country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Current account balance:
$134.3 million (1999)
country comparison to the world: 55
Exports:
$25.3 million (2002)
country comparison to the world: 202
$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Imports:
$187 million f.o.b.
Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Debt - external:
$36.1 million (1997)
country comparison to the world: 194
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
18,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 196
Telephones - mobile cellular:
23,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 204
Telephone system:
general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: fixed line connections exceed 75 per 100 persons and
mobile cellular subscribership is approaching 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable
to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable
provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean
(2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)
Internet country code:
.vg
Internet hosts:
581 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
Internet users:
4,000 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 206
Transportation ::British Virgin Islands
Airports:
4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 200 km
country comparison to the world: 206
paved: 200 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 153
Ports and terminals:
Road Town
Military ::British Virgin Islands
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,101 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,979
females age 16-49: 5,738 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 178
female: 173 (2009 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
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Brunei (East & Southeast Asia)
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 Asia.
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: 5,765 sq km
country comparison to the world: 172
land: 5,265 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)
Total renewable water resources:
8.5 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.09
per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)
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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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:
388,190 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 53,282/female 50,141)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 135,640/female 136,292)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 6,199/female 6,636) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 27.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.759% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Birth rate:
18.2 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Death rate:
3.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Net migration rate:
2.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Urbanization:
urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 144
male: 14.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.74 years
country comparison to the world: 74
male: 73.52 years
female: 78.07 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes
indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 59
Government ::Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: 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 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait,
Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from the 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 Sharia law
supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age for village elections; universal
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)
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:
The Sultan appointed a council with 29 members as of 2 September
2005; the council has met in March of each year since then
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note: The Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first
time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed
constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15
elected members
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; Sharia courts deal with
Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:
National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin
Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin
Haji Ahmad] were deregistered; parties are small and have limited
activity
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angela SHIM
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William E. TODD
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: [673] 222-0384
FAX: [673] 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:
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of
foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation,
welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas
production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of
exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, 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 into the world economy will undermine
internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the
labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and
tourist sectors, increasing agricultural production, and, in
general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.58 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$19.96 billion (2007 est.)
$19.92 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.55 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
0.2% (2007 est.)
4.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$51,300 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$53,300 (2007 est.)
$54,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 75%
services: 25% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
188,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 63.1%
services: 32.4% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.889 billion
expenditures: $4 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
5.5% (February 2009)
Stock of money:
$3.046 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
$2.674 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$4.551 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
$4.258 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.274 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats,
eggs
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - production:
3.091 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - consumption:
2.926 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
157,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - exports:
207,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - imports:
237.6 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - production:
13.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - consumption:
4.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - exports:
9.2 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Current account balance:
$7.101 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Exports:
$8.25 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 93
$6.767 billion (2006)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, garments
Exports - partners:
Japan 40.8%, Indonesia 21.6%, South Korea 15.4%, Australia 10% (2008)
Imports:
$2.055 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$2 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 36.5%, Malaysia 19%, Japan 7.7%, China 5.5%, Thailand 5%,
US 4.7%, UK 4.7% (2008)
Debt - external:
$0 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 202
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006),
1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Communications ::Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
76,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
376,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;
international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East,
Western Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3
optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway
submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will
provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0
(British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM
signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service)
(2006)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
14,978 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
Internet users:
217,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
Transportation ::Brunei
Airports:
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 210
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,650 km
country comparison to the world: 159
paved: 2,819 km
unpaved: 831 km (2005)
Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 119
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 1 (UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Lumut, Muara, Seria
Military ::Brunei
Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal
Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays
are ineligible to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 108,356
females age 16-49: 110,153 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 92,543
females age 16-49: 95,301 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,460
female: 3,399 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 24
Transnational Issues ::Brunei
Disputes - international:
Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their
offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon
exploration, and renounce any territorial claims on land; Brunei
established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa
Reef in the 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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Bulgaria (Europe)
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 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: 110,879 sq km
country comparison to the world: 104
land: 108,489 sq km
water: 2,390 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)
Total renewable water resources:
19.4 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%)
per capita: 895 cu m/yr (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-Sulfur 94, 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, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes
from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People ::Bulgaria
Population:
7,204,687 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 509,544/female 484,816)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,426,060/female 2,508,772)
65 years and over: 17.7% (male 518,711/female 756,784) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.4 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 43.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.79% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
Birth rate:
9.51 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Death rate:
14.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Net migration rate:
-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Urbanization:
urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.68 male(s)/female