1,359,352 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.45% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.19 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.72 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
39.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
63.05 years
male:
60.03 years
female:
66.16 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.06 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective:
Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic divisions:
Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages:
English (official), Setswana
Literacy:
age 15 and over able to read and write simple sentences (1990 est.)
total population:
23%
male:
32%
female:
16%
Labor force:
428,000 (1992)
by occupation:
220,000 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle
raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.); 14,300 are employed
in various mines in South Africa (March 1992)
@Botswana, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Botswana
conventional short form:
Botswana
former:
Bechuanaland
Digraph:
BC
Type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Gaborone
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng,
Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; in addition, there are 4
town councils - Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Phikwe
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Constitution:
March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review
limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Sir Ketumile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President
Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992); election last held 7 October 1989
(next to be held October 1994); results - President Sir Ketumile
MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
House of Chiefs:
is a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of chiefs of the 8
principal tribes, 4 elected subchiefs, and 3 members selected by the
other 12
National Assembly:
elections last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total of which 34
are elected and 4 are appointed) BDP 31, BNF 3, unfilled seats pending
new elections 4
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana
National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Botswana People's Party (BPP),
Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ,
UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE
chancery:
Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 244-4990 or 4991
FAX:
(202) 244-4164
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Howard JETER
embassy:
address NA, Gaborone
mailing address:
P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone:
[267] 353-982
FAX:
[267] 356-947
Flag:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
@Botswana, Economy
Overview:
The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops.
Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the
population, but produces only about 50% of food needs. The driving
force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been
the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds,
has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to 50% in 1991. No other
sector has experienced such growth, especially not agriculture, which
is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The unemployment rate
remains a problem at 25%. Although diamond production was down
slightly in 1992, substantial gains in coal output and manufacturing
helped boost the economy. Recovery in sluggish diamond markets in
second half 1993 helped Botswana achieve moderate growth of 3% for the
year.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.7 billion
expenditures:
$1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652 million (FY94)
Exports:
$1.7 billion (f.o.b. 1992)
commodities:
diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 6%, meat 5%
partners:
Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
Imports:
$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum
products
partners:
Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US
External debt:
$344 million (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.8% (FY91); accounts for about 53% of GDP, including
mining
Electricity:
capacity:
220,000 kW
production:
901 million kWh (in addition 228,000,000 kWh were imported)
consumption per capita:
874 kWh (1992 est.)
Industries:
mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash;
livestock processing
Agriculture:
accounts for only 5% of GDP; subsistence farming predominates; cattle
raising supports 50% of the population; must import up to of 80% of
food needs
Economic aid:
recipient:
US aid (1992), $13 million; Norway (1992), $16 million; Sweden (1992),
$15.5 million; Germany (1992), $3.6 million; EC/Lome-IV (1992), $3-6
million in grants; $28.7 million in long-term projects (1992)
Currency:
1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates:
pula (P) per US$1 - 3.1309 (January 1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327
(1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601 (1990), 2.0125 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Botswana, Communications
Railroads:
712 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
11,514 km
paved:
1,600 km
unpaved:
crushed stone, gravel 1,700 km; improved earth 5,177 km; unimproved
earth 3,037 km
Airports:
total:
101
usable:
90
with permanent-surface runways:
9
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
30
Telecommunications:
the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, microwave radio
relay links, and a few radio-communications stations; 26,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 13 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
@Botswana, Defense Forces
Branches:
Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana
National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 294,603; fit for military service 154,997; reach
military age (18) annually 15,156 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $196 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY93/94)
@Bouvet Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Norway)
@Bouvet Island, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the South Atlantic Ocean, 2,575 km south-southwest
of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total area:
58 sq km
land area:
58 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
4 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly
inaccessible
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (all ice)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
covered by glacial ice
@Bouvet Island, People
Population:
uninhabited
@Bouvet Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Bouvet Island
Digraph:
BV
Type:
territory of Norway
Capital:
none; administered from Oslo, Norway
Independence:
none (territory of Norway)
@Bouvet Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Bouvet Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Telecommunications:
automatic meteorological station
@Bouvet Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
@Brazil, Geography
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
8,511,965 sq km
land area:
8,456,510 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than the US
note:
includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da
Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
Land boundaries:
total 14,691 km, Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643
km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru
1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline:
7,491 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of the boundary with Paraguay, just west of Salto das
Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, is in dispute; two short
sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute - Arroio Invernada
(Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the
islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River
Climate:
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,
mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Natural resources:
iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium, phosphates, tin,
hydropower, gold, platinum, petroleum, timber
Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
67%
other:
6%
Irrigated land:
27,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation in Amazon Basin; 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
natural hazards:
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Tropical Timber
Note:
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every
South American country except Chile and Ecuador
@Brazil, People
Population:
158,739,257 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.28% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
21.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
8.63 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
59.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
62.25 years
male:
57.41 years
female:
67.32 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.44 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Brazilian(s)
adjective:
Brazilian
Ethnic divisions:
Portuguese, Italian, German, Japanese, Amerindian, black 6%, white
55%, mixed 38%, other 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
81%
male:
82%
female:
80%
Labor force:
57 million (1989 est.)
by occupation:
services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
@Brazil, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form:
Brazil
local long form:
Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form:
Brasil
Digraph:
BR
Type:
federal republic
Capital:
Brasilia
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
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Itamar FRANCO (since 29 December 1992); election last held
15 November 1989, with runoff on 17 December 1989 (next to be held
October 1994); results - Fernando COLLOR de Mello 53%, Luis Inacio
LULA da Silva 47%; note - first free, direct presidential election
since 1960; Fernando COLLOR de Mello was impeached in December 1992
and succeeded by former Vice President Itamar FRANCO
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional)
Federal Senate (Senado Federal):
election last held 3 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994);
results - percent of vote by party PMBD 33%, PFL 16%, PSDB 12%, PDS
4%, PDT 6%, PT 1%, other 28%; seats - (81 total as of 3 February 1991)
PMDB 27, PFL 15, PSDB 10, PTB 8, PDT 5, other 16
Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados):
election last held 3 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994);
results - PMDB 21%, PFL 17%, PDT 9%, PDS 8%, PRN 7.9%, PTB 7%, PT 7%,
other 23.1%; seats - (503 total as of 3 February 1991) PMDB 108, PFL
87, PDT 46, PDS 43, PRN 40, PTB 35, PT 35, other 109
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
National Reconstruction Party (PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president;
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Luiz HENRIQUE da Silveira,
president; Liberal Front Party (PFL), Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president;
Workers' Party (PT), Luis Inacio LULA da Silva, president; Brazilian
Workers' Party (PTB), Rodrigues PALMA, president; Democratic Workers'
Party (PDT), Leonel BRIZOLA, president; Progressive Renewal Party
(PPR), Paulo MALUF, president; Brazilian Social Democracy Party
(PSDB), Tasso JEREISSATI, president; Popular Socialist Party (PPS),
Roberto FREIRE, president; Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao
AMAZONAS, secretary general; Liberal Party (PL), Flavio ROCHA,
president
Other political or pressure groups:
left wing of the Catholic Church and labor unions allied to leftist
Workers' Party are critical of government's social and economic
policies
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA,
RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR,
UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA
chancery:
3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 745-2700
FAX:
(202) 745-2827
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands),
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s):
Houston and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY
embassy:
Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal
mailing address:
APO AA 34030
telephone:
[55] (61) 321-7272
FAX:
[55] (61) 225-9136
consulate(s) general:
Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s):
Porto Alegre, Recife
Flag:
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 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)
@Brazil, Economy
Overview:
The economy, with large agrarian, mining, and manufacturing sectors,
entered the 1990s with declining real growth, runaway inflation, an
unserviceable foreign debt of $122 billion, and a lack of policy
direction. In addition, the economy remained highly regulated,
inward-looking, and protected by substantial trade and investment
barriers. Ownership of major industrial and mining facilities is
divided among private interests - including several multinationals -
and the government. Most large agricultural holdings are private, with
the government channeling financing to this sector. Conflicts between
large landholders and landless peasants have produced intermittent
violence. The COLLOR government, which assumed office in March 1990,
launched an ambitious reform program that sought to modernize and
reinvigorate the economy by stabilizing prices, deregulating the
economy, and opening it to increased foreign competition. The
government also obtained an IMF standby loan in January 1992 and
reached agreements with commercial bankers on the repayment of
interest arrears and on the reduction of debt and debt service
payments. Galloping inflation (the rate doubled in 1992 and by March
1994 had risen to 42% per month) continues to undermine economic
stability. Itamar FRANCO, who assumed the presidency following
President COLLOR'S resignation in December 1992, was out of step with
COLLOR'S reform agenda; initiatives to redress fiscal problems,
privatize state enterprises, and liberalize trade and investment
policies have lost momentum. Brazil's natural resources remain a
major, long-term economic strength
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $785 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5% (1993)
National product per capita:
$5,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2,709% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$113 billion
expenditures:
$109 billion, including capital expenditures of $23 billion (1992)
Exports:
$38.8 billion (f.o.b. 1993)
commodities:
iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, motor vehicle
parts
partners:
EC 27.6%, Latin America 21.8%, US 17.4%, Japan 6.3% (1993)
Imports:
$25.7 billion (f.o.b. 1993)
commodities:
crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs, coal
partners:
US 23.3%, EC 22.5%, Middle East 13.0%, Latin America 11.8%, Japan 6.5%
(1993)
External debt:
$119 billion (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9.5% (1993); accounts for 39% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
63,765,000 kW
production:
242.184 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
1,531 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles and other consumer goods, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber,
iron ore, steel, motor vehicles and auto parts, metalworking, capital
goods, tin
Agriculture:
accounts for 11% of GDP; world's largest producer and exporter of
coffee and orange juice concentrate and second-largest exporter of
soybeans; other products - rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, beef;
self-sufficient in food, except for wheat
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and coca, mostly for domestic
consumption; government has a modest eradication program to control
cannabis and coca cultivation; important transshipment country for
Bolivian and Colombian cocaine headed for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.5 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.2
million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $284 million; former Communist
countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion
Currency:
1 cruzeiro real (CR$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
CR$ per US$1 - 390.845 (January 1994), 88.449 (1993), 4.513 (1992),
0.407 (1991), 0.068 (1990), 0.003 (1989)
note:
on 1 August 1993 the cruzeiro real, equal to 1,000 cruzeiros, was
introduced; another new currency, the real, will be introduced on 1
July 1994
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Brazil, Communications
Railroads:
30,133 km total; 24,690 km 1.000-meter gauge, 5,120 km 1.600-meter
gauge, 310 km mixed 1.600-1.000-meter gauge, 13 km 0.760-meter gauge;
2,150 km electrified
Highways:
total:
1,670,148 km
paved:
161,503 km
unpaved:
gravel/earth 1,508,645 km (1990)
Inland waterways:
50,000 km navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,000 km; petroleum products 3,804 km; natural gas 1,095 km
Ports:
Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio
de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos
Merchant marine:
220 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,139,176 GRT/8,695,682 DWT,
bulk 53, cargo 40, chemical tanker 14, combination ore/oil 12,
container 11, liquified gas 11, oil tanker 62, passenger-cargo 5,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11
note:
in addition, 1 naval tanker is sometimes used commercially
Airports:
total:
3,581
usable:
3,024
with permanent-surface runways:
436
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
22
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
598
Telecommunications:
good system; extensive microwave radio relay facilities; 9.86 million
telephones; broadcast stations - 1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151
shortwave; 3 coaxial submarine cables, 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations and 64 domestic satellite earth stations
@Brazil, Defense Forces
Branches:
Brazilian Army, Navy of Brazil (including Marines), Brazilian Air
Force, Military Police (paramilitary)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 43,489,704; fit for military service 29,286,530; reach
military age (18) annually 1,674,930 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3% of GDP (1990)
@British Indian Ocean Territory
Header
Affiliation:
(dependent territory of the UK)
@British Indian Ocean Territory, Geography
Location:
Southern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, south of India about halfway
between Africa and Indonesia
Map references:
Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
60 sq km
land area:
60 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes the island of Diego Garcia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
698 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius
Climate:
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Natural resources:
coconuts, fish
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:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost
island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is
site of joint US-UK military facility
@British Indian Ocean Territory, People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note:
there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known as the
Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military
facilities
@British Indian Ocean Territory, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form:
none
Abbreviation:
BIOT
Digraph:
IO
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
none
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Commissioner Thomas GEORGE (since September 1991); Administrator Mr.
R. G. WELLS (since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six
blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown
centered on the outer half of the flag
@British Indian Ocean Territory, Economy