area, presumably to be replaced by new Croatian kuna; old and new
Serbian dinars used in Serb-held area; hard currencies probably
supplanting local currencies in areas held by Bosnian Government
Exchange rates: NA
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km)
standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1991)
Highways:
total: 21,168 km
paved: 11,436 km
unpaved: 9,732 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note -
pipelines now disrupted
Ports: Bosanski Brod
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 24
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 727,000
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph network is in need of
modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when
compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 840,000
Television broadcast stations: 6
Televisions: 1,012,094
Defense
-------
Branches: Army
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 654,326
males fit for military service: 524,963
males reach military age (19) annually: 22,902 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Botswana
--------
Map
---
Location: 22 00 S, 24 00 E -- Southern Africa, north of South
Africa
Flag
----
Description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe
in the center
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 600,370 sq km
land area: 585,370 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe
813 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: short section of boundary with Namibia is
indefinite; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in
disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Kasikili
(Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in
January 1996 and the parties have agreed to refer the matter to the
ICJ
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
Desert in southwest
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hill 1,489 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash,
potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 75%
forest and woodland: 2%
other: 21%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: overgrazing, primarily as a result of the expansion
of the cattle population; desertification; limited natural fresh
water resources
natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from
the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can
obscure visibility
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern
part of the country
People
------
Population: 1,477,630 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 317,254; female 309,617)
15-64 years: 54% (male 374,572; female 419,991)
65 years and over: 4% (male 22,314; female 33,882) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.63% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 33.34 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 54.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.01 years
male: 44.94 years
female: 47.11 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic divisions: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi
4%, white 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 69.8%
male: 80.5%
female: 59.9%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland
Data code: BC
Type of government: parliamentary republic
Capital: Gaborone
Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*;
Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*,Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng,
Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Phikwe*,
South-East, Southern,
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Sir Ketumile MASIRE
(since 13 July 1980) was elected for a five-year term by the
National Assembly; election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be
held October 1999); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
House of Chiefs: is a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of
the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs,
and three members selected by the other 12
National Assembly: elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be
held October 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(44 total, 40 elected and 4 appointed by the majority party) BDP 27,
BNF 13
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP),
Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA;
Botswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence
Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Archibald MOGWE
chancery: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990, 4991
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard F. JETER
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 353982
FAX: [267] 356947
Flag: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the
center
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy has historically been based on
cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood
for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of
food needs and accounts for only 5% of GDP. Subsistence farming and
cattle raising predominate. The sector is plagued by erratic
rainfall and poor soils. The driving force behind the rapid economic
growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This
sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating
25% of GDP in 1980 to 39% in 1994. The unemployment rate remains a
problem at 21%. Hampered by a still sluggish diamond market in 1994
and 1995, GDP grew by only 1% in both years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 428,000 (1992)
by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees; 14,300 are employed
in various mines in South Africa; most others are engaged in cattle
raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.7 billion
expenditures: $1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652
million (FY93/94)
Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,
potash; livestock processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (FY92/93)
Electricity:
capacity: 220,000 kW
production: 900 million kWh
consumption per capita: 694 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts),
beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b. 1994)
commodities: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 6%, meat 5%
partners: Switzerland, UK, Southern African Customs Union (SACU),
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles,
petroleum products
partners: Switzerland, Southern African Customs Union (SACU), UK, US
External debt: $691 million (1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $189 million (1993)
Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1 - 2.8305 (January 1996), 2.7716
(1995), 2.6831 (1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 19,109 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: sparse system
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations
international: microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe and
South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 13,800 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing),
Botswana National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 334,177
males fit for military service: 175,471
males reach military age (18) annually: 17,088 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $199 million,
5.2% of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Bouvet Island
-------------
(territory of Norway)
Map
---
Location: 54 26 S, 3 24 E -- Southern Africa, island in the South
Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South
Africa)
Flag
----
Description: the flag of Norway is used
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean,
south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total area: 58 sq km
land area: 58 sq km
comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is
mostly inaccessible
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 780 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all ice)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: covered by glacial ice
People
------
Population: uninhabited
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Data code: BV
Type of government: territory of Norway
Capital: none; administered from Oslo, Norway
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
Flag: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Communications
--------------
Communications note: automatic meteorological station
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
======================================================================
@Brazil
------
Map
---
Location: 10 00 S, 55 00 W -- Eastern South America, bordering the
Atlantic Ocean
Flag
----
Description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center
bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one
for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same
pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white
equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 8,511,965 sq km
land area: 8,456,510 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,
Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao
Paulo
Land boundaries:
total: 14,691 km
border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia
1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,
Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline: 7,491 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of the boundary with
Paraguay, just west of Salto das Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the
Rio Parana, is in dispute; two short sections of boundary with
Uruguay are in dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada)
area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the
confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains,
hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel,
phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: 67%
other: 6%
Irrigated land: 27,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat
and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal
species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de
Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation
and water pollution caused by improper mining activities
natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and
occasional frost in south
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: largest country in South America; shares common
boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People
------
Population: 162,661,214 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 25,286,278; female 24,422,897)
15-64 years: 65% (male 52,232,435; female 53,094,724)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,072,720; female 4,552,160) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 20.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.19 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 55.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.62 years
male: 56.67 years
female: 66.81 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.34 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic divisions: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,
Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and African 38%, African 6%, other
(includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 83.3%
male: 83.3%
female: 83.2%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil
Data code: BR
Type of government: federal republic
Capital: Brasilia
Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado)
and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa,
Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias,
Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para,
Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do
Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao
Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution: 5 October 1988
Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;
compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Fernando Henrique
CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995) was elected for a four-year term by
popular vote; election last held 3 October 1994; (next to be held
October 1998); results - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%, Luis Inacio
LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%, Leonel
BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second direct presidential
election since 1960; Vice President Marco MARCIEL (since NA)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congresso
Nacional)
Federal Senate (Senado Federal): election last held 3 October 1994
for two-thirds of Senate (next to be held October 1996 for one-third
of the Senate); results - PMBD 28%, PFL 22%, PSDB 12%, PPR 7%, PDT
7%, PT 6%, PTB 6%, other 12%; seats - (81 total) seats by party NA
Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados): election last held 3
October 1994 (next to be held October 1998); results - PMDB 21%, PFL
18%, PDT 7%, PSDB 12%, PPR 10%, PTB 6%, PT 10%, other 16%; seats -
(517 total) seats by party NA
note: party totals since Fall 1994 have changed considerably due to
extensive party-switching
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, judges are appointed
for life by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: National Reconstruction Party
(PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement
Party (PMDB), Paes DE ANDRADE, president; Liberal Front Party (PFL),
Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president; Workers' Party (PT), Jose DIRCEU,
president; Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB), Rodrigues PALMA,
president; Democratic Labor Party (PDT), Leonel BRIZOLA, president;
Brazilian Progressive Party (PPB), Espiridiao AMIN, president;
Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Artur DA TAVOLA, president;
Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE, president; Communist
Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, chairman; Liberal Party
(PL), Alvaro VALLE, president
Other political or pressure groups: left wing of the Catholic
Church and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are
critical of government's social and economic policies
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MTCR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN,
UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-2700
FAX: [1] (202) 745-2827
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
consulate(s): Houston
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 321-7272
FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Porto Alegre, Recife
Flag: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a
blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each
state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the
night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with
the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy
-------
Economic overview: With its large and well-developed agricultural,
mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil has South
America's largest GDP by far and has the potential to become a major
player in the world economy. Prior to the institution of a
stabilization plan in mid-1994, stratospheric inflation rates had
devastated the economy and discouraged foreign investment. Since
then, tight monetary policy has apparently brought inflation under
control - consumer prices increased by 23% in 1995 compared to more
than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP growth slowed from 5.7%
to 4.2% as credit was tightened and the steadily appreciating real
encouraged imports while depressing export growth. The increased
stability of the Brazilian economy allowed it to weather the fallout
from the Mexican peso crisis relatively well, with foreign funds
flowing in during the second half of 1995 to swell official foreign
exchange reserves past the $50 billion mark. Stock market indices in
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, however, ended 26% lower in 1995.
President CARDOSO remains committed to further reducing inflation in
1996 while boosting growth, but he faces key challenges. Servicing
domestic debt has become dramatically more burdensome for both
public and private sector entities because of very high real
interest rates which are contributing to growing budget deficits and
a surge in bankruptcies. Fiscal reforms, many of which require
constitutional amendments, are proceeding at a slow pace through the
Brazilian legislature; in their absence, the government is
maintaining its strict monetary policy. Brazil's natural resources
remain a major, long-run economic strength.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $976.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.2% (1995)
GDP per capita: $6,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 16%
industry: 25%
services: 59% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23% (1995)
Labor force: 57 million (1989 est.)
by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
Unemployment rate: 5% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $58.7 billion
expenditures: $54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994)