Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.91 years
male: 68.66 years
female: 73.28 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups: mestizo 44.1%, Creole 31%, Maya 9.2%, Garifuna 6.2%,
other 9.5%
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, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib),
Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
@Belize:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Data code: BH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Belmopan
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November
1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998);
Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed
by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of the House of
Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime
minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate
(eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister,
two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the
governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the
House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next
to be held NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP
26, UDP 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said
MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion of
Education and Research or SPEAR ; United Worker's Front
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 332-9636
FAX: (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: (2) 77161 through 77163
FAX: (2) 30802
Flag description: 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
Economy - overview: The small, essentially private enterprise economy
is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater
importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of
exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer.
The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an
economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been
growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and
bananas. The new government faces important challenges to economic
stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised,
but a lack of progress in reining in spending could bring the exchange
rate under pressure. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened
in early 1999, leading to a preliminary estimate of revived growth at
4%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $740 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 22%
services: 56% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 71,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services
30% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 14.3% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $140 million
expenditures: $180 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: -4.4% (1998)
Electricity - production: 175 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.14%
hydro: 42.86%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 163 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber;
fish, cultured shrimp
Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: sugar, bananas, citrus fruits, clothing, fish
products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners: US 45.5%, UK 30%, EU 10%, Caricom 4.2%, Mexico
3.4%, Canada 3.3% (1997)
Imports: $320 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)
Debt - external: $380 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $23.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Belize:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 29,600 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,237 (1995)
Telephone system: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 41,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Belize:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
seasonally navigable
Ports and harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:
total: 414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,647,452 GRT/2,339,134
DWT
ships by type: bulk 36, cargo 275, chemical tanker 7, container 9,
liquified gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 51,
refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 9, short-sea passenger 3,
specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries:
Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 44 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 30 (1999 est.)
@Belize:Military
Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 60,482 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 35,874 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,735 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $15 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY97/98)
@Belize:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territory in Belize claimed by Guatemala;
precise alignment of boundary in dispute
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit
producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center
______________________________________________________________________
BENIN
@Benin:Introduction
Background: Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the
name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a
socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.
@Benin:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble,
timber
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in
winter
Environment - current issues: recent droughts have severely affected
marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water;
poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation;
desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: no natural harbors
@Benin:People
Population: 6,395,919
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population
and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age
and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,531,636; female 1,503,552)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,551,867; female 1,660,845)
65 years and over: 3% (male 63,717; female 84,302) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.03% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 44.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 90.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.18 years
male: 49.24 years
female: 51.16 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: 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:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25.8% (1995 est.)
@Benin:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
Data code: BN
Government 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 is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of
government
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Mono, Oueme, Zou
note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed;
they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau;
moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)
Constitution: December 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote -
Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRB
27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEPO 6, Alliance Etoile 4,
Alliance IPD 4, CAR-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle,
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: African Movement for Democracy and
Progress or MADEP ; Alliance for Democracy and
Progress or ADP ; Alliance of the Social
Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and
Progress or UNSP ; Benin Renaissance Party or PRB
; Cameleon Alliance or AC ; Car-DUNYA
; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first
secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD ; Front
for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA; Impulse for Progress and
Democracy or IPD ; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National
Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten ; Movement for
Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI ; New
Generation for the Republic or NG ; Our Common Cause or NCC
; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or
RDP ; The Star
Alliance (Alliance E'toile) ; Union for National Democracy
and Solidarity or UDS
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 232-6656
FAX: (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
FAX: 30-14-39, 30-19-74
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red
with a vertical green band on the hoist side
@Benin:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and
dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional
trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1990-95 and 5%
in 1996-99. Rapid population growth has offset much of this growth in
output. Inflation has subsided over the past three years. Commercial
and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are
vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages.
The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have 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 structural adjustment program since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 14%
services: 52% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $299 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14
million (1995 est.)
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 276 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 270 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans,
rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Exports: $396 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners: Brazil 32%, Libya, Indonesia, Spain (1998)
Imports: $566 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products,
capital goods
Imports - partners: France 22%, China 16%, UK, Netherlands (1998)
Debt - external: $1.6 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $281.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000),
615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15
(1995)
note: from 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of
655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Benin:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 28,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,050 (1995)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 620,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one privately-owned) (1997)
Televisions: 60,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Benin:Transportation
Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Benin: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: 1,402,566
females age 15-49: 1,445,082
note: both sexes are liable for military service (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 717,289
females age 15-49: 732,196 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 69,065
females: 67,961 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $27 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY96)
@Benin: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
@Bermuda:Introduction
Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English
colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North
American winters first developed in Victorian times. Bermuda has
developed into highly successful offshore financial center. A
referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
@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: 58.8 sq km
land: 58.8 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: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space
Geography - note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample
rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and
otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
@Bermuda:People
Population: 62,997 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,107; female 6,212)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,620; female 22,171)
65 years and over: 10% (male 2,972; female 3,915) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 12.24 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)