conventional long form:
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form:
The Bahamas
Digraph:
BF
Type:
commonwealth
Capital:
Nassau
Administrative divisions:
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma,
Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour
Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour,
Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged
Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:
10 July 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992); Deputy Prime
Minister Orville A. TURNQUEST (since 19 August 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the governor on the prime minister's
recommendation
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
Senate:
a 16-member body appointed by the governor general
House of Assembly:
elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP
17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National
Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM;
Member of:
ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
chancery:
2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 319-2660
FAX:
(202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lino GUTIERREZ
embassy:
Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address:
P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau
telephone:
(809) 322-1181 or 328-2206
FAX:
(809) 328-7838
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine
with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
@The Bahamas, Economy
Overview:
The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation whose economy is based
primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides
about 40% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000
people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in
recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed.
Nonetheless, per capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
2% (1991)
National product per capita:
$16,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
5.7% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$628.5 million
expenditures:
$574 million, including capital expenditures of $100 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$310 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish
partners:
US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%
Imports:
$1.2 billion (f.o.b,,1992)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels, crude oil
partners:
US 32%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%
External debt:
$1.2 billion (December 1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
424,000 kW
production:
929 million kWh
consumption per capita:
3,599 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt
production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe
Agriculture:
accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal
products - citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of
food
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe;
also money-laundering center
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $345
million
Currency:
1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@The Bahamas, Communications
Highways:
total:
2,400 km
paved:
1,350 km
unpaved:
gravel 1,050 km
Ports:
Freeport, Nassau
Merchant marine:
879 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,424,439 GRT/33,330,160 DWT,
bulk 167, cargo 148, chemical tanker 43, combination bulk 8,
combination ore/oil 20, container 48, liquefied gas 18, oil tanker
177, passenger 54, refrigerated cargo 132, roll-on/roll-off cargo 41,
short-sea passenger 16, vehicle carrier 7
note:
a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
60
usable:
55
with permanent-surface runways:
31
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
26
Telecommunications:
highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system;
tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida; broadcast
stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@The Bahamas, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police
Force
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)
@Bahrain, Geography
Location:
Middle East, in the central Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and
Qatar
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
620 sq km
land area:
620 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime
boundary with Qatar
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Natural resources:
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
6%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
90%
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land,
periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to
coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills
and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and
distribution stations; no surface water resources; groundwater and sea
water are the only sources for all water needs
natural hazards:
periods of drought, dust storms
international agreements:
party to - Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note:
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location
in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must
transit to reach open ocean
@Bahrain, People
Population:
585,683 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.96% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
26.59 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
3.83 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
19 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.51 years
male:
71.1 years
female:
76.05 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.96 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Bahraini(s)
adjective:
Bahraini
Ethnic divisions:
Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Religions:
Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Languages:
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
77%
male:
82%
female:
69%
Labor force:
140,000
by occupation:
industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3%
(1982)
note:
42% of labor force is Bahraini
@Bahrain, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
State of Bahrain
conventional short form:
Bahrain
local long form:
Dawlat al Bahrayn
local short form:
Al Bahrayn
Digraph:
BA
Type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Manama
Administrative divisions:
12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al
Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash
Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd
Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
Independence:
15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 December (1961)
Constitution:
26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent
HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January
1950)
head of government:
Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and
legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory
Council established 16 December 1992
Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and
Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Mohammad ABD al-GHAFFAR
chancery:
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 342-0741 or 342-0742
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires David S. ROBINS
embassy:
Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
mailing address:
FPO AE 09834-5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama
telephone:
[973] 273-300
FAX:
(973) 272-594
Flag:
red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
@Bahrain, Economy
Overview:
Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export
receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic
conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since
1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91.
Bahrain with its highly developed communication and transport
facilities is home to numerous multinational firms with business in
the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made
from imported crude. Prospects for 1994 are good, with private
enterprise the main driving force, e.g., in banking and construction.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$12,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8%-10% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.2 billion
expenditures:
$1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
partners:
Japan 13%, UAE 12%, India 10%, Pakistan 8%, Singapore 6% (1991)
Imports:
$3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
partners:
Saudi Arabia 42%, US 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1991)
External debt:
$2.6 billion (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
1,600,000 kW
production:
4.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
8,500 kWh (1992)
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore
banking, ship repairing
Agriculture:
including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not
self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces
fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $45
million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion
Currency:
1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Bahrain, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
bituminous 200 km
unpaved:
NA
Pipelines:
crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports:
Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah
Merchant marine:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 101,844 GRT/143,997 DWT, bulk 1,
cargo 4, container 1
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
modern system; good domestic services; 98,000 telephones (1 for every
6 persons); excellent international connections; tropospheric scatter
to Qatar, UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable
to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations
- 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV
@Bahrain, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 198,414; fit for military service 109,431; reach
military age (15) annually 5,093 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $245 million, 6% of GDP (1993)
@Baker Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Baker Island, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the
Equator, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii
and Australia
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
1.4 sq km
land area:
1.4 sq km
comparative area:
about 2.3 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4.8 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
mate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
rain:
low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
ural resources:
guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lacks fresh water
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,
prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
wildlife
@Baker Island, People
Population:
uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after
Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US
military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public
entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to
scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located
near the middle of the west coast
@Baker Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Baker Island
Digraph:
FQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge system
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
@Baker Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Baker Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle
of the west coast
Airports:
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
Note:
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
@Baker Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US
Coast Guard
@Bangladesh, Geography
Location:
Southern Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely
surrounded by India
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
144,000 sq km
land area:
133,910 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total 4,246 km, Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:
580 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
up to outer limits of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
a portion of the boundary with India is in dispute; water-sharing
problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges
Climate:
tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer
(March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Natural resources:
natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
arable land:
67%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
16%
other:
11%
Irrigated land:
27,380 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate
flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne
diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas
results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water
shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central
parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe
overpopulation
natural hazards:
vulnerable to droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
flooded during the summer monsoon season
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous
Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
@Bangladesh, People
Population:
125,149,469 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
35.02 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
11.68 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
106.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
55.08 years
male:
55.35 years
female:
54.8 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.47 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Bangladeshi(s)
adjective:
Bangladesh
Ethnic divisions:
Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million
Religions:
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
Languages:
Bangla (official), English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
35%
male:
47%
female:
22%
Labor force:
50.1 million
by occupation:
agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining 14% (1989)
note:
extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)
@Bangladesh, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form:
Bangladesh
former:
East Pakistan
Digraph:
BG
Type:
republic
Capital:
Dhaka
Administrative divisions:
64 districts (zillagulo, singular - zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban,
Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai
Nawabganj, Chattagram, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka,
Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj,
Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati, Jhenaidah, Khagrachari,
Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur, Lalmonirhat,
Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulavibazar, Munshiganj,
Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator, Netrakona,
Nilphamari, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram,
Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira,
Shariyatpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Tangail,
Thakurgaon
Independence:
16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
Constitution:
4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup
of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991); election last
held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results -
Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
head of government:
Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN (since 20 March 1991)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad):
elections last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300
elected and 30 seats reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20,
BCP 5, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, JSD 1,
Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League
(AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD
(in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party
(BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers
Party, leader NA; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; Democratic League,
Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
Member of:
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Abul AHSAN
chancery:
2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 342-8372 through 8376
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David MERRILL
embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
mailing address:
G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212
telephone:
[880] (2) 884700-22
FAX:
[880] (2) 883-744
Flag:
green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;
green is the traditional color of Islam
@Bangladesh, Economy