.bw
Internet hosts:
7,341 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
Internet users:
120,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 146
Transportation ::Botswana
Airports:
77 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 68
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 54
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Railways:
total: 888 km
country comparison to the world: 97
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 25,798 km
country comparison to the world: 103
paved: 8,410 km
unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)
Military ::Botswana
Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force: Ground Forces (includes Air Arm) (2009)
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 16-49: 487,853
females age 16-49: 464,278 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 341,190
females age 16-49: 315,588 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 23,420
female: 22,904 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 42
Transnational Issues ::Botswana
Disputes - international:
Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of
Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and 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 at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing
the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Bouvet Island (Antarctica)
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, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the
adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, it 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
country comparison to the world: 232
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 by Norway
People ::Bouvet Island
Population:
uninhabited
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 Oslo Police
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:
0 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 230
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
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Brazil (South America)
Introduction ::Brazil
Background:
Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil
peacefully gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a
monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in
1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military
in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the
country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930.
By far the largest and most populous country in South America,
Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military
government until 1985, when 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 and crime remain pressing problems.
Geography ::Brazil
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 8,514,877 sq km
country comparison to the world: 5
land: 8,459,417 sq km
water: 55,460 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: 16,885 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia
1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km,
Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 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)
Total renewable water resources:
8,233 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 59.3 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 318 cu m/yr (2000)
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:
198,739,269
country comparison to the world: 5
note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a
population of 169,872,855; that figure was about 3.8% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 27,092,880/female 26,062,244)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 65,804,108/female 67,047,725)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,374,230/female 7,358,082) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.6 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 29.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.199% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Birth rate:
18.43 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Death rate:
6.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Net migration rate:
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Urbanization:
urban population: 86% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.58 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 26.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.99 years
country comparison to the world: 121
male: 68.43 years
female: 75.73 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
730,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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 and most widely spoken language); note - less
common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German,
Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.6%
male: 88.4%
female: 88.8% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 105
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:
federal 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 and two-thirds elected
every four years, alternately) 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 in October 2010 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held in 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, PDT 1, PSB 1,
PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 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; note - as of 1 January 2009, the composition of the
entire legislature is as follows: Federal Senate - seats by party -
PMDB 21, DEM (formerly PFL) 12, PSDB 13, PT 12, PTB 7, PDT 5, PR 4,
PSB 2, PCdoB 1, PRB 1, PP 1, PSC 1, PSOL 1; Chamber of Deputies -
seats by party - PMDB 95, PT 79, PSDB 59, DEM (formerly PFL) 53, PR
44, PP 40, PSB 29, PDT 25, PTB 19, PPS 14, PV 14, PCdoB 13, PSC 11,
PMN 5, PRB 4, PHS 3, PSOL 3, PTC 1, PTdoB 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF (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 [Roberto JEFFERSON]; 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 Sergio GUERRA]; Brazilian
Socialist Party or PSB [Governor Eduardo Henrique Accioly CAMPOS];
Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]; Communist Party of
Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT
[Carlos Roberto LUPI]; the Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front
Party or PFL) [Federal Deputy Rodrigo MAIA]; Freedom and Socialism
Party or PSOL [Heloisa HELENA]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de
Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Paulo Roberto
MATOS]; Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira
RESENDE]; Liberal Front Party or PFL (now known as the Democrats or
DEM); National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO];
Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio TAMER]; Popular Socialist Party
or PPS [Federal Deputy Fernando CORUJA]; Progressive Party or PP
[Francisco DORNELLES]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge
Abdala NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Ricardo Jose Ribeiro BERZOINI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers' Movement or MST
other: labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations;
religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the
Catholic Church
International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, CAN (associate), CPLP, FAO, G-15,
G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA
(observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar PATRIOTA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2805
FAX: [1] (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: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (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 Brazil is expanding its
presence in world markets. From 2003 to 2007, Brazil ran record
trade surpluses and recorded its first current account surpluses
since 1992. Productivity gains coupled with high commodity prices
contributed to the surge in exports. Brazil improved its debt
profile in 2006 by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated
and domestically held instruments. LULA da Silva restated his
commitment to fiscal responsibility by maintaining the country's
primary surplus during the 2006 election. Following his second
inauguration in October of that year, LULA da Silva announced a
package of further economic reforms to reduce taxes and increase
investment in infrastructure. Brazil's debt achieved investment
grade status early in 2008, but the government's attempt to achieve
strong growth while reducing the debt burden created inflationary
pressures. For most of 2008, the Central Bank embarked on a
restrictive monetary policy to stem these pressures. Since the onset
of the global financial crisis in September, Brazil's currency and
its stock market - Bovespa - have significantly lost value, -41% for
Bovespa for the year ending 30 December 2008. Brazil incurred
another current account deficit in 2008, as world demand and prices
for commodities dropped in the second-half of the year.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.998 trillion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$1.901 trillion (2007 est.)
$1.798 trillion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.573 trillion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
5.7% (2007 est.)
4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$9,800 (2007 est.)
$9,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 28%
services: 65.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
93.65 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 14%
services: 66% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
9.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 43% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.7 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 10
60.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
19% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA
Public debt:
38.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
52% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
3.6% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
20.48% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
17.85% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
47.25% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 4
43.72% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$95.03 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 12
$131.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$724.5 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
$792.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.249 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 11
$1.377 trillion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$589.4 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.37 trillion (31 December 2007)
$711.1 billion (31 December 2006)
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:
4.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - production:
438.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - consumption:
404.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - exports:
2.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
42.06 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.422 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - consumption:
2.52 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - exports:
570,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - imports:
632,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Oil - proved reserves:
12.62 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - production:
12.62 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - consumption:
23.65 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - imports:
11.03 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - proved reserves:
365 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Current account balance:
-$28.19 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$1.551 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$197.9 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$160.6 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
US 14.4%, China 12.4%, Argentina 8.4%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 4.5%
(2008)
Imports:
$173.1 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$120.6 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,
oil, automotive parts, electronics
Imports - partners:
US 14.9%, China 11.6%, Argentina 7.9%, Germany 7% (2008)