(dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,
ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top
and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom)
alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states,
the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory;
the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags,
including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Economy United States
Economy - overview: The US has the largest and most technologically
powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $36,300. In this
market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make
most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed
goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business
firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts
in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay
off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they
face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the
barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near
the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in
medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has
narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely
explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which
those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical
skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable
pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975,
practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20%
of households. The years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in real
output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. The
year 2001 witnessed the end of the boom psychology and performance,
with output increasing only 0.3% and unemployment and business failures
rising substantially. The response to the terrorist attacks of September
11 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. Moderate recovery is
expected in 2002, with the GDP growth rate rising to 2.5% or more. A major
short-term problem in first half 2002 was a sharp decline in the stock
market, fueled in part by the exposure of dubious accounting practices in
some major corporations. Long-term problems include inadequate investment
in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of
an aging population, sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family
income in the lower economic groups.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.082 trillion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $36,300 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 18% services: 80%
(2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.7% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 40.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2001)
Labor force: 141.8 million (includes unemployed) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: managerial and professional 31%, technical,
sales and administrative support 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing,
mining, transportation, and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing
2.4% (2001) note: Unemployment rate: 5% (2001)
Budget: revenues: $1.828 trillion expenditures: $1.703 trillion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and
technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace,
telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer
goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 3,799.944 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 70.76% hydro: 7.19%
other: 2.21% (2000) nuclear: 19.84%
Electricity - consumption: 3.613 trillion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 14.829 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 48.879 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables,
cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: $723 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies
and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
Exports - partners: Canada 22.4%, Mexico 13.9%, Japan 7.9%, UK 5.6%,
Germany 4.1%, France, Netherlands (2001)
Imports: $1.148 trillion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products,
machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food
and beverages
Imports - partners: Canada 19%, Mexico 11.5%, Japan 11.1%, China 8.9%,
Germany 5.2%, UK, Taiwan (2001)
Debt - external: $862 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: British pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002),
0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106
(1997); Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.6003 (January 2002), 1.5488
(2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997);
French francs per US dollar - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367
(1997); Italian lire per US dollar - 1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2
(1998), 1,703.1 (1997); Japanese yen per US dollar - 132.66 (January
2002), 121.53 (2001), 107.77 (2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99
(1997); German deutsche marks per US dollar - 1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692
(1998), 1.7341 (1997); euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999) note: financial institutions in
France, Italy, and Germany and eight other European countries started
using the euro on 1 January 1999 with the euro replacing the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications United States
Telephones - main lines in use: 194 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 69.209 million (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: a very large, technologically
advanced, multipurpose communications system domestic: a large system of
fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic
satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing
cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international: (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,762, FM 5,542, shortwave 18 (1998)
Radios: 575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000
stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX,
and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Televisions: 219 million (1997)
Internet country code: .us
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7,800 (2000 est.)
Internet users: 166 million (2001)
Transportation United States
Railways: total: 212,433 km mainline routes standard gauge: 212,433 km
1.435-m gauge note: represents the aggregate length of roadway of all
line-haul railroads including an estimate for Class II and III railroads
(1998)
Highways: total: 6,370,031 km paved: 5,733,028 km (including 74,091 km
of expressways) unpaved: 637,003 km (1997)
Waterways: 41,009 km note: navigable inland channels, exclusive of the
Great Lakes
Pipelines: petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago,
Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon),
Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine: total: 264 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,911,641
GRT/9,985,660 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 11, cargo 14,
chemical tanker 16, collier 1, combination bulk 4, combination tanker 11,
container 86, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger/cargo 2,
petroleum tanker 81, roll on/roll off 28, specialized tanker 3, vehicle
carrier 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Canada 4, Denmark 15, France 1,
Germany 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 7, Puerto Rico 4, Singapore 11, Sweden 1,
United Kingdom 3 (2002 est.)
Airports: 14,695 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: 222 914 to 1,523 m: Airports - with
unpaved runways: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: Heliports: 132 (2001)
Military United States
Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force note: the Coast
Guard is normally subordinate to the Department of Transportation,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 70,819,436 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: NA (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,053,179
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $276.7 billion (FY99 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.2% (FY99 est.)
Military - note: note: 2002 estimates for military manpower are based
on projections that do not take into consideration the results of the
2000 census
Transnational Issues United States
Disputes - international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon
Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island);
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti
claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica
(but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims
of any other state; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island
Illicit drugs: consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico
and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly
methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian
heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants,
hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Burkina Faso
Introduction
Burkina Faso
Background: Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly
Upper Volta) in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s
was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred
thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.
Geography Burkina Faso
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 274,200 sq km water: 400 sq km land: 273,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 3,193 km border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote
d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west
and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold,
antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% other: 87% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: recent droughts and desertification
severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution,
and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers
of the Black, Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population: 12,603,185 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 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.3% (male 3,007,675; female 2,960,697)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 3,000,411; female 3,271,594) 65 years and over:
2.9% (male 151,976; female 210,832) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.64% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 17.07 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 105.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 46.78 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 6.26 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 6.44% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 350,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 43,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman
Catholic) 10%
Languages: French (official), native African languages belonging to
Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 36% (2001) male: NA% female: NA%
Government Burkina Faso
Country name: Burkina Faso former: Government type: parliamentary
republic
Capital: Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe,
Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan,
Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa,
Yatenga, Zoundweogo note: 1997; the number of administrative provinces
was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba,
Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili,
Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo),
however, this change has not yet been confirmed by the US Board on
Geographic Names
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution: 2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally
adopted
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15
October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI
(since 6 November 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister election results:
Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote note:
recent charges against a former member of his Presidential Guard in the
1998 assassination of a newspaper editor signify an attempt to defuse
chronic areas of dissatisfaction elections: president elected by popular
vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to
be held NA 2005); in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing
the presidential term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005,
and allowing the president to be reelected only once; it is unclear
whether this amendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime
minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17 elections: National
Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally-Alliance for
Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for
Federation and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for
Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement
for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE]; Party for
African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and
Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the Development
of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Burkinabe General Confederation
of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group
of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB;
National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action
groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber),
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius
ZONGO chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX:
[1] (202) 667-1882 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Jimmy J. KOLKER embassy: 2440 Ouagadougou
01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01 telephone:
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with
a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview: One of the poorest countries in the world,
landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural
resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged
in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to
variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable
government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency
devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development
program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and
economic growth have increased. Maintenance of macroeconomic progress
depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit,
and reforms designed to encourage private investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.8 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 28% services:
41% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 45% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 39.5% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 48.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 5 million (1999) note: a large part of the male labor
force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $316 million expenditures: $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap,
cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 282 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 70.92% hydro: 29.08%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 262.26 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum,
millet, corn, rice; livestock
Exports: $265 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton, animal products, gold
Exports - partners: Venezuela 14.7%, Benelux 12.2%, Italy 9.6%, France
7.0% (2000)
Imports: $580 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, food products, petroleum
Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 25.1%, Venezuela 23.4%, France 17.0%
(2000)
Debt - external: $1.5 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $484.1 million (1995)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code: XOF
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70
(1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the
XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use: 53,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 25,200 (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: all services only fair domestic:
microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication
stations international: Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 17, shortwave
3 (2002)
Radios: 394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2001)
Televisions: 131,340 (2002)
Internet country code: .bf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (2001)
Internet users: 10,000 (2001)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Railways: total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire
border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya) narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m
gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1996)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 33 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to
1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 16 (2001)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Police, People's Militia
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,688,072 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,379,010
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $40.1 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international: two villages are in dispute with Benin
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Uruguay
Introduction
Uruguay