annually by the US Coast Guard
======================================================================
@Bangladesh
----------
Map
---
Location: 24 00 N, 90 00 E -- Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and India
Flag
----
Description: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist
side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam
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 area: 144,000 sq km
land area: 133,910 sq km
comparative area: 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
International disputes: a portion of the boundary with India in
dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over
the Ganges
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid
summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
arable land: 67%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 11%
Irrigated land: 27,380 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water;
water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of
fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides;
intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the
northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation;
deforestation; severe overpopulation
natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
flooded during the summer monsoon season
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
People
------
Population: 123,062,800 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 24,434,219; female 23,436,359)
15-64 years: 58% (male 36,607,942; female 34,603,628)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,175,017; female 1,805,635) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.85% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 30.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 102.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.86 years
male: 56.02 years
female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladesh
Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than
1 million
Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.1%
male: 49.4%
female: 26.1%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan
Data code: BG
Type of government: republic
Capital: Dhaka
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
Rajshahi
note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and 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 Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; election
last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996);
results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN
(since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under
Legislative branch entry)
cabinet: Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April
1996
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 15
February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for
women) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite the
fact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; Prime
Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but,
under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for an
annulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill that
established a caretaker government to oversee new elections on a
date yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolved
Parliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace Prime
Minister ZIAur RAHMAN
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo
Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),
Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, Rashid
Khan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party,
Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Humayun KABIR
chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador David N. MERRILL
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000; Dhaka 1212
telephone: [880] (2) 884700 through 884722
FAX: [880] (2) 883-744
Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of
center; green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
-------
Economic 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. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 4% in
recent years from a low base. Its economy is overwhelmingly
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, most recently, political
disturbances. In 1995, progress on Bangladesh's development agenda
has been slowed by frequent political unrest before and after
national elections in early 1996. Opposition parties have challenged
the government's authority by resigning from Parliament and
sponsoring numerous countrywide strikes that have crippled
transport, hindered business activity, and threatened to slow
economic growth in 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $144.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,130 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 50.1 million
by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining
14% (1989)
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $2.8 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (FY92/93)
Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
steel, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 8.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 2,740,000 kW
production: 9.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; beef,
milk, poultry
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
neighboring countries
Exports: $2.7 billion (1995 est.)
commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
partners: US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%)
(FY91/92 est.)
Imports: $4.7 billion (1995 est.)
commodities: capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
partners: Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1%
(FY91/92 est.)
External debt: $15.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $1.099 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.933 (January 19965),
40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596
(1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 2,892 km
broad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)
Highways:
total: 13,627 km
paved: 8,546 km
unpaved: 5,081 km (1992)
Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
Ports: Chittagong, Dhaka, Chalna Port (Mongla)
Merchant marine:
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 296,503 GRT/423,274 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 29, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 15
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)
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 9, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 11
Televisions: 350,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes
Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village
Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 31,795,848
males fit for military service: 18,814,818 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $481 million,
1.7% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Barbados
--------
Map
---
Location: 13 10 N, 59 32 W -- Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Flag
----
Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold
band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the
past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
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 area: 430 sq km
land area: 430 sq km
comparative area: 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
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 77%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 14%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by
ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens
contamination of aquifers
natural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic
landslides
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Hazardous Wastes
Geographic note: easternmost Caribbean island
People
------
Population: 257,030 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)
15-64 years: 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)
65 years and over: 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.35 years
male: 71.65 years
female: 77.25 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s)
adjective: Barbadian
Ethnic divisions: African 80%, European 4%, other 16%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist
7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9%
(1980)
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Data code: BB
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Bridgetown
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
note: the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution: 30 November 1966
Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys
WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor
general
House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be
held by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats
- (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed
by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), David
THOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES
Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, Leroy
TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party
of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David
COMMISSIONG
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and
blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the
colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy has been
dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in
recent years the production has diversified into manufacturing and
tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and tourism sectors -
which declined by 25% and 8% respectively - tempered economic
expansion in 1995; output increased by 2% for the year, down from
nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions in 1995 are expected
to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since taking office in 1994,
Prime Minister ARTHUR has aggressively moved to promote foreign
direct investment as part of a policy designed to reduce nagging
unemployment. The government has also been active in promoting
regional integration initiatives.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $9,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.4%
industry: 39.3%
services: 54.3% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 126,000 (1993)
by occupation: services and government 41%, commerce 15%,
manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage,
communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%,
utilities 2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19.9% (September 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $550 million
expenditures: $710 million, including capital expenditures of $86
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component
assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 152,100 kW
production: 510 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,841 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $158.6 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
chemicals, electrical components, clothing
partners: US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%
Imports: $693 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction
materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%
External debt: $408 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,550 km
paved: 1,550 km
Ports: Bridgetown
Merchant marine:
total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,937 GRT/271,707 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 21, combination bulk 3, oil tanker 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 87,343 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: island wide automatic telephone system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1 pay)
Televisions: 69,350 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and
Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 71,667
males fit for military service: 49,726 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Bassas da India
---------------
(possession of France)
Map
---
Location: 21 30 S, 39 50 E -- Southern Africa, islands in the
southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from
Madagascar to Mozambique
Flag
----
Description: the flag of France is used
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique
Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 0.2 sq km
land area: 0.2 sq km
comparative area: about one-third the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
Climate: tropical
Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all rock)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water
during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic
cyclones
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: uninhabited
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India
Data code: BS
Type of government: French possession administered by a
Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Belarus
-------
Map
---
Location: 53 00 N, 28 00 E -- Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Flag
----
Description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band
one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white
on the hoist side bears in red the Belarusian national ornament
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States