All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego
Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction
projects and various services needed to support the military
installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK,
Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or
agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity:
provided by the US military
@British Indian Ocean Territory, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Diego Garcia
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1 on Diego Garcia
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,229-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by US Navy) - 1 AM, 1
FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@British Indian Ocean Territory, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@British Virgin Islands
Header
Affiliation:
(dependent territory of the UK)
@British Virgin Islands, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto
Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
150 sq km
land area:
150 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes the island of Anegada
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
7%
meadows and pastures:
33%
forest and woodland:
7%
other:
33%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
@British Virgin Islands, People
Population:
12,864 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.24% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
20.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
19.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.67 years
male:
70.83 years
female:
74.65 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.27 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:
British Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
black 90%, white, Asian
Religions:
Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other
2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
98%
Labor force:
4,911 (1980)
by occupation:
NA
@British Virgin Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
British Virgin Islands
Abbreviation:
BVI
Digraph:
VI
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Road Town
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution:
1 June 1977
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since 14 October 1991)
head of government:
Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA September 1986)
cabinet:
Executive Council; appointed by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Council:
election last held 12 November 1990 (next to be held by November
1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) VIP 6,
IPM 1, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H.
Lavity STOUTT; Independent Progressive Movement (IPM), E. Walwyln
BREWLEY
Member of:
CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau),
IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical
column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE
(Be Watchful)
@British Virgin Islands, Economy
Overview:
The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, is
highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of
the national income. In 1985 the government offered offshore
registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and,
in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2 million in 1987.
The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor performances of the
tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit. Livestock raising is
the most significant agricultural activity. The islands' crops,
limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $133 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
2% (1991)
National product per capita:
$10,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NEGL% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$51 million
expenditures:
$88 million, including capital expenditures of $38 million (1991)
Exports:
$2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:
$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
External debt:
$4.5 million (1985)
Industrial production:
growth rate 4% (1985)
Electricity:
capacity:
10,500 kW
production:
43 million kWh
consumption per capita:
3,510 kWh (1990)
Industries:
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore
financial center
Agriculture:
livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@British Virgin Islands, Communications
Highways:
total:
106 km (1983)
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Road Town
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service; submarine
cable communication links to Bermuda; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no
FM, 1 TV
@British Virgin Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Brunei, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, on the northern coast of Borneo almost completely
surrounded by Malaysia
Map references:
Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
5,770 sq km
land area:
5,270 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total 381 km, Malysia 381 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country;
all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam;
parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984,
Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa
Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:
flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
79%
other:
18%
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Law of the Sea
natural hazards:
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Note:
close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and
Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an
enclave of Malaysia
@Brunei, People
Population:
284,653 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.7% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
26.18 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
25.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.1 years
male:
69.46 years
female:
72.78 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.43 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Bruneian(s)
adjective:
Bruneian
Ethnic divisions:
Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%
Religions:
Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs
and other 15% (1981)
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
77%
male:
85%
female:
69%
Labor force:
89,000 (includes members of the Army)
by occupation:
government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and
construction 41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.8% (1986)
note:
33% of labor force is foreign (1988)
@Brunei, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form:
Brunei
Digraph:
BX
Type:
constitutional sultanate
Capital:
Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and
Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day 23 February (1984)
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 Islamic law
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji
HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967)
cabinet:
Council of Cabinet Ministers; composed chiefly of members of the royal
family
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri):
elections last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to
an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected legislative
Council is being considered as part of constitution reform, but
elections are unlikely for several years
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman;
Brunei National Democratic Party (the first legal political party and
now banned), leader NA
Member of:
APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, ICAO, IDB, IMO, INTELSAT
(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, UNTAC, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador JAYA bin Abdul Latif
chancery:
2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 342-0159
FAX:
(202) 342-0158
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Theresa A. TULL
embassy:
Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan
mailing address:
American Embassy Box B, APO AP 96440
telephone:
[673] (2) 229-670
FAX:
[673] (2) 225-293
Flag:
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
@Brunei, Economy
Overview:
The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship,
government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It
is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas,
with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 50%
of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the Third World, and
substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic
production. The government provides for all medical services and
subsidizes food and housing.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1% (1991)
National product per capita:
$9,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.3 billion
expenditures:
$1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $255 million (1989
est.)
Exports:
$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products
partners:
Japan 53%, UK 12%, South Korea 9%, Thailand 7%, Singapore 5% (1990)
Imports:
$2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
partners:
Singapore 35%, UK 26%, Switzerland 9%, US 9%, Japan 5% (1990)
External debt:
$0
Industrial production:
growth rate 12.9% (1987); accounts for 52.4% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
310,000 kW
production:
890 million kWh
consumption per capita:
3,300 kWh (1990)
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Agriculture:
imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops and livestock
include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $153
million
Currency:
1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.6032 (January 1994), 1.6158 (1993),
1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989); note - the
Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Brunei, Communications
Railroads:
13 km 0.610-meter narrow-gauge private line
Highways:
total:
1,090 km
paved:
bituminous 370 km (with another 52 km under construction)
unpaved:
gravel or earth 720 km
Inland waterways:
209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 meters
Pipelines:
crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports:
Kuala Belait, Muara
Merchant marine:
7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476
GRT/340,635 DWT
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runway over 3,659 m:
1
with runway 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runway 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
service throughout country is adequate for present needs;
international service good to adjacent Malaysia; radiobroadcast
coverage good; 33,000 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 4 AM/FM,
1 TV; 74,000 radio receivers (1987); satellite earth stations - 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
@Brunei, Defense Forces
Branches:
Land Force, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 79,486; fit for military service 46,258; reach
military age (18) annually 2,756 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 9% of GDP (1990)
@Bulgaria, Geography
Location:
Balkan State, Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey
Map references:
Africa, Arctic Region, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Middle
East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
110,910 sq km
land area:
110,550 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total 1,808 km, Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all
with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline:
354 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south
Natural resources:
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
34%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw
sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from
air pollution; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical
plants and industrial wastes
natural hazards:
subject to earthquakes, landslides
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from
Europe to Middle East and Asia
@Bulgaria, People
Population:
8,799,986 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.32% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
11.71 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
11.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
12 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.24 years
male:
69.99 years
female:
76.67 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Bulgarian(s)
adjective:
Bulgarian
Ethnic divisions:
Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian
0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%
Religions:
Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%,
Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
Languages:
Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
total population:
93%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
4.3 million
by occupation:
industry 33%, agriculture 20%, other 47% (1987)
@Bulgaria, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form:
Bulgaria
Digraph:
BU
Type:
emerging democracy
Capital:
Sofia
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Burgas, Grad Sofiya,
Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya, Varna
Independence:
22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day 3 March (1878)
Constitution:
adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:
based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence; has accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Zhelyu Mitev ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990); Vice President
(vacant); election last held January 1992; results - Zhelyu ZHELEV was
elected by popular vote
head of government:
Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Lyuben Borisov
BEROV (since 30 December 1992); Deputy Chairman of the Council of
Ministers (Deputy Prime Minister) Evgeniy MATINCHEV (since 30 December
1992)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Narodno Sobranie):
last held 13 October 1991; results - UDF (and breakaway factions) 34%,
BSP 33%, MRF 7.5%; seats - (240 total) UDF 110, BSP 106, Movement for
Rights and Freedoms 24
note:
the UDF split in March 1993 to form the New Union for Democracy (NUD)
with 18 seats, and the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) with 92 seats
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), Filip DIMITROV, chairman, an
alliance of approximately 20 pro-Democratic parties including United
Democratic Center, Democratic Party, Radical Democratic Party,
Christian Democratic Union, Alternative Social Liberal Party,
Republican Party, Civic Initiative Movement, and about a dozen other
groups; Movement for Rights and Freedoms (mainly ethnic Turkish party)
(MRF), Ahmed DOGAN, chairman; Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Zhan
VIDENOV, chairman; New Union for Democracy (NUD), Dimitar LUDZHEV,
chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa (Support) Labor Confederation; Fatherland Union;
Bulgarian Democratic Youth (formerly Communist Youth Union);
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB);
Nationwide Committee for Defense of National Interests; Peasant Youth
League; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - United (BZNS); Bulgarian
Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union;
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Union of Macedonian
Societies (IMRO-UMS); numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest
groups with various agendas
Member of:
ACCT (observer), BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (participating), CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ognyan Raytchev PISHEV
chancery:
1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 387-7969
FAX:
(202) 234-7973
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
embassy:
1 Saborna Street, Sofia
mailing address:
Unit 25402, Sofia; APO AE 09213
telephone:
[359] (2) 88-48-01 through 05
FAX:
[359] (2) 80-19-77
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the
national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has
been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat
ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the
dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation
from Nazi control)
@Bulgaria, Economy