dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional
trade. Growth in real output, which had averaged a sound 4% in
1990-95, rose to 5.5% in 1996. Rapid population growth offset much of
this growth in output. Inflation jumped to 55% in 1994 (compared to 3%
in 1993) following the 50% currency devaluation in January 1994, but
has subsided gradually over the past two years, with 14.5% inflation
in 1995 and a target of 4.5% inflation in 1996. Commercial and
transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are extremely
vulnerable to developments in Nigeria as evidenced by decreased
reexport trade in 1994 due to a severe contraction in Nigerian demand.
Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased
the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still
burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil
service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported
structural adjustment program since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,440 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 36.8%
industry: 12.6%
services : 50.6% (1993)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 14.5% (1995)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $272 million (1993 est.)
expenditures: $375 million, including capital expenditures of $84
million (1993 est.)
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 28,000 kW (1992)
Electricity - production: 10 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 45 kWh (1994 est.)
Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans,
rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Exports:
total value : $300 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 14%, Morocco, Libya, France
Imports:
total value: $380 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities : foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products,
intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
partners: France 27%, Thailand 9%, China, Hong Kong
Debt - external: $1.6 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997),
511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69
(1992)
note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100
per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Benin:Communications
Telephones: 16,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open wire and microwave radio relay
international : satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 20,000 (1993 est.)
@Benin:Transportation
Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 8,460 km
paved: 2,656 km
unpaved: 5,804 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m : 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49 : 1,261,059
females age 15-49: 1,333,966 (1997 est.)
note: both sexes are liable for military service
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 645,660 (1997 est.)
females: 675,243 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 64,028
females: 63,056 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $33 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.2% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US
______________________________________________________________________
BERMUDA
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Bermuda:Geography
Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total : 50 sq km
land: 50 sq km
water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops : NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 80% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified : NA
Geography - note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample
rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed land was
leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
@Bermuda:People
Population: 62,569 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years : NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.75% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 14.92 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
total population: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.03 years
male : 73.36 years
female: 76.97 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun : Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups: black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other
34% (1991)
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male : 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
@Bermuda:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form : Bermuda
Data code: BD
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint
Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution: 8 June 1968
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor John MASEFIELD (since June 1997)
head of government: Premier Pamela GORDON (since 25 March 1997);
Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed
by the queen; premier appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an
11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly
(40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October
1998)
election results : percent of vote by party - UBP 50%, PLP 46%,
independents 4%; seats by party - UBP 22, PLP 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela
GORDON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; National
Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU
[Derrick BURGESS]
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CCC,
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592
Flag description: red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a
red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea
Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy
Economy - overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by
providing financial services for international firms and luxury
tourist facilities for 200,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry
attracts 91% of its business from North America. The industrial sector
is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable
land. About 80% of food needs are imported. International business
contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed
independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to
Bermudian's fear of scaring away foreign firms.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $29,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.5% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 34,133
by occupation: clerical 23%, services 23%, laborers 17%, professional
and technical 16%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%,
agriculture and fishing 2% (1995)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $406.2 million
expenditures : $405.9 million, including capital expenditures of $34.5
million (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products,
paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 145,000 kW (1996)
Electricity - production: 527,526,728 kWh (1996)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 7,856 kWh (1996)
Agriculture - products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy
products
Exports:
total value: $54 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, reexports of
pharmaceuticals
partners : Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Imports:
total value: $550 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and
transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 5% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (February
1997; fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Bermuda:Communications
Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic : modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 78,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 57,000 (1992 est.)
@Bermuda:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total : 225 km
paved: 225 km
unpaved : 0 km (1997 est.)
note: in addition, there are 400 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,416,667 GRT/5,163,435
DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 1, container 15, liquefied gas tanker 14,
oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4,
short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1,
livestock carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries
among which are UK 26, Canada 12, US 9, Norway 7, Hong Kong 4, Nigeria
4, Sweden 4, Switzerland 2, Mexico 1, and Romania 1; Bermuda owns 48
additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,911,678 DWT that
operate under Australian, Bahamian, Hong Kong, Liberian, Panamanian
and Singaporean registry (1996 est.)
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda
Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BHUTAN
@Bhutan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures : 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the
source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder
Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable
water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified : Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
@Bhutan:People
Population: 1,865,191 (July 1997 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 387,721; female 359,857)
15-64 years: 56% (male 536,797; female 507,551)
65 years and over: 4% (male 37,249; female 36,016) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.3% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 37.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 14.94 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over : 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 114 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population : 51.88 years
male: 52.37 years
female: 51.37 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.27 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant
tribes 15%
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy:
definition : age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
People - note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of
approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps
@Bhutan:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code: BT
Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
National capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK
became first hereditary king)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the
National Assembly
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note
- the king is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972);
note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the
king
note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members
nominated by the king
elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150
seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent religious
bodies, and 33 are designated by the king to represent government and
other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: NA
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court,
judges appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Buddhist clergy; Indian
merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Bhutan has a
Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; address: 2
United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
(212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no
formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange;
centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon
facing away from the hoist side
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and least
developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the
main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of
GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal
husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building
of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy
is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary
links. The industrial sector is small and technologically backward,
with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development
projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor.
Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key
resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to
4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government
has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and
improving social welfare, but growth continues to be constrained by
the government's desire to protect the country's environment and
cultural traditions. Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's
balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The
cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic
stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies
in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue
to hamper foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.9% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $730 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 31%
services : 27%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.6% (FY94/95 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation : agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
note: massive lack of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $52 million
expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95
million (FY93/94 est.)
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's
budget expenditures
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 7.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 351,000 kW (1989)
Electricity - production: 1.67 billion kWh (1994)
note: exports electricity to India
Electricity - consumption per capita: 79 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains;
dairy products, eggs
Exports:
total value: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit,
electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Imports:
total value: $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
commodities : fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics, rice
partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Debt - external: $141 million (October 1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is
also legal tender
Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.872 (January 1997), 35.433
(1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992);
note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Bhutan:Communications
Telephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few
telephones in use
international : international telephone and telegraph service is by
landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)
Radios: 23,000 (1989 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1990 est.)
Televisions: 200 (1985 est.)
@Bhutan:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,210 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved : 2,210 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 455,556 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males : 243,156 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 18,290 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BOLIVIA
@Bolivia:Geography
Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 1,098,580 sq km
land: 1,084,390 sq km
water : 14,190 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Montana