*Atlantic Ocean, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural resources,
especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and crude oil and
natural gas production (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
*Atlantic Ocean, Communications
Ports:
Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain),
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen
(Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki
(Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon
(Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal
(Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria),
Oslo (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam
(Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad; Russia), Stockholm
(Sweden)
Telecommunications:
numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the UK,
North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links
across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network
Note:
Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
*Australia, Geography
Location:
Oceania, between Indonesia and New Zealand
Map references:
Southeast Asia, Oceania, Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
7,686,850 km2
land area:
7,617,930 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than the US
note:
includes Macquarie Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
25,760 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12 nm
continental shelf:
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)
Climate:
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Terrain:
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten,
mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Land use:
arable land:
6%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
58%
forest and woodland:
14%
other:
22%
Irrigated land:
18,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast; limited
freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical,
invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along west coast in
summer; desertification
Note:
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country
*Australia, People
Population:
17,827,204 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
14.43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.36 years
male: 74.24 years
female:
80.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Australian(s)
adjective:
Australian
Ethnic divisions:
Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:
Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Languages:
English, native languages
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
8.63 million (September 1991)
by occupation:
finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale
and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1%
(1987)
*Australia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form:
Australia
Digraph:
AS
Type:
federal parliamentary state
Capital:
Canberra
Administrative divisions:
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales,, Northern
Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria,, Western Australia
Dependent areas:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,
Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
Independence:
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system:
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January
Political parties and leaders:
government:
Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING
opposition:
Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER; Australian
Democratic Party, John COULTER
Other political or pressure groups:
Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter
group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party
splinter group)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1996); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65,
independent 2
Senate:
last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1999); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total) Liberal-National 36, Labor 30,
Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2, independents 1
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a
lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
High Court
*Australia, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); Deputy Prime
Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, COCOM,
CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. COOK
chancery:
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 797-3000
consulates general:
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American
Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
mailing address:
APO AP 96549
telephone:
[61] (6) 270-5000
FAX:
[61] (6) 270-5970
consulates general:
Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
consulate:
Brisbane
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large
seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a
representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small
five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
*Australia, Economy
Overview:
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per
capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries.
Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural
products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Of the top 25 exports, 21 are
primary products, so that, as happened during 1983-84, a downturn in world
commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is
pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in
international markets continues to be severe.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $293.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
2.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
$16,700 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (September 1992)
Unemployment rate:
11.3% (December 1992)
Budget:
revenues $68.5 billion; expenditures $78.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY93)
Exports: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
partners:
Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%, UK, Taiwan, Hong
Kong
Imports:
$37.8 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil
and petroleum products
partners:
US 24%, Japan 19%, UK 6%, FRG 7%, NZ 4% (1990)
External debt:
$130.4 billion (June 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for 32% of GDP
Electricity:
40,000,000 kW capacity; 150,000 million kWh produced, 8,475 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals,
steel
Agriculture:
accounts for 5% of GDP and 37% of export revenues; world's largest exporter
of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters;
major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep,
poultry
Illicit drugs:
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products;
government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation
and output of poppy straw concentrate
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
*Australia, Economy
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*Australia, Communications
Railroads:
40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130 km electrified;
government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of privately owned
track) (1985)
Highways:
837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel, crushed stone, or
stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km
Ports:
Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart,
Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:
82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,347,271 GRT/3,534,926 DWT; includes
2 short-sea passenger, 8 cargo, 7 container, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 1 vehicle
carrier, 17 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 30 bulk, 2
combination bulk
Airports:
total:
481
usable:
439
with permanent-surface runways:
243
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
268
Telecommunications:
good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones; broadcast
stations - 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service; satellite stations - 4
Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Australia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 4,830,068; fit for military service 4,198,622; reach
military age (17) annually 135,591 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY92/93)
*Austria, Geography
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany and Hungary
Map references:
Africa, Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area: 83,850 km2
land area:
82,730 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy
430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland
164 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands
and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and
northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Natural resources:
iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite,
copper, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
24%
forest and woodland:
39%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
40 km2 (1989)
Environment:
population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor
soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
Note:
landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many
easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube
*Austria, People
Population:
7,915,145 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.55% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
11.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
10.42 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.4 years
male:
73.18 years
female:
79.8 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Austrian(s)
adjective:
Austrian
Ethnic divisions:
German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages:
German
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1974)
total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
3.47 million (1989)
by occupation:
services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1%
note:
an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries;
foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% of labor force (1988)
*Austria, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Austria
conventional short form:
Austria
local long form:
Republik Oesterreich
local short form:
Oesterreich
Digraph:
AU
Type: federal republic
Capital:
Vienna
Administrative divisions:
9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,
Niederosterreich, Oberosterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg,
Wien
Independence:
12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
Constitution:
1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1945)
Legal system:
civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts
by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme
courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955)
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;
Austrian People's Party (OVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party of
Austria (FPO), Jorg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPO), Walter
SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Johannes VOGGENHUBER,
chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation
(primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of the Austrian People's
Party (OVP) representing business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented League
of Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay
organization, Catholic Action
Suffrage:
19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Elections:
President:
last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot -
Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
National Council:
last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994); results - SPO 43%,
OVP 32.1%, FPO 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPO 0.7%, other 0.32%; seats - (183 total)
SPO 80, OVP 60, FPO 33, GAL 10
Executive branch:
president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consists of an upper council
or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower council or National Council
(Nationalrat)
*Austria, Government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal cases,
Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases,
Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Leaders:
Chief of State: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
Head of Government:
Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor Erhard
BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM
(cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Friedrich HOESS
chancery:
3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone:
(202) 895-6700
FAX:
(202) 895-6750
consulates general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Roy Michael HUFFINGTON
chancery:
Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Unit 27937, Vienna
mailing address:
APO AE 09222
telephone:
[43] (1) 31-339
FAX:
[43] (1) 310-0682
consulate general:
Salzburg
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
*Austria, Economy
Overview:
Austria boasts a prosperous and stable socialist market economy with a
sizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive welfare benefits.
Thanks to an excellent raw material endowment, a technically skilled labor
force, and strong links to German industrial firms, Austria occupies
specialized niches in European industry and services (tourism, banking) and
produces almost enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor force
in agriculture. Increased export sales resulting from German unification,
continued to boost Austria's economy through 1991. However, Germany's
economic difficulties in 1992 slowed Austria's GDP growth to 2% from the 3%
of 1991. Austria's economy, moreover, is not expected to grow by more than
1% in 1993, and inflation is forecast to remain about 4%. Unemployment will
likely remain at current levels at least until 1994. Living standards in
Austria are comparable with the large industrial countries of Western
Europe. Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high level
of subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary
capabilities. The continued opening of Eastern European markets, however,
will increase demand for Austrian exports. Austria, a member of the European
Free Trade Association (EFTA), in 1992 ratified the European Economic Area
Treaty, which will extend European Community rules on the free movement of
people, goods, capital and services to the EFTA countries, and Austrians
plan to hold a national referendum within the next two years to vote on EC
membership.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $141.3 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
1.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
$18,000 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.4% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $47.8 billion; expenditures $53.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
$43.5 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products,
chemicals
partners:
EC 65.8% (Germany 39%), EFTA 9.1%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 9.0%, Japan
1.7%, US 2.8% (1991)
Imports:
$50.7 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals,
textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
partners:
EC 67.8% (Germany 43.0%), EFTA 6.9%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 6.0%, Japan
4.8%, US 3.9% (1991)
External debt:
$11.8 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.0% (1991)
Electricity:
17,600,000 kW capacity; 49,500 million kWh produced, 6,300 kWh per capita
(1992)
*Austria, Economy
Industries:
foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and
pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
Agriculture:
accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and animals -
grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle, pigs, poultry;
80-90% self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion
Currency:
1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates:
Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 11.363 (January 1993), 10.989 (1992),
11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Austria, Communications
Railroads:
5,749 km total; 5,652 km government owned and 97 km privately owned (0.760-,
1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,394 km 1.435-meter standard gauge of which
3,154 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked; 339 km 0.760-meter
narrow gauge of which 84 km is electrified
Highways:
95,412 km total; 34,612 km are the primary network (including 1,012 km of
autobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of provincial roads); of this
number, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are unpaved; in addition, there
are 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth)
Inland waterways:
446 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 554 km; natural gas 2,611 km; petroleum products 171 km
Ports:
Vienna, Linz (Danube river ports)
Merchant marine:
29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 154,159 GRT/256,765 DWT; includes 23
cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk
Airports:
total:
55
usable:
55
with permanent-surface runways:
20
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
6
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
4
Telecommunications:
highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6
AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV; satellite ground stations
for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems
*Austria, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (including Flying Division)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,016,464; fit for military service 1,694,140; reach
military age (19) annually 50,259 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Azerbaijan, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between Armenia and Turkmenistan, bordering the Caspian
Sea
Map references:
Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,
Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle East, Standard
Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
86,600 km2
land area:
86,100 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maine
note:
includes the Nakhichevan' Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Oblast; region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijan Supreme
Soviet on 26 November 1991
Land boundaries:
total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km, Georgia
322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey
9 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
note:
Azerbaijan does border the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims:
NA
note:
Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10 nm fishing zone provided for
in 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Union and Iran
International disputes:
violent and longstanding dispute with Armenia over status of
Nagorno-Karabakh, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan; some Azerbaijanis
desire absorption of and/or unification with the ethnically Azeri portion of
Iran; minor irredentist disputes along Georgia border
Climate:
dry, semiarid steppe; subject to drought
Terrain:
large, flat Kura-Aras Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great
Caucasus Mountains to the north, Karabakh Upland in west; Baku lies on
Aspheson Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use:
arable land:
18%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
25%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
57%
Irrigated land:
14,010 km2 (1990)
*Azerbaijan, Geography
Environment:
local scientists consider Apsheron Peninsula, including Baku and Sumgait,
and the Caspian Sea to be "most ecologically devastated area in the world"
because of severe air and water pollution
Note:
landlocked
*Azerbaijan, People
Population:
7,573,435 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.5% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
24.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.6 years
male:
66.77 years
female:
74.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.76 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic divisions:
Azeri 82.7%, Russian 5.6%, Armenian 5.6%, Daghestanis 3.2%, other 2.9%, note
- Armenian share may be less than 5.6% because many Armenians have fled the
ethnic violence since 1989 census
Religions:
Moslem 87%, Russian Orthodox 5.6%, Armenian Orthodox 5.6%, other 1.8%
Languages:
Azeri 82%, Russian 7%, Armenian 5%, other 6%
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
2.789 million
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42%
(1990)
*Azerbaijan, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form:
Azerbaijan
local long form:
Azarbaijchan Respublikasy
local short form:
none
former:
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
AJ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Baku (Baky)
Administrative divisions:
1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika); Nakhichevan (administrative
center at Nakhichevan)
note:
all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan are under direct republic
jurisdiction; 1 autonomous oblast, Nagorno-Karabakh (officially abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991) has declared itself
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Independence:
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution mid-1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system
National holiday:
NA
Political parties and leaders:
New Azerbaijan Party, ALIYEV; Musavat Party (Azerbaijan Popular Front -
APF), Isa GAMBAROV; National Independence Party (main opposition party),
Etibar MAMEDOV; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zardusht Ali ZADE; Party of
Revolutionary Revival (successor to the Communist Party), Sayad Afes OGLV,
general secretary; Party of Independent Azerbaijan, SOVLEYMANOV
Other political or pressure groups:
self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Abdulfaz Ali ELCHIBEY,
won 60% of vote
National Council:
last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next
expected to be held late 1993 for the National Council); seats for Supreme
Soviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping of
opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992 the Supreme
Soviet was disbanded in favor of a Popular Front-dominated National Council;
seats - (50 total) 25 Popular Front, 25 opposition elements
Executive branch:
president, council of ministers
Legislative branch:
National Parliament (National Assembly or Milli Mejlis)
*Azerbaijan, Government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Ebulfez ELCHIBEY (since 7 June 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Penah HUSEYNOV (since 29 April 1993; resigned 7 June 1993;
likely replacement - E'tibar MAMEDOV); National Parliament Chairman Isa
GAMBAROV (since 19 May 1992; resigned 13 June 1993; likely replacement
Geydar ALIYEV)
Member of:
BSEC, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDB, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, ITU, NACC, OIC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV
chancery:
1615 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
NA
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILES
embassy:
Hotel Intourist, Baku
mailing address:
APO AE 09862
telephone:
7-8922-91-79-56
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and
eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
*Azerbaijan, Economy
Overview:
Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia,
the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in
its majority Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low
standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are cotton, oil,
and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline
for several years. With foreign assistance, the oil industry might generate
the funds needed to spur industrial development. However, civil unrest,
marked by armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Muslim
Azeris and Christian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. Azerbaijan
accounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former
Soviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet
republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but
its considerable energy resources brighten its propects somewhat. Old
economic ties and structures have yet to be replaced. A particularly galling
constraint on economic revival is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said to
consume 25% of Azerbaijan's economic resources.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-25% (1992)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20% per month (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0.2% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$821 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,
1992 est.)
commodities:
oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)
partners:
mostly CIS and European countries
Imports:
$300 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (c.i.f.,
1992 est.)
commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)
partners:
European countries
External debt:
$1.3 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -27% (1992)
Electricity:
6,025,000 kW capacity; 22,300 million kWh produced, 2,990 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel,
iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Agriculture:
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs,
sheep and goats
*Azerbaijan, Economy
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
government eradication program; used as transshipment points for illicit
drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
wheat from Turkey
Currency:
1 manat (abbreviation NA) = 10 Russian rubles; ruble still used
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Azerbaijan, Communications
Railroads:
2,090 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
36,700 km total (1990); 31,800 km hard surfaced; 4,900 km earth
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,130 km, petroleum products 630 km, natural gas 1,240 km
Ports:
inland - Baku (Baky)
Airports:
total:
65
useable:
33
with permanent-surface runways:
26
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 8
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
23
Telecommunications:
domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; 644,000
domestic telephone lines (density - 9 lines per 100 persons (1991)), 202,000
persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991); connections to
other former USSR republics by cable and microwave and to other countries
via the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT earth station
installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish financial assistance with access
to 200 countries through Turkey; domestic and Russian TV programs are
received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an INTELSAT
satellite through a receive-only earth station
*Azerbaijan, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border
troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,842,917; fit for military service 1,497,640; reach
military age (18) annually 66,928 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
2,848 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the
military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could
produce misleading results
*The Bahamas, Geography
Location:
in the western North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and northwest of
Cuba
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
13,940 km2
land area:
10,070 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,542 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Natural resources:
salt, aragonite, timber
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
32%
other:
67%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood
damage
Note:
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain
*The Bahamas, People
Population:
268,726 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.62% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
18.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
31.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.02 years
male:
68.19 years
female:
75.96 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Bahamian(s) adjective:
Bahamian
Ethnic divisions:
black 85%, white 15%
Religions:
Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God
6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Languages:
English, Creole, among Haitian immigrants
Literacy:
age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963)
total population:
90%
male:
90%
female:
89%
Labor force:
127,400
by occupation:
government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%,
agriculture 5% (1989)
*The Bahamas, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form:
The Bahamas
Digraph:
BF
Type:
commonwealth
Capital:
Nassau
Administrative divisions:
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma,
Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island,
High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New
Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy
Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Constitution:
10 July 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law
National holiday:
National Day, 10 July (1973)
Political parties and leaders:
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National
Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM; Vanguard Nationalist and
Socialist Party (VNPS), Lionel CAREY, chairman; People's Democratic Force
(PDF), Fred MITCHELL
Other political or pressure groups:
Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist party
headed by Lionel CAREY; Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington
MILLER
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Assembly:
last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an appointed upper house or Senate and a
directly elected lower house or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Hubert INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992)
Member of:
ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
*The Bahamas, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
chancery:
2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 319-2660
consulates general:
Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Chic HECHT
embassy:
Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address:
P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau
telephone:
(809) 322-1181 or 328-2206
FAX:
(809) 328-7838
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with
a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
*The Bahamas, Economy
Overview:
The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income, developing nation whose economy is
based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides
about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or
40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, as
the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, per
capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1991)
National product per capita:
$10,200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
16% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $627.5 million; expenditures $727.5 million, including capital
expenditures of $100 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$306 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish
partners:
US 41%, Norway 30%, Denmark 4%
Imports:
$1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels, crude oil
partners:
US 35%, Nigeria 21%, Japan 13%, Angola 11%
External debt:
$1.2 billion (December 1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
424,000 kW capacity; 929 million kWh produced, 3,599 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production,
rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe
Agriculture:
accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal
products-citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of food
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1.0 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $345 million
Currency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1-1.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*The Bahamas, Communications
Highways:
2,400 km total; 1,350 km paved, 1,050 km gravel
Ports:
Freeport, Nassau
Merchant marine:
853 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,136,078 GRT/33,119,750 DWT;
includes 53 passenger, 18 short-sea passenger, 159 cargo, 40
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 48 container, 6 vehicle carrier, 181 oil tanker, 14
liquefied gas, 22 combination ore/oil, 43 chemical tanker, 1 specialized
tanker, 159 bulk, 7 combination bulk, 102 refrigerated cargo; note-a flag of
convenience registry
Airports:
total:
60
usable:
55
with permanent-surface runways:
31
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3, 659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
26
Telecommunications:
highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system;
tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida; broadcast
stations-3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
*The Bahamas, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 68,020; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion-$65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)
*Bahrain, Geography
Location: Middle East, in the central Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
620 km2
land area:
620 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary
with Qatar
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Natural resources:
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
6%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
90%
Irrigated land:
10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires development of
desalination facilities); dust storms; desertification
Note:
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in
Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to
reach open ocean
*Bahrain, People
Population: 568,471 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.01% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
26.89 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
3.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
20.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.12 years
male:
70.72 years
female:
75.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Bahraini(s)
adjective:
Bahraini
Ethnic divisions:
Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Religions:
Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Languages:
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
77%
male:
82%
female:
69%
Labor force:
140,000
by occupation:
industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982)
note:
42% of labor force is Bahraini
*Bahrain, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
State of Bahrain
conventional short form:
Bahrain
local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
local short form:
Al Bahrayn
Digraph:
BA
Type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Manama
Administrative divisions:
12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al
Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al
Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad,
Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
Independence:
15 August 1971 (from UK)
Constitution:
26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 December
Political parties and leaders:
political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic
fundamentalist groups are active
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
none
Executive branch:
amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative
powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established
16 December 1992
Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Amir 'ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD
bin 'Isa Al Khalifa (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador 'Abd al-Rahman Faris Al KHALIFA
chancery:
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
*Bahrain, Government
telephone:
(202) 342-0741 or 342-0742
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER
embassy:
Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
mailing address:
P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO AE 09834-6210
telephone:
[973] 273-300
FAX:
(973) 272-594
Flag:
red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
*Bahrain, Economy
Overview:
Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export
receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 31% of GDP. Economic conditions
have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example,
during the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. Bahrain with its highly developed
communication and transport facilities is home to numerous multinational
firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of
petroleum products made from imported crude.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$7,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8%-10% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
partners:
Japan 13%, UAE 12%, India 10%, Pakistan 8%
Imports:
$3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
partners:
Saudi Arabia 41%, US 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5%
External debt:
$1.8 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP
Electricity:
1,600,000 kW capacity; 4,700 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita
(1992 est.)
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship
repairing
Agriculture:
including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not self-sufficient in
food production; heavily subsidized sector produces fruit, vegetables,
poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $45 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion
Currency:
1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Bahrain, Communications
Highways:
200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia
opened in November 1986; NA km natural surface tracks
Pipelines:
crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports:
Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah
Merchant marine:
9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 186,331 GRT/249,490 DWT; includes 5
cargo, 2 container, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
modern system; good domestic services; 98,000 telephones (1 for every 6
persons); excellent international connections; tropospheric scatter to
Qatar, UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar,
UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT,
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV
*Bahrain, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 194,770; fit for military service 107,696; reach military
age (15) annually 5,043 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $245 million, 6% of GDP (1990)
*Baker Island, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
*Baker Island, Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, 2,575 km southwest of
Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
1.4 km2
land area:
1.4 km2
comparative area:
about 2.3 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4.8 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12 nm
continental shelf:
200 m or depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate
vines, and low growing shrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
*Baker Island, People
Population:
uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air
and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit
only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and
cemetery ruinsare located near the middle of the west coast
*Baker Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Baker Island
Digraph:
FQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
*Baker Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
*Baker Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the
west coast
Airports:
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
Note:
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
*Baker Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast
Guard
*Bangladesh, Geography
Location:
South Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely surrounded
by India
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
144,000 km2
land area:
133,910 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total 4,246 km, Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:
580 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
up to outer limits of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
a portion of the boundary with India is 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
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 km2 (1989)
Environment:
vulnerable to droughts; much of country routinely flooded during summer
monsoon season; overpopulation; deforestation
*Bangladesh, People
Population:
122,254,849 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
35.41 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
11.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
109.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
54.7 years
male:
55 years
female:
54.38 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.55 children born/woman (1993 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 (1990)
total population:
35%
male:
47%
female:
22%
Labor force:
35.1 million
by occupation:
agriculture 74%, services 15%, industry and commerce 11% (FY86)
note:
extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)
*Bangladesh, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form:
Bangladesh
former:
East Pakistan
Digraph:
BG
Type:
republic
Capital:
Dhaka
Administrative divisions:
64 districts (zillagulo, singular - zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barguna,
Barisal, Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Chattagram,
Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha,
Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj, Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati,
Jhenaidah, Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur,
Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulavibazar,
Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator,
Netrakona, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram,
Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira, Shariyatpur,
Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Tangail, Thakurgaon
Independence:
16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
Constitution:
4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24
March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended NA March 1991
Legal system:
based on English common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
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), Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, leader NA;
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; Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party,
Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Parliament:
last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats
reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20, BCP 5, National Awami
Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, JSD 1, Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya
Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3
President:
last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results -
Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)
*Bangladesh, Government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur Rahman (since 20 March 1991)
Member of:
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM,
UNTAC, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WCL, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Abul AHSAN
chancery:
2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 342-8372 through 8376
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William B. MILAM
embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
mailing address:
G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212
telephone: [880] (2) 884700-22
FAX:
[880] (2) 883648
Flag:
green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is
the traditional color of Islam
*Bangladesh, Economy
Overview:
Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least
developed nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Major
impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, government
interference with the economy, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be
absorbed by agriculture, a low level of industrialization, failure to fully
exploit energy resources (natural gas), and inefficient and inadequate power
supplies. An excellent rice crop and expansion of the export garment
industry helped growth in FY91/92. Policy reforms intended to reduce
government regulation of private industry and promote public-sector
efficiency have been announced but are being implemented only slowly.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $23.8 billion (FY92)
National product real growth rate:
3.8% (FY92)
National product per capita:
$200 (FY92)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.09% (FY92)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
$2.0 billion (FY92)
commodities:
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
partners:
US 28%, Western Europe 39% (FY91)
Imports:
$3.4 billion (FY91/92)
commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
partners:
Japan 10.0%, Western Europe 17%, US 5.0% (FY91)
External debt:
$11.8 billion (FY92 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 4.0% (FY92 est.); accounts for less than 10% of GDP
Electricity:
2,400,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing, steel, fertilizer
Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP, 60% of employment, and one-fifth of exports;
imports 10% of food grain requirements; world's largest exporter of jute;
commercial products - jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef,
milk, poultry; shortages include wheat, vegetable oils, cotton; fish catch
778,000 metric tons in 1986
Illicit drugs:
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $11.65 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $6.52 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5
billion
Currency:
1 taka (Tk) = 100 paise
*Bangladesh, Economy
Exchange rates:
taka (Tk) per US$1 - 39.000 (January 1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991),
34.569 (1990), 32.270 (1989), 31.733 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*Bangladesh, Communications
Railroads:
2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge, 978 km 1.676 meter broad
gauge
Highways:
7,240 km total (1985); 3,840 km paved, 3,400 km unpaved
Inland 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, Chalna
Merchant marine:
42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 314,228 GRT/461,607 DWT; includes 34
cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 3 bulk
Airports:
total:
16
usable:
12
with permanent-surface runways:
12
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 6
Telecommunications:
adequate international radio communications and landline service; fair
domestic wire and microwave service; fair broadcast service; 241,250
telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
satellite earth stations
*Bangladesh, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
paramilitary forces:
Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Defense Parties,
National Cadet Corps
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 30,909,597; fit for military service 18,348,702 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $355 million, 1.5% of GDP (FY92/93)
*Barbados, Geography
Location:
in the extreme eastern Caribbean Sea, about 375 km northeast of Venezuela
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
430 km2
land area:
430 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than 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
Natural resources:
petroleum, fishing, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 77%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
14%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)
Note:
easternmost Caribbean island
*Barbados, People
Population:
255,338 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.18% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
15.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
21.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.49 years
male:
70.75 years
female:
76.46 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Barbadian(s)
adjective:
Barbadian
Ethnic divisions:
African 80%, mixed 16%, European 4%
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 having ever attended school (1970)
total population: 99%
male:
99%
female:
99%
Labor force:
120,900 (1991)
by occupation:
services and government 37%, commerce 22%, manufacturing and construction
22%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 9%,
agriculture 8%, utilities 2% (1985 est.)
*Barbados, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Barbados
Digraph:
BB
Type:
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 new city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Independence:
30 November 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
30 November 1966
Legal system:
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine SANDIFORD; Barbados Labor Party (BLP),
Henry FORDE; National Democratic Party (NDP), Richie 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Assembly:
last held 22 January 1991 (next to be held by January 1996); results - DLP
49.8%; seats - (28 total) DLP 18, BLP 10
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Dame Nita BARROW (since 6 June 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since 2 June 1987)
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES,
LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Rudi WEBSTER
*Barbados, Government
chancery:
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 939-9200 through 9202
consulate general:
New York
consulate:
Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador G. Philip HUGHES
embassy:
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
mailing address:
P. O. Box 302, Box B, FPO AA 34054
telephone:
(809) 436-4950 through 4957
FAX:
(809) 429-5246
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, 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)
*Barbados, Economy
Overview:
A per capita income of $7,000 gives Barbados one of the highest standards of
living of all the small island states of the eastern Caribbean.
Historically, the economy was based on the cultivation of sugarcane and
related activities. In recent years, however, the economy has diversified
into manufacturing and tourism. The tourist industry is now a major employer
of the labor force and a primary source of foreign exchange. The economy
slowed in 1990-91, however, and Bridgetown's declining hard currency
reserves and inability to finance its deficits have caused it to adopt an
austere economic reform program.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.8 billion ( 1991)
National product real growth rate:
-4% (1991)
National product per capita:
$7,000 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
23% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $547 million; expenditures $620 million (FY92-93), including
capital expenditures of $60 million
Exports:
$205.8 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
sugar and molasses, chemicals, electrical components, clothing, rum,
machinery and transport equipment
partners:
CARICOM 31%, US 16%, UK 13%
Imports:
$697 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials, machinery, crude oil,
construction materials, chemicals
partners:
US 34%, CARICOM 16%, UK 11%, Canada 6%
External debt:
$750 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1.3% (1991); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
152,100 kW capacity; 540 million kWh produced, 2,118 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export,
petroleum
Agriculture:
accounts for 8% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane; other crops -
vegetables, cotton; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $171 million
Currency:
1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Barbados, Communications
Highways:
1,570 km total; 1,475 km paved, 95 km gravel and earth
Ports:
Bridgetown
Merchant marine:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,710 GRT79,263 DWT; includes 1 cargo,
2 oil tanker
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
islandwide automatic telephone system with 89,000 telephones; tropospheric
scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 2
(1 is pay) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Barbados, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force, including the Ground Forces and Coast Guard,
Royal Barbados Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 70,254; fit for military service 49,096 (1993 est.); no
conscription
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $10 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989)
*Bassas da India, Header
Affiliation:
(possession of France)
*Bassas da India, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between
Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
NA km2
land area:
NA km2
comparative area:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high
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 km2
Environment:
surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Note:
navigational hazard since it is usually under water during high tide
*Bassas da India, People
Population:
uninhabited
*Bassas da India, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Bassas da India
Digraph:
BS
Type:
French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Jacques
DEWATRE (since July 1991), resident in Reunion
Capital:
none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
none (possession of France)
*Bassas da India, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
*Bassas da India, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
*Bassas da India, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*Belarus, Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, between Poland and Russia
Map references:
Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Europe, Standard
Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
207,600 km2
land area:
207,600 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries: total 3,098 km, Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959
km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
mild and moist; transitional between continental and maritime
Terrain:
generally flat and contains much marshland
Natural resources:
forest land, peat deposits
Land use:
arable land:
29%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
56%
Irrigated land:
1,490 km2 (1990)
Environment:
southern part of Belarus highly contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear
reactor accident at Chornobyl'
Note:
landlocked
*Belarus, People
Population:
10,370,269 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
13.28 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
11.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
19.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.73 years
male:
66.04 years
female:
75.66 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Belarusian(s)
adjective:
Belarusian
Ethnic divisions:
Belarusian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox NA%, other NA%
Languages:
Byelorussian, Russian, other
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
5.418 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38%
(1990)
*Belarus, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Belarus
conventional short form:
Belarus
local long form:
Respublika Belarus
local short form:
none
former:
Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
BO
Type:
republic
Capital:
Minsk
Administrative divisions:
6 oblasts (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady,, singular - horad);
Brestskaya, Homyel'skaya, Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya,, Mahilyowskaya, Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya
note:
each voblasts' has the same name as its administrative center
Independence:
25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted NA April 1978
Legal system:
based on civil law system
National holiday:
24 August (1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), Zenon PAZNYAK, chairman; United Democratic
Party of Belarus (UDPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY, chairman; Social Democratic
Party of Belarus (SDBP), Mikhail TKACHEV, chairman; Belarus Workers Union,
Mikhail SOBOL, Chairman; Belarus Peasants Party; Party of People's Unity,
Gennadiy KARPENKO; Communist Party of Belarus
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Supreme Soviet:
last held 4 April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - Communists 87%; seats
- (360 total) number of seats by party NA; note - 50 seats are for public
bodies; the Communist Party obtained an overwhelming majority
Executive branch:
chairman of the Supreme Soviet, chairman of the Council of Ministers; note -
Belarus has approved a directly elected presidency but so far no elections
have been scheduled
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Stanislav S. SHUSHKEVICH (since 18 September
1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Vyacheslav F. KEBICH (since NA April 1990), First Deputy
Prime Minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since NA 1991)
*Belarus, Government
Member of:
CBSS (observer), CIS, CSCE, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, IOC, ITU,
NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Designate Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV
chancery:
1511 K Street NW, Suite 619, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 638-2954
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David H. SWARTZ
embassy:
Starovilenskaya #46, Minsk
mailing address:
APO AE 09862 telephone:
7-0172-34-65-37
Flag:
three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and white
*Belarus, Economy
Overview:
In many ways Belarus resembles the three Baltic states, for example, in its
industrial competence, its higher-than-average standard of living, and its
critical dependence on the other former Soviet states for fuels and raw
materials. Belarus ranks fourth in gross output among the former Soviet
republics, having produced 4% of the total GDP and employing 4% of the labor
force in the old USSR. Once a mainly agricultural area, it now supplies
important producer and consumer goods - sometimes as the sole producer - to
the other states. Belarus had a significant share of the machine-building
capacity of the former USSR. It is especially noted for production of
tractors, large trucks, machine tools, and automation equipment. The soil in
Belarus is not as fertile as the black earth of Ukraine, but by emphasizing
favorable crops and livestock (especially pigs and chickens), Belarus has
become a net exporter to the other former republics of meat, milk, eggs,
flour, and potatoes. Belarus produces only small amounts of oil and gas and
receives most of its fuel from Russia through the Druzhba oil pipeline and
the Northern Lights gas pipeline. These pipelines transit Belarus en route
to Eastern Europe. Belarus produces petrochemicals, plastics, synthetic
fibers (nearly 30% of former Soviet output), and fertilizer (20% of former
Soviet output). Raw material resources are limited to potash and peat
deposits. The peat (more than one-third of the total for the former Soviet
Union) is used in domestic heating, as boiler fuel for electric power
stations, and in the production of chemicals. The potash supports fertilizer
production. In 1992 GDP fell an estimated 13%, largely because the country
is highly dependent on the ailing Russian economy for raw materials and
parts.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-13% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
30% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
0.5% of officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed
workers
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$1.1 billion to outside of the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,
1992)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners:
NA
Imports: $751 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (c.i.f.,
1992)
commodities:
machinery, chemicals, textiles
partners:
NA
External debt:
$2.6 billion (end of 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -9.6%; accounts for about 50% of GDP (1992)
*Belarus, Economy
Electricity:
8,025,000 kW capacity; 37,600 million kWh produced, 3,626 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
employ about 27% of labor force and produce a wide variety of products
essential to the other states; products include (in percent share of total
output of former Soviet Union): tractors (12%); metal-cutting machine tools
(11%); off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity (100%);
wheel-type earthmovers for construction and mining (100%); eight-
wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for
use in tundra and roadless areas (100%); equipment for animal husbandry and
livestock feeding (25%); motorcycles (21.3%); television sets (11%);
chemical fibers (28%); fertilizer (18%); linen fabric (11%); wool fabric
(7%); radios; refrigerators; and other consumer goods
Agriculture:
accounts for almost 25% of GDP and 5.7% of total agricultural output of
former Soviet Union; employs 20% of the labor force; in 1988 produced the
following (in percent of total Soviet production): grain (3.6%), potatoes
(12.2%), vegetables (3.0%), meat (6.0%), milk (7.0%); net exporter of meat,
milk, eggs, flour, potatoes
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of opium and cannabis; mostly for the domestic market;
transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
1 rubel (abbreviation NA) = 10 Russian rubles
note:
the rubel circulates with the Russian ruble; certain purchase are made only
with rubels; government has established a different, and varying, exchange
rate for trade between Belarus and Russia
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Belarus, Communications
Railroads: 5,570 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
98,200 km total; 66,100 km hard surfaced, 32,100 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
NA km
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,470 km, refined products 1,100 km, natural gas 1,980 km (1992)
Ports:
none; landlocked
Merchant marine:
claims 5% of former Soviet fleet
Airports:
total:
124
useable:
55
with permanent-surface runways:
31
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
28
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
construction of NMT-450 analog cellular network proceeding in Minsk, in
addition to installation of some 300 km of fiber optic cable in the city
network; telephone network has 1.7 million lines, 15% of which are switched
automatically; Minsk has 450,000 lines; telephone density is approximately
17 per 100 persons; as of 1 December 1991, 721,000 applications from
households for telephones were still unsatisfied; international connections
to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave and to other
countries by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway
switch; Belarus has not constructed ground stations for international
telecommunications via satellite to date
*Belarus, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Security Forces (internal and border
troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,491,039; fit for military service 1,964,577; reach
military age (18) annually 71,875 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
56.5 billion rubles, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of the
military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could
produce misleading results
*Belgium, Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering on the North Sea, between France and the
Netherlands
Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
30,510 km2
land area:
30,230 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total 1,385 km, France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km
Coastline:
64 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
equidistant line with neighbors
exclusive fishing zone:
equidistant line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain:
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of
Ardennes Forest in southeast
Natural resources:
coal, natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
24%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
21%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
air and water pollution
Note:
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within
1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EC
*Belgium, People
Population: 10,040,939 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.23% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
11.94 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
10.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.72 years
male:
73.41 years
female:
80.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.62 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Belgian(s)
adjective:
Belgian
Ethnic divisions:
Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages:
Flemish (Dutch) 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11% divided
along ethnic lines
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
4.126 million
by occupation:
services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)
*Belgium, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form:
Belgium
local long form:
Royaume de Belgique local short form:
Belgique
Digraph:
BE
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Brussels
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien,
singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg,
Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen
Independence:
4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
Constitution:
7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the government is in the
process of revising the Constitution with the aim of federalizing the
Belgian state
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial
review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
National holiday:
National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold to the throne in 1831)
Political parties and leaders:
Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman VAN ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social
Christian (PSC) , Melchior WATHELET, president; Flemish Socialist (SP),
Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS;
Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Walloon
Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone Democratic Front
(FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS,
president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis VAN GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok
(VB), Karel VAN DILLEN, chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National
Front (FN), Werner van STEEN; Live Differently (AGALEV; Flemish Green
party), Leo COX; Ecologist (ECOLO; Francophone Green party), NA; other minor
parties
Other political or pressure groups:
Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries;
numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers,
middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various
organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia;
various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear
Weapons and Pax Christi
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Elections:
Senate:
last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (184 total; of which 106 are directly
elected) CVP 20, SP 14, PVV (now VLD) 13, VU 5, AGALEV 5, VB 5, ROSSEN 1, PS
18, PRL 9, PSC 9, ECOLO 6, FDF 1
*Belgium, Government
Chamber of Representatives:
last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - CVP
16.7%, PS 13.6%, SP 12.0%, PVV (now VLD) 11.9%, PRL 8.2%, PSC 7.8%, VB 6.6%,
VU 5.9%, ECOLO 5.1%, AGALEV 4.9%, FDF 2.6%, ROSSEM 3.2%, FN 1.5%; seats -
(212 total) CVP 39, PS 35, SP 28, PVV (now VLD) 26, PRL 20, PSC 18, FB 12,
VU 10, ECOLO 10, AGALEV 7, FDF 3, ROSSEM 3, FN 1
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Flemish -
Senaat, French - Senat) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives
(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des
Representants)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de
Cassation)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege
(brother of the King; born 6 June 1934)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992)
Member of:
AG (observer), ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australian Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE,
CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP,
UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Juan CASSIERS
chancery:
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 333-6900
FAX:
(202) 333-3079
consulates general:
Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Bruce S. GELB
embassy:
27 Boulevard du Regent, Brussels
mailing address:
B-1000 Brussels, PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09724
telephone:
[32] (2) 513-3830
FAX:
[32] (2) 511-2725
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the
design was based on the flag of France
*Belgium, Economy
Overview:
This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central
geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified
industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the
populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging
reinvestment in the southern region of Walloon. With few natural resources
Belgium must import essential raw materials, making its economy closely
dependent on the state of world markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC
countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% pace during the period 1988-90,
but economic growth slowed to a 1% pace in 1991-92. The economy is expected
to turn in another sluggish 1% performance in 1993. Belgium's public debt
remains high at 120% of GDP and the government is trying to control its
expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized
countries.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $177.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
0.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
$17,800 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (end 1992)
Budget:
revenues $97.8 billion; expenditures $109.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
$118 billion (f.o.b., 1991) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
commodities:
iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum
products
partners:
EC 75.5%, US 3.7%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1991)
Imports:
$121 billion (c.i.f., 1991) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
commodities:
fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners:
EC 73%, US 4.8%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist
countries 1.8% (1991)
External debt:
$31.3 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
17,500,000 kW capacity; 68,000 million kWh produced, 6,790 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and
beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Agriculture: accounts for 2.3% of GDP; emphasis on livestock production - beef, veal,
pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain,
tobacco; net importer of farm products
Illicit drugs:
source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors;
increasingly important gateway country for cocaine entering the European
market
*Belgium, Economy
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion
Currency:
1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 33.256 (January 1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148
(1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Belgium, Communications
Railroads:
Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,568 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 2,207 km electrified
Highways:
103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute; 11,717 km
national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km paved and 51,000
km unpaved rural roads
Inland waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
Pipelines:
petroleum products 1,167 km; crude oil 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km
Ports:
Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:
23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 96,949 GRT/133,658 DWT; includes 10
cargo, 5 oil tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 5 chemical tanker, 1 bulk
Airports:
total:
42
usable:
42
with permanent-surface runways:
24
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
14
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated
domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; extensive
cable network; limited microwave radio relay network; 4,720,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 3 AM, 39 FM, 32 TV; 5 submarine cables; 2 satellite
earth stations - Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide
mobile phone system
*Belgium, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,556,189; fit for military service 2,133,051; reach
military age (19) annually 63,532 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $4 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)
*Belize, Geography
Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
22,960 km2
land area:
22,800 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:
386 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
note:
from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Caye, Belize's territorial
sea is 3 miles; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose
of this limitation is to provide a framework for
the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
Guatemala
International disputes:
border with Guatemala in dispute; negotiations to resolve the dispute have
begun
Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
Terrain:
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
2%
forest and woodland:
44%
other:
52%
Irrigated land:
20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding
(especially in south); deforestation
Note:
national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of
hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North
Pacific Ocean
*Belize, People
Population:
203,957 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.42% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
35.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.15 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
36.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.85 years
male:
65.91 years
female:
69.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.53 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Belizean(s)
adjective:
Belizean
Ethnic divisions:
Mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite
4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other
2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
Literacy:
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
total population:
91%
male:
91%
female:
91%
Labor force:
51,500
by occupation:
agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%,
manufacturing 10.3%
note:
shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)
*Belize, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Belize
former:
British Honduras
Digraph:
BH
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Belmopan
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
21 September 1981 (from UK)
Constitution:
21 September 1981
Legal system:
English law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September
Political parties and leaders:
People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA;
United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW;
National Alliance for Belizean Rights, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN;
United Workers Front, leader NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 15, UDP 13; note - in
January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count
PUP 16, UDP 12
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Dame Minita Elmira GORDON (since 21 September 1981)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989)
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador James V. HYDE
*Belize, Government
chancery:
2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-9636
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA
embassy:
Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address:
P. O. Box 286, Belize City
telephone:
[501] (2) 77161 through 77163
FAX:
[501] (2) 30802
Flag:
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered
is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a
shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related
motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom,
all encircled by a green garland
*Belize, Economy
Overview:
The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance.
Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export
earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard
currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in
efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification
program.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $373 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
10% (1990)
National product per capita:
$1,635 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
12% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital
expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$95.6 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
sugar, citrus, clothing, bananas, fish products, molasses
partners:
US 49%, UK, EC, Mexico (1991)
Imports:
$194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners:
US 60%, UK, EC, Mexico (1991)
External debt:
$143.7 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 393 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages,
tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 22% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops
include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber
and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
Illicit drugs:
an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to
about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million
Currency:
1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
*Belize, Economy
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Belize, Communications
Highways:
2,710 km total; 500 km paved, 1,600 km gravel, 300 km improved earth, and
310 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Ports:
Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include Corozol,
Punta Gorda, Big Creek
Merchant marine:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,768 GRT/12,721 DWT; includes 3 cargo,
1 roll-on/roll-off
Airports:
total:
42
usable:
32
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,229-2,439 mr:
2
Telecommunications:
8,650 telephones; above-average system based on microwave radio relay;
broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
*Belize, Defense Forces
Branches:
British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 47,135; fit for military service 28,070; reach military age
(18) annually 2,066 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.4 million, 2% of GDP (1992)
*Benin, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and Togo
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
112,620 km2
land area:
110,620 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
60 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation;
desertification
Note:
recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no
natural harbors
*Benin, People
Population:
5,166,735 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.33% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
48.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
14.8 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
112.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
51.31 years
male:
49.51 years
female:
53.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Beninese
Ethnic divisions:
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:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
23%
male:
32%
female:
16%
Labor force:
1.9 million (1987)
by occupation:
agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less
than 2%
note:
49% of population of working age (1985)
*Benin, Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form:
Benin
local long form:
Republique Populaire du Benin
local short form:
Benin
former:
Dahomey
Digraph:
BN
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
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
Independence:
1 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
2 December 1990
Legal system:
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 1 August (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress (UDFP), Timothee
ADANLIN; Movement for Democracy and Social Progress (MDPS), Jean-Roger
AHOYO; Union for Liberty and Development (ULD), Marcellin DEGBE; Alliance of
the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and the Democratic
Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO; Alliance of the Social Democratic
Party (PSD) and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno
AMOUSSOU; Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; National Rally for
Democracy (RND), Joseph KEKE; Alliance of the National Movement for
Democracy and Development (MNDD), leader NA; Movement for Solidarity, Union,
and Progress (MSUP), Adebo ADENIYI; Union for Democracy and National
Reconstruction (UDRN), Azaria FAKOREDE; Union for Democracy and National
Solidarity (UDS), Mama Amadou N'DIAYE; Assembly of Liberal Democrats for
National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Alliance of the Alliance for
Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Bloc for Social Democracy (BSD),
Michel MAGNIDE; Alliance of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP),
Akindes ADEKPEDJOU; Democratic Union for Social Renewal (UDRS), Bio Gado
Seko N'GOYE; National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Robert
TAGNON; Party for Progress and Democracy, Theophile NATA; numerous other
small parties
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8, NCC 7, RND 7,
MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2, UNDP 1
*Benin, Government
President:
last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu
KEREKOU 32%
Executive branch:
president, cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU
chancery:
2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 232-6656
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS
embassy:
Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou
mailing address:
B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone:
[229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
FAX:
[229] 30-14-39 and 30-19-74
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green
band on the hoist side
*Benin, Economy
Overview:
Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of
limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure. Agriculture
accounts for about 35% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and
generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings. The industrial sector
contributes only about 15% to GDP and employs 2% of the work force. Low
prices in recent years have kept down hard currency earnings from Benin's
major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.
National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1991)
National product per capita:
$410 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $194 million; expenditures $390 million, including capital
expenditures of $104 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
$263.3 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa
partners:
FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%
Imports:
$428 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods,
capital goods, light consumer goods
partners:
France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 4%
External debt:
$1 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
30,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 5 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
textiles, cigarettes, construction materials, beverages, food production,
petroleum
Agriculture:
accounts for 35% of GDP; small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
production is dominated by food crops - corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, rice;
cash crops include cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry and livestock output
has not kept up with consumption
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $46 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,300 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $101
million
Currency:
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988)
*Benin, Economy