clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports--partners: US 45%, UK 30%, Mexico 3%, Canada 3% (1997)
Imports: $149.7 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports--partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $288 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $23.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1--2.0000 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 29,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1 (Voice of America relay station),
FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 27,048 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,248 km
paved: 427 km
unpaved: 1,821 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
seasonally navigable
Ports and harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:
total: 403 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,740,325
GRT/2,511,709 DWT
ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 259, chemical tanker 5, container 9,
liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 58, passenger-cargo 2,
refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea/passenger
3, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries:
Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 44 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 58,201 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 34,531 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,619 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $15 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: border with Guatemala in dispute
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center
======================================================================
@Benin
-----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone,
marble, timber
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north
in winter
Environment--current issues: recent droughts have severely
affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of
potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations;
deforestation; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: no natural harbors
People
Population: 6,305,567 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,510,703; female 1,501,437)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,511,114; female 1,637,155)
65 years and over: 2% (male 62,459; female 82,699) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 97.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.08 years
male: 51.98 years
female: 56.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important
being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common
vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in
north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
Data code: BN
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule;
dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted
February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat
of government
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique,
Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed;
they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau;
moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)
Constitution: December 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of
vote--Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held 28 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRB
20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC
1, RDP 1, other 17
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle,
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Civic Renewal or ARC
Sylvain AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and
KINA]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten
note: as of December 1998, more than 110 political parties were
officially recognized; among them are Benin Renaissance Party or
PRB, Our Common Cause or NCC, Cameleon Alliance or AC, Rally for
Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and
red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and
dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and
regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in
1990-95 and 5% in 1996-98. Rapid population growth has offset much
of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three
years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large
part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly
fuel shortages. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral
creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The
government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a
bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank
supported structural adjustment program since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 14%
services: 52% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $299 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14
million (1995 est.)
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 6 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 251 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 245 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams,
beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports--partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 11%, Morocco 10%, Libya
6%, France (1997)
Imports: $314 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum
products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
Imports--partners: France 21%, UK 9%, Thailand 9%, Hong Kong 8%,
China (1997)
Debt--external: $1.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $281.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--566.36 (January 1999),
589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 38,354 (6,286 cellular telephone subscribers) (1998
est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998 est.)
Radios: 400,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one privately owned) (1997)
Televisions: 30,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,363,878
females age 15-49: 1,425,987 (1999 est.)
note: both sexes are liable for military service
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 697,715
females age 15-49: 722,323 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 67,622
females: 67,238 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $27 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US
======================================================================
@Bermuda
-------
Geography
Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 50 sq km
land: 50 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1997 est.)
note: developed (55%) and rural/open space (39%) comprise 94% of
Bermudian land area
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment--current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land,
reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to
1995
People
Population: 62,472 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,174; female 6,023)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,479; female 22,041)
65 years and over: 10% (male 2,897; female 3,858) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.72% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.97 years
male: 75.19 years
female: 78.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups: black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other
34% (1991)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code: BD
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*,
Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution: 8 June 1968
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 Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)
head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; premier appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of
Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%,
independents 1%; seats by party--PLP 26, UBP 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party or UBP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
Hamilton
mailing address: P.O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300
Flag description: red, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue
shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking
of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer
half of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by
providing financial services for international firms and luxury
tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist
industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84%
of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small,
and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land.
About 80% of food needs are imported. International business
contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed
independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to
Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$30,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1997)
Labor force: 35,296 (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers
17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial
12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $504.6 million
expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (FY97/98)
Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete
products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy
products
Exports: $57 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports--partners: Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Imports: $617 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles,
machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $27.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 78,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 57,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 225 km
paved: 225 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
total: 97 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,647,576 GRT/7,612,686
DWT
ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 15,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11,
Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force,
Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Bhutan
------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and
hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.)