOU with the
permission of the constitutional court
cabinet: Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister; all are
appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of
vote-Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RB 20,
PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC 1, RDP
1, other 17
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle,
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of the National Party for
Democracy and Development or PNDD and the Democratic Renewal Party or
PRD [Pascal Chabi KAO]; Action for Renewal and Development or
FARD-ALAFIA [Mathieu KEREKOU]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party
or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP
[Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Alliance Chameleon or AC; Alliance for Democracy and
Progress or ADP [Adekpedjon AKINDES]; Alliance for Social Democracy or
ASD [Robert DOSSOU]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National
Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Communist
Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal TODJINOU, first secretary]; Our Common
Cause or NCC [Albert TEVOEDJRE]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or
RDP; The Renaissance Party of Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]
note: as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were
officially recognized
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
FAX: [229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red
with a vertical green band on the hoist side
@Benin:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and
dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional
trade. Growth in real output, which had averaged a sound 4% during
1990-95, rose to 5.5% in 1996 and was targeted at 4.8% for 1997. Rapid
population growth offset much of this growth in output. Inflation
jumped to 55% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50%
currency devaluation in January 1994, but has subsided over the past
three years, with a target of 3.5% inflation in 1997. Commercial and
transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are extremely
vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages.
Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased
the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still
burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil
service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported
structural adjustment program since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.8% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,900 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 14%
services: 52% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $299 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14
million (1995 est.)
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 15,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 6 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 45 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans,
rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Exports:
total value: $192 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 14%, Morocco, Libya, France
Imports:
total value: $693 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products,
intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
partners: France 27%, Thailand 9%, China, Hong Kong
Debt-external: $1.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998),
583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16
(1993)
note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100
per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open wire and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 20,000 (1993 est.)
@Benin:Transportation
Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Benin:Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 1,311,490
females age 15-49: 1,378,979 (1998 est.)
note: both sexes are liable for military service
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 671,230
females: 698,290 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 65,498
females: 65,112 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $33 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.2% (1994)
@Benin:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US
______________________________________________________________________
BERMUDA
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Bermuda:Geography
Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 50 sq km
land: 50 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA (1997 est.)
note: developed (55%), and rural and open space (39%) comprise 94% of
Bermudian land area
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment-current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample
rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and
otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
@Bermuda:People
Population: 62,009 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,191; female 6,046)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,330; female 21,912)
65 years and over: 10% (male 2,777; female 3,753) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 12.21 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.22 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.77 years
male: 75 years
female: 78.63 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups: black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other
34% (1991)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
@Bermuda:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code: BD
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint
Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution: 8 June 1968
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since June 1997)
head of government: Premier Pamela GORDON (since 25 March 1997);
Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed
by the queen; premier appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an
11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly
(40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October
1998)
election results: percent of vote by party-UBP 50%, PLP 46%,
independents 4%; seats by party-UBP 22, PLP 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela
GORDON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; National
Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU
[Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA
(Leleath BAILEY)
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CCC,
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592
Flag description: red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a
red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea
Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
@Bermuda:Economy
Economy-overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes
in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing
financial services for international firms and luxury tourist
facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which
accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% of its business
from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is
severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs
are imported. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's
economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be
partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.4% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$29,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 1.8% (November 1997)
Labor force:
total: 34,633
by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional
and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%,
agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $430.9 million
expenditures: $452.9 million, including capital expenditures of $50
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products,
paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 145,000 kW (1996)
Electricity-production: 527,526,728 kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 7,856 kWh (1996)
Agriculture-products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy
products
Exports:
total value: $67.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
partners: Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Imports:
total value: $569 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and
transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1-1.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 78,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 57,000 (1992 est.)
@Bermuda:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 225 km
paved: 225 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
total: 91 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,590,132 GRT/7,440,524
DWT
ships by type: bulk 18, chemical tanker 1, container 18, liquefied gas
tanker 7, oil tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo
3, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 8 countries
among which are UK 31, Canada 13, US 10, Norway 2, Hong Kong 1,
Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, and Mexico 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Bermuda:Military
Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda
Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Bermuda:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BHUTAN
@Bhutan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the
source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder
Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Environment-current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable
water
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
@Bhutan:People
Population: 1,908,307 (July 1998 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 396,839; female 368,391)
15-64 years: 56% (male 549,050; female 518,780)
65 years and over: 4% (male 38,235; female 37,012) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.27% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 37.33 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 14.6 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 111.66 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.31 years
male: 52.77 years
female: 51.83 years (1998 est.)