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
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 area: 50 sq km
land area: 50 sq km
comparative area: 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
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 20%
other: 80%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed
land leased by US Government
People
------
Population: 62,099 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.76% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.03 years
male: 73.36 years
female: 76.97 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic divisions: black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions: Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other
28%
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code: BD
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*,
Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (dependent 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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor
Lord David WADDINGTON (since 25 August 1992), who was appointed by
the queen
head of government: Premier David SAUL (since 25 August 1995) was
appointed by the governor; Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1
September 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet was nominated by the premier, appointed by the
governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of an 11-member body appointed by the governor
House of Assembly: elections last held 5 October 1993 (next to be
held by NA October 1998); results - UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents
4%; seats - (40 total) UBP 22, PLP 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party (UBP), David
SAUL; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick WADE; National
Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL
Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union
(BIU), Ottiwell SIMMONS
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CCC,
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. FARMER
consulate general(s): Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
Hamilton
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592
Flag: 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
-------
Economic overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by
providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The
tourist industry attracts more than 90% 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's fear of scaring away foreign
firms. Hurricane Felix, which hit Bermuda twice over three days,
caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages in August of 1995.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.7 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $28,000 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 33,650 (1992)
by occupation: clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%,
professional and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%,
sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $327.5 million
expenditures: $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of
$35.4 million (FY90/91 est.)
Industries: tourism, finance, structural concrete products,
paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 140,000 kW
production: 504 million kWh
consumption per capita: 7,745 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Exports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, reexports of
pharmaceuticals
partners: US 62.4%, UK 20%
Imports: $519 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery
partners: US 38%, UK 5%, Canada 5%
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 208 km
paved: 208 km
unpaved: 0 km (1986 est.)
note: in addition, there are 400 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned
Ports: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,146,693 GRT/5,007,242
DWT
ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 3, container 7, liquefied gas tanker
16, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4,
short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
countries among which are UK 17, US 13, Canada 10, Norway 9, Nigeria
4, Sweden 3, Hong Kong 2, Syria 2, Mexico 1, and NZ 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 78,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 57,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve
Constabulary
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Bhutan
------
Map
---
Location: 27 30 N, 90 30 E -- Southern Asia, between China and
India
Flag
----
Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange;
centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon
facing away from the hoist side
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total area: 47,000 sq km
land area: 47,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 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)
International disputes: none
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
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 70%
other: 23%
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are
the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the
Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
People
------
Population: 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
15-64 years: 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
65 years and over: 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 116.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.46 years
male: 51.96 years
female: 50.93 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic divisions: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code: BT
Type of government: monarchy; special treaty relationship with
India
Capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen
Wangchuck became first hereditary king)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the
National Assembly
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
Executive branch:
Chief of State and Head of Government (Druk Gyalpo): King Jigme
Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) is a hereditary monarch
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): was nominated by the king
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) was appointed by
the king
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Tshogdu): members serve for three years; seats -
(150 total, 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent
religious bodies, and 33 designated by the king to represent
government and other secular interests)
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High
Court, judges appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: no legal parties
Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy; Indian
merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Bhutan has a
Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; address: 2
United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
(212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC
US diplomatic representation: the US and Bhutan have no formal
diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the
upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered
along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing
away from the hoist side
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and
least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide
the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about
half of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and
animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the
building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive.
The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and
monetary links. The industrial sector is small and technologically
backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most
development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian
migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for
tourists are key resources; however, the government limits the
number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence.
The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the
nation's productive base and improving social welfare but growth
continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect
the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up
in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with
comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96
suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive
controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing,
trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $730 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (FY94/95 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
note: massive lack of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $52 million
expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95
million (FY93/94 est.)
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 7.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 360,000 kW
production: 1.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)
note: Bhutan exports electricity to India
Agriculture: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy
products, eggs
Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
commodities: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit,
electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Imports: $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics, rice
partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
External debt: $141 million (October 1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is
also legal tender
Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996),
32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742
(1991); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,296 km
paved: 416 km
unpaved: 880 km (1988 est.)
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few
telephones in use
international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)
Radios: 23,000 (1989 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1990 est.)
Televisions: 200 (1985 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 444,875
males fit for military service: 237,529
males reach military age (18) annually: 17,634 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Bolivia
-------
Map
---
Location: 17 00 S, 65 00 W -- Central South America, southwest of
Brazil
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow,
and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar
to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star
centered in the yellow band
Geography
---------
Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 1,098,580 sq km
land area: 1,084,390 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,743 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,
Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the
South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in
1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights
Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and
semiarid
Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau
(Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Cerro Illimani 6,882 m
Natural resources: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten,
antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 25%
forest and woodland: 52%
other: 20%
Irrigated land: 1,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and
the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to
deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation
methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification;
loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used
for drinking and irrigation
natural hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to
efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those
unaccustomed to it from birth; flooding in the northeast
(March-April)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Geographic note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca,
world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People
------
Population: 7,165,257 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 1,422,313; female 1,390,885)
15-64 years: 56% (male 1,959,989; female 2,042,135)
65 years and over: 5% (male 153,111; female 196,824) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.82% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 32.37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 67.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.81 years
male: 56.94 years
female: 62.82 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic divisions: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed European
and Indian ancestry) 25%-30%, European 5%-15%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
(official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 83.1%
male: 90.5%
female: 76%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
Data code: BL
Type of government: republic
Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and
seat of judiciary)
Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando,
Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution: 2 February 1967
Legal system: based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21
years of age, universal and compulsory (single)