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
Political pressure groups and leaders: several small, clandestine
leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the
arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented
unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an
elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 3119, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE
09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
Flag description: red with a white serrated band (eight white
points) on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing
account for about 60% 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. With its highly developed
communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous
multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of
exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude.
Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects.
Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both
oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic
problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 46%
services: 53% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 150,000 (1997 est.)
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%,
government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 budget)
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1995)
Electricity--production: 4.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 4.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products;
shrimp, fish
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 61%,
aluminum 7%
Exports--partners: India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South
Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997)
Imports: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Imports--partners: Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%,
Germany 4% (1997)
Debt--external: $2 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $48.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1--0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 73,552 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services and
excellent international connections
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave
radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and
Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 320,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 270,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 3,103 km
paved: 2,374 km
unpaved: 729 km (1997 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas
32 km
Ports and harbors: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard,
Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 15 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 220,670 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 121,451 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $276.9 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.5% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial dispute with Qatar over the
Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
======================================================================
@Baker Island
------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4.8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--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
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 from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and
remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the
middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife
Service
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code: FQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of
the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife
Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note--there is
one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely
covered with vegetation and unusable
Transportation--note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the
west coast
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Bangladesh
----------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between
Burma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 144,000 sq km
land: 133,910 sq km
water: 10,090 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
arable land: 73%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country
routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
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
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
People
Population: 127,117,967 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 24,516,722; female 23,346,904)
15-64 years: 59% (male 38,441,064; female 36,586,743)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,303,613; female 1,922,921) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.2 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.6 years
male: 60.73 years
female: 60.46 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladesh
Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1
million
Religions: Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%, other 1.2%
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.1%
male: 49.4%
female: 26.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan
Data code: BG
Government type: republic
Capital: Dhaka
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong,
Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi
note: there may be one additional division named Sylhet
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 Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996);
note--the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the
13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government
Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when
Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed--at
presidential direction--to supervise the elections
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since 23
June 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October
2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that
wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the
president
election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without
opposition; percent of National Parliament vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya
Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single
territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%;
seats by party--AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 2, election still
to be held 1; note--the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an
Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held
under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were
characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter
turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and
opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to
widespread street violence
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party or
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN
chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John C. HOLZMAN
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
Flag description: green with a large red disk slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood
shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush
countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: Despite sustained domestic and international
efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh
remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and
least developed nations. The economy is largely agricultural, with
the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the
economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and
floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly
growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays
in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power
supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Prime
Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed's Awami League government has made some
headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing
the capital markets; for example, it has negotiated with foreign
firms for oil and gas exploration, better countrywide distribution
of cooking gas, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and
power plants. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting
because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions,
and other vested interest groups. Severe floods, lasting from July
to October 1998, endangered the livelihoods of more than 20 million
people. Foodgrain production fell by 4 million tons, forcing Dhaka
to triple its normal foodgrain imports and placing severe pressure
on Bangladesh's balance of payments. The floods increased the
country's reliance on large-scale international aid. So far the East
Asian financial crisis has not had major impact on the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$175.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,380 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 17%
services: 53% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 35.6% (1995-96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 23.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1998)
Labor force: 56 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, and
Oman (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 25%,
industry and mining 10% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 35.2% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $3.8 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
steel, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (1997)
Electricity--production: 11.5 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.35%
hydro: 2.65%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane,
potatoes; beef, milk, poultry
Exports: $4.4 billion (1997)
Exports--commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather,
frozen fish and seafood
Exports--partners: Western Europe 42%, US 30%, Hong Kong 4%, Japan
3% (FY95/96 est.)
Imports: $7.1 billion (1997)
Imports--commodities: capital goods, textiles, food, petroleum
products
Imports--partners: India 21%, China 10%, Western Europe 8%, Hong
Kong 7%, Singapore 6% (FY95/96 est.)
Debt--external: $16.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.475 billion (FY96/97)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poisha
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1--48.500 (January 1999), 46.906
(1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 249,800 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: poor domestic telephone service
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (one of
Bangladesh's two shortwave stations, Bangladesh Betar or Radio
Bangladesh, transmits its programs to the world in six languages on
four frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1997)
Televisions: 350,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,745 km
broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 204,022 km
paved: 25,095 km
unpaved: 178,927 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
Ports and harbors: Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port
Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 315,855 GRT/453,002 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 33, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces
(includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense
Parties, National Cadet Corps)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 33,374,195 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 19,772,013 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $559 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: a portion of the boundary with India is
indefinite; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
neighboring countries
======================================================================
@Barbados
--------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 37%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters from
waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal
threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography--note: easternmost Caribbean island
People
Population: 259,191 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 30,132; female 29,359)
15-64 years: 67% (male 85,437; female 88,131)
65 years and over: 10% (male 9,862; female 16,270) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.98 years
male: 72.22 years
female: 77.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s)
adjective: Barbadian