Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 6 June1993 (next to be held May 1997); results - percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (130 total) MNR 52, UCS 20, ADN 17, MIR 17, CONDEPA 13,MBL 7, ARBOL 1, ASD 1, EJE 1, PCD 1Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 6 June1993 (next to be held May 1997); results - percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (27 total) MNR 17, ADN 4, MIR 4, CONDEPA 1, UCS 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:Left parties: Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), Antonio ARANIBAR; April 9Revolutionary Vanguard (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE; Alternative ofDemocratic Socialism (ASD), Jerjes JUSTIANO; Revolutionary Front ofthe Left (FRI), Oscar ZAMORA; Bolivian Socialist Falange (FSB);Socialist Unzaguista Movement (MAS); Socialist Party One (PS-1);Bolivian Communist Party (PCB)Center-Left parties: Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR), GonzaloSANCHEZ DE LOZADA; Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jaime PAZZamora, Oscar EID; Christian Democrat (PCD), Jorge AGREDACenter-Right party: Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN), JorgeLANDIVAR, Hugo BANZERpopulist parties: Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Max FERNANDEZ Rojas;Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE Aviles;Popular Patriotic Movement (MPP), Julio MANTILLA; Unity and ProgressMovement (MUP), Ivo KULJISEvangelical: Bolivian Renovating Alliance (ARBOL), Hugo VILLEGASindigenous: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement (MRTK-L),Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde; Patriotic Axis of Convergence (EJE-P),Ramiro BARRANCHEA; National Katarista Movement (MKN), Fernando UNTOJA
Member of: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andres PETRICEVIC Raznatovic chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 through 4412 FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Curt Warren KAMMAN embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 telephone: [591] (2) 430251 FAX: [591] (2) 4339000
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band
@Bolivia:Economy
Overview: With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on volatile prices for its mineral exports, and bouts of hyperinflation, Bolivia has remained one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries. However, Bolivia has experienced generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ Estenssoro was followed as President by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93) who continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite opposition from his own party and from Bolivia's once powerful labor movement. By maintaining fiscal discipline, PAZ Zamora helped reduce inflation to 9.3% in 1993, while GDP grew by an annual average of 3.25% during his tenure. Inaugurated in August 1993, President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA has vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes so far have included an inflation rate that continues to decrease - the 1994 rate of 8.5% was the lowest in ten years - the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico, and progress on his unique privatization plan. The main privatization bill was passed by the Bolivian legislature in late March 1994. Related laws - one that establishes SIRESE, the regulatory agency that will oversee the privatizations, and another that outlines the rules for privatization in the electricity sector - were approved later in the year.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $18.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4.2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $2,370 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.75 billionexpenditures: $3.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $556.2million (1995 est.)
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: metals 39%, natural gas 9%, soybeans 11%, jewelry 11%,wood 8%partners: US 26%, Argentina 15% (1993 est.)
Imports: $1.21 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5%(1993 est.)partners: US 24%, Argentina 13%, Brazil 11%, Japan 11% (1993 est.)
External debt: $4.2 billion (January 1995)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 756,200 kW production: 2.116 billion kWh consumption per capita: 367 kWh (1994)
Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverage, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing; illicit drug industry reportedly produces 15% of its revenues
Agriculture: accounts for about 21% of GDP (including forestry and fisheries); principal commodities - coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, timber; self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: world's second-largest producer of coca (after Peru) with an estimated 48,100 hectares under cultivation in 1994; voluntary and forced eradication programs unable to prevent production from rising to 89,800 metric tons in 1994 from 84,400 tons in 1993; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia and Brazil to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $990 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $2.025 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $340 million
Currency: 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 4.72 (January 1995), 4.6205 (1994), 4.2651 (1993), 3.9005 (1992), 3.5806 (1991), 3.1727 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Bolivia:Transportation
Railroads: total: 3,684 km (single track) narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 32 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways: total: 42,815 km paved: 1,865 km unpaved: gravel 12,000 km; improved/unimproved earth 28,950 km
Inland waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas1,495 km
Ports: none; however, Bolivia has free port privileges in the maritimeports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,214 GRT/6,390 DWT
Airports:total: 1,382with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 1,016with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 77with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 275
@Bolivia:Communications
Telephone system: about 150,000 telephones; about 2.0 telephones/100persons; new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; mosttelephones in La Paz and other cities; microwave radio relay systembeing expanded; improved international serviceslocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay systeminternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 129, FM 0, shortwave 68radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 43televisions: NA
@Bolivia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana,includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National PoliceForce (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,885,485; males fit formilitary service 1,226,218; males reach military age (19) annually81,065 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $134 million; 1.9% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
Note—Bosnia and Herzegovina is set to enter its third year of interethnic civil strife which began in the spring of 1992 after the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence. Bosnia's Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to 'greater Serbia'. In March 1994, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement in Washington, DC, creating the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A group of rebel Muslims, however, continues to battle government forces in the northwest enclave of Bihac. A Contact Group of countries, the US, UK, France, Germany, and Russia, continues to seek a resolution between the Federation and the Bosnian Serbs. In July of 1994 the Contact Group presented a plan to the warring parties that roughly equally divides the country between the two, while maintaining Bosnia in its current internationally recognized borders. The Federation agreed to the plan almost immediately, while the Bosnian Serbs rejected it.
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:total area: 51,233 sq kmland area: 51,233 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total 1,459 km, Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro527 km (312 km with Serbia; 215 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 20 km
Maritime claims: NA
International disputes: as of January 1995, Bosnian Government and Bosnian Serb leaders remain far apart on territorial and constitutional solutions for Bosnia; the two sides did, however, sign a four-month cessation of hostilities agreement effective January 1; the Bosnian Serbs continue to reject the Contact Group Plan submitted by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia, and accepted by the Bosnian Government, which stands firm in its desire to regain lost territory and preserve Bosnia as a multiethnic state within its current borders; Bosnian Serb forces control approximately 70% of Bosnian territory
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Terrain: mountains and valleys
Natural resources: coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, timber, wood products, copper, chromium, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 36% other: 17%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites fordisposing of urban waste are limited; widespread casualties, watershortages, and destruction of infrastructure because of civil strifenatural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakesinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Law of the Sea,Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:People
Population: 3,201,823 (July 1995 est.)note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerableerror because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethniccleansing
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (female 337,787; male 370,966)15-64 years: 68% (female 1,082,357; male 1,085,610)65 years and over: 10% (female 190,992; male 134,111) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 11.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.75 years female: 78.37 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic divisions: Muslim 38%, Serb 40%, Croat 22% (est.)
Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 99%
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 1,026,254 by occupation: NA%
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Government
Note: The US recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. TheFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the Muslims and Croatsin March 1994, remains in the implementation stages.
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovinaconventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovinalocal long form: Republika Bosna i Hercegovinalocal short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
Digraph: BK
Type: emerging democracy
Capital: Sarajevo
Administrative divisions: 109 districts (opstinas, singular - opstina)Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Bileca, Bosanska Dubica,Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Novi,Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Samac, Bosansko Grahovo, Bratunac, Brcko,Breza, Bugojno, Busovaca, Cazin, Cajnice, Capljina, Celinac, Citluk,Derventa, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Foca, Fojnica, Gacko, Glamoc, Gorazde,Gornji Vakuf, Gracanica, Gradacac, Grude, Han Pijesak, Jablanica,Jajce, Kakanj, Kalesija, Kalinovik, Kiseljak, Kladanj, Kljuc, Konjic,Kotor Varos, Kresevo, Kupres, Laktasi, Listica, Livno, Lopare,Lukavac, Ljubinje, Ljubuski, Maglaj, Modrica, Mostar, Mrkonjic-Grad,Neum, Nevesinje, Odzak, Olovo, Orasje, Posusje, Prijedor, Prnjavor,Prozor, (Pucarevo) Novi Travnik, Rogatica, Rudo, Sanski Most,Sarajevo-Centar, Sarajevo-Hadzici, Sarajevo-Ilidza, Sarajevo-Ilijas,Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Sarajevo-Novo, Sarajevo-Pale, Sarajevo-Stari Grad,Sarajevo-Trnovo, Sarajevo-Vogosca, Skender Vakuf, Sokolac, Srbac,Srebrenica, Srebrenik, Stolac, Sekovici, Sipovo, Teslic, Tesanj,Drvar, Duvno, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Ugljevik, Vares, VelikaKladusa, Visoko, Visegrad, Vitez, Vlasenica, Zavidovici, Zenica,Zvornik, Zepce, Zivinicenote: currently under negotiation with the assistance of internationalmediators
Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: promulgated in 1974 (under the Communists), amended 1989, 1990, and 1991; the Assembly planned to draft a new constitution in 1991, before conditions deteriorated; constitution of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (including Muslim and Croatian controlled parts of Republic) ratified April 1994
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 20 December 1990),other members of the collective presidency: Ejup GANIC (since NANovember 1990), Nijaz DURAKOVIC (since NA October 1993), StjepanKLJUJIC (since NA October 1993), Ivo KOMSIC (since NA October 1993),Mirko PEJANOVIC (since NA June 1992), Tatjana LJUJIC-MIJATOVIC (sinceNA December 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Haris SILAJDZIC (since NA October1993)cabinet: executive body of ministers; members of, and responsible to,the National Assemblynote: the president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina isKresimir ZUBAK (since 31 May 1994); Vice President Ejup GANIC (since31 May 1994)
Legislative branch: bicameral National AssemblyChamber of Municipalities (Vijece Opeina): elections last heldNovember-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (110 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 38, HDZ BiH 23, Party ofDemocratic Changes 4, DSS 1, SPO 1Chamber of Citizens (Vijece Gradanstvo): elections last heldNovember-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (130 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 34, HDZ BiH 21, Party ofDemocratic Changes 15, SRSJ BiH 12, LBO 2, DSS 1, DSZ 1, LS 1note: legislative elections for Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovinaare slated for late 1994
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Party of Democratic Action (SDA), AlijaIZETBEGOVIC; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZBiH), Dario KORDIC; Serbian Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina(SDS BiH), Radovan KARADZIC, president; Liberal Bosnian Organization(LBO), Adil ZULFIKARPASIC, president; Democratic Party of Socialists(DSS), Nijaz DURAKOVIC, president; Party of Democratic Changes, leaderNA; Serbian Movement for Renewal (SPO), Milan TRIVUNCIC; Alliance ofReform Forces of Yugoslavia for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SRSJ BiH), Dr.Nenad KECMANOVIC, president; Democratic League of Greens (DSZ), DrazenPETROVIC; Liberal Party (LS), Rasim KADIC, president
Other political or pressure groups: NA
Member of: CE (guest), CEI, ECE, FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ chancery: Suite 760, 1707 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-3612, 3613, 3615 FAX: [1] (202) 833-2061 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICHembassy: address NAmailing address: American Embassy Bosnia, c/o AmEmbassy ViennaBoltzmangasse 16, A-1091, Vienna, Austria; APO: (Bosnia) Vienna,Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9900telephone: [43] (1) 313-39FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
Flag: white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white Roman crosses with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower fly side
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Economy
Overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of Communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. As of February 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina was being torn apart by the continued bitter interethnic warfare that has caused production to plummet, unemployment and inflation to soar, and human misery to multiply. No economic statistics for 1992-94 are available, although output clearly has fallen substantially below the levels of earlier years and almost certainly is well below $1,000 per head. The country receives substantial amounts of humanitarian aid from the international community.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NAcommodities: NApartners: NA
Imports: $NA commodities: NA partners: NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; production is sharply down because of interethnic and interrepublic warfare (1991-94)
Electricity: capacity: 3,800,000 kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
Industries: steel production, mining (coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, and bauxite), manufacturing (vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, 40% of former Yugoslavia's armaments including tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances), oil refining (1991)
Agriculture: accounted for 9.0% of GDP in 1989; regularly produces less than 50% of food needs; the foothills of northern Bosnia support orchards, vineyards, livestock, and some wheat and corn; long winters and heavy precipitation leach soil fertility reducing agricultural output in the mountains; farms are mostly privately held, small, and not very productive (1991)
Illicit drugs: NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 dinar = 100 para; Croatian dinar used in Croat-held area, presumably to be replaced by new Croatian kuna; old and new Serbian dinars used in Serb-held area; hard currencies probably supplanting local currencies in areas held by Bosnian government
Exchange rates: NA
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Transportation
Railroads:total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km)standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 21,168 km paved: 11,436 km unpaved: gravel 8,146 km; earth 1,586 km (1991)
Inland waterways: NA km
Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted
Ports: Bosanski Brod
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 27with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 11with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Communications
Telephone system: 727,000 telephones; telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics
local: NAintercity: NAinternational: no earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 2, shortwave 0radios: 840,000
Television:broadcast stations: 6televisions: 1,012,094
@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Defense Forces
Branches: Army
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 815,055; males fit for military service 657,454; males reach military age (19) annually 38,201 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Botswana:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 600,370 sq kmland area: 585,370 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total 4,013 km, Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: short section of boundary with Namibia is indefinite; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; KalahariDesert in southwest
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash,coal, iron ore, silver
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 75% forest and woodland: 2% other: 21%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: overgrazing, primarily as a result of the expansion ofthe cattle population; desertification; limited natural fresh waterresourcesnatural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow fromthe west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscurevisibilityinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
Note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of thecountry
@Botswana:People
Population: 1,392,414 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 300,598; male 303,333)15-64 years: 53% (female 398,347; male 344,838)65 years and over: 4% (female 25,773; male 19,525) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 31.01 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.41 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.56 years male: 60.54 years female: 66.67 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.86 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic divisions: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%,white 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 23%male: 32%female: 16%
Labor force: 428,000 (1992)by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees, most others areengaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.);14,300 are employed in various mines in South Africa (March 1992)
@Botswana:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Botswanaconventional short form: Botswanaformer: Bechuanaland
Digraph: BC
Type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Gaborone
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi,Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East,Southern; in addition, there are 4 town councils - Francistown,Gaborone, Lobatse, Selebi-Phikwe
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Sir Ketumile MASIRE(since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March1992); election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held October1999); results - President Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by theNational Assemblycabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral ParliamentHouse of Chiefs: is a largely advisory 15-member body consisting ofchiefs of the 8 principal tribes, 4 elected subchiefs, and 3 membersselected by the other 12National Assembly: elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to beheld October 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44total of which 40 are elected and 4 are appointed) BDP 27, BNF 13
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), SirKetumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; BotswanaPeople's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence Party(BIP), Motsamai MPHO
Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatoryuser), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE chancery: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990, 4991 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Howard F. JETER embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 353982 FAX: [267] 356947
Flag: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
@Botswana:Economy
Overview: The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 5% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising predominate. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to 39% in 1994. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Hampered by a still sluggish diamond market in 1994, GDP grew by only 1%.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 1% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,130 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.7 billionexpenditures: $1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652million (FY93/94)
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b. 1994)commodities: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 6%, meat 5%partners: Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles,petroleum productspartners: Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US
External debt: $344 million (December 1991)
Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (FY92/93); accounts for about 43% of GDP, including mining
Electricity: capacity: 220,000 kW production: 900 million kWh consumption per capita: 694 kWh (1993)
Industries: mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,potash; livestock processing
Agriculture: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts, beans,cowpeas, sunflower seeds; livestock
Economic aid:recipient: US aid (1992), $13 million; Norway (1992), $16 million;Sweden (1992), $15.5 million; Germany (1992), $3.6 million; EC/Lome-IV(1992), $3 million-$6 million in grants; $28.7 million in long-termprojects (1992)
Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1 - 1.7086 (January 1995), 2.6976 (November 1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Botswana:Transportation
Railroads: total: 888 km narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (1992)
Highways:total: 11,514 kmpaved: 1,600 kmunpaved: crushed stone, gravel 1,700 km; improved earth 5,177 km;unimproved earth 3,037 km
Ports: none
Airports:total: 100with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 23with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 62
@Botswana:Communications
Telephone system: 26,000 telephones; sparse system; telephone density- 18.67 telephones/1,000 personslocal: NAintercity: small system of open wire lines, microwave radio relaylinks, and a few radio communication stationsinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Botswana:Defense Forces
Branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing),Botswana National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 306,878; males fit for militaryservice 161,376; males reach military age (18) annually 15,403 (1995est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $198 million, 5.2% ofGDP (FY93/94)
________________________________________________________________________
(territory of Norway)
@Bouvet Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:total area: 58 sq kmland area: 58 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29.6 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 4 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly inaccessible
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all ice)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: covered by glacial ice
@Bouvet Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Bouvet Island:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bouvet Island
Digraph: BV
Type: territory of Norway
Capital: none; administered from Oslo, Norway
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
@Bouvet Island:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Bouvet Island:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Bouvet Island:Communications
Telephone system: *** No data for this item ***
Note: automatic meteorological station
@Bouvet Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
________________________________________________________________________
@Brazil:Geography
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 8,511,965 sq kmland area: 8,456,510 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than the USnote: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e SaoPaulo
Land boundaries: total 14,691 km, Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline: 7,491 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of the boundary with Paraguay, just west of Salto das Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, is in dispute; two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel,phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 67% other: 6%
Irrigated land: 27,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat andendangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal speciesindigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, SaoPaulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and waterpollution caused by improper mining activitiesnatural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods andoccasional frost in southinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands,Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Desertification
Note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries withevery South American country except Chile and Ecuador
@Brazil:People
Population: 160,737,489 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (female 24,641,868; male 25,515,775)15-64 years: 64% (female 51,966,272; male 51,254,165)65 years and over: 5% (female 4,393,530; male 2,965,879) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 1.22% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 21.16 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.98 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 57.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.82 years male: 56.57 years female: 67.32 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic divisions: Caucasion (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed Caucasion and African 38%, African 6%,other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)total population: 80%male: 80%female: 80%
Labor force: 57 million (1989 est.)by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
@Brazil:Government
Names:conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazilconventional short form: Brazillocal long form: Republica Federativa do Brasillocal short form: Brasil
Digraph: BR
Type: federal republic
Capital: Brasilia
Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas,Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, MatoGrosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana,Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande doSul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution: 5 October 1988
Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Fernando HenriqueCARDOSO (since 1 January 1995) election last held 3 October 1994; nextto be held October 1998); results - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%,Luis Inacio LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%,Leonel BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second free, directpresidential election since 1960cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional)Federal Senate (Senado Federal): election last held 3 October 1994 fortwo-thirds of Senate (next to be held October 1996 for one-third ofthe Senate); results - PMBD 28%, PFL 22%, PSDB 12%, PPR 7%, PDT 7%, PT6%, PTB 6%, other 12%Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados): election last held 3October 1994 (next to be held October 1998); results - PMDB 21%, PFL18%, PDT 7%, PSDB 12%, PPR 10%, PTB 6%, PT 10%, other 16%
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal
Political parties and leaders: National Reconstruction Party (PRN),Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement Party(PMDB), Luiz HENRIQUE da Silveira, president; Liberal Front Party(PFL), Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president; Workers' Party (PT), Rui Goethe daCosta FALCAO, president; Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB), Jose EduardoANDRADE VIEIRA, president; Democratic Workers' Party (PDT), AnthonyGAROTINHO, president; Progressive Renewal Party (PPR), EspiridiaoAMIN, president; Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Artur DATAVOLA, president; Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE,president; Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, secretarygeneral; Liberal Party (PL), Alvero VALLE, president
Other political or pressure groups: left wing of the Catholic Churchand labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical ofgovernment's social and economic policies
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19,G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS,ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 745-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco consulate(s): Houston
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal mailing address: Unit 3500; APO AA 34030 telephone: [55] (61) 321-7272 FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Porto Alegre, Recife
Flag: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
@Brazil:Economy
Overview: The economy, with large agrarian, mining, and manufacturing sectors, entered the 1990s with declining real growth, runaway inflation, an unserviceable foreign debt of $122 billion, and a lack of policy direction. In addition, the economy remained highly regulated, inward-looking, and protected by substantial trade and investment barriers. Ownership of major industrial and mining facilities is divided among private interests - including several multinationals - and the government. Most large agricultural holdings are private, with the government channeling financing to this sector. Conflicts between large landholders and landless peasants have produced intermittent violence. The COLLOR government, which assumed office in March 1990, launched an ambitious reform program that sought to modernize and reinvigorate the economy by stabilizing prices, deregulating the economy, and opening it to increased foreign competition. Itamar FRANCO, who assumed the presidency following President COLLOR's resignation in December 1992, was out of step with COLLOR's reform agenda; initiatives to redress fiscal problems, privatize state enterprises, and liberalize trade and investment policies lost momentum. Galloping inflation - by June 1994 the monthly rate had risen to nearly 50% - had undermined economic stability. In response, the then finance minister, Fernando Henrique CARDOSO, launched the third phase of his stabilization plan, known as Plano Real, that called for a new currency, the real, which was introduced on 1 July 1994. Inflation subsequently dropped to under 3% per month through the end of 1994. The newly elected President CARDOSO has called for the implementation of sweeping market-oriented reform, including public sector and fiscal reform, privatization, deregulation, and elimination of barriers to increased foreign investment. Brazil's natural resources remain a major, long-term economic strength.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $886.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.3% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $5,580 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,094% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $113 billionexpenditures: $109 billion, including capital expenditures of $23billion (1992)
Exports: $43.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee,motor vehicle partspartners: EC 27.6%, Latin America 21.8%, US 17.4%, Japan 6.3% (1993)
Imports: $33.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs,coalpartners: US 23.3%, EC 22.5%, Middle East 13.0%, Latin America 11.8%,Japan 6.5% (1993)
External debt: $134 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 9.5% (1993); accounts for 39% ofGDP
Electricity:capacity: 55,130,000 kWproduction: 241.4 billion kWhconsumption per capita: 1,589 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, mining (ironore, tin), steel making, machine building - including aircraft, motorvehicles, motor vehicle parts and assemblies, and other machinery andequipment
Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GDP; world's largest producer and exporter of coffee and orange juice concentrate and second-largest exporter of soybeans; other products - rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, beef; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca, mostly fordomestic consumption; government has a small-scale eradication programto control cannabis and coca cultivation; important transshipmentcountry for Bolivian and Colombian cocaine headed for the US andEurope
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.5 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $10.2 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $284 million;former Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion
Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: R$ per US$1 - 0.85 (January 1995); CR$ per US$1 -390.845 (January 1994), 88.449 (1993), 4.513 (1992), 0.407 (1991),0.068 (1990)note: on 1 August 1993 the cruzeiro real (CR$), equal to 1,000cruzeiros, was introduced; another new currency, the real, wasintroduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reals
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Brazil:Transportation
Railroads:total: 30,612 km (1992)broad gauge: 5,369 km 1.600-m gauge (1,108 km electrified)standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gaugenarrow gauge: 24,739 km 1.000-m gauge (112 km electrified); 13 km0.760-m gaugedual gauge: 310 km 1.600-m/1.000-m gauge (78 km electrified)
Highways: total: 1,670,148 km paved: 161,503 km unpaved: gravel/earth 1,508,645 km (1990)
Inland waterways: 50,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 2,000 km; petroleum products 3,804 km; naturalgas 1,095 km
Ports: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, PortoAlegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine:total: 215 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,128,654 GRT/8,664,776DWTships by type: bulk 52, cargo 34, chemical tanker 13, combinationore/oil 12, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 11, oil tanker 64,passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11
Airports:total: 3,467with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 126with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 286with paved runways under 914 m: 1,652with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 76with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1,303
@Brazil:Communications
Telephone system: 9.86 million telephones; telephone density -61/1,000 persons; good working systemlocal: NAintercity: extensive microwave radio relay systems and 64 domesticsatellite earth stationsinternational: 3 coaxial submarine cables; 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSATearth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1,223, FM 0, shortwave 151radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 112 (Brazil has the world's fourth largesttelevision broadcasting system)televisions: NA
@Brazil:Defense Forces
Branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes Marines), BrazilianAir Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 44,301,765; males fit formilitary service 29,815,576; males reach military age (18) annually1,703,438 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.0 billion, 0.9% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Map references: World
Area:total area: 60 sq kmland area: 60 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DCnote: includes the island of Diego Garcia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed byMauritius
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
@British Indian Ocean Territory:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Government
Names:conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territoryconventional short form: none
Abbreviation: BIOT
Digraph: IO
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: none
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Commissioner Mr. D. R. MACLENNAN); AdministratorMr. David Smith; note - both reside in the UK
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Economy
Overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity: provided by the US military
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:total: NApaved: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on DiegoGarciaunpaved: NA
Ports: Diego Garcia
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; minimal facilitieslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@British Virgin Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 150 sq kmland area: 150 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DCnote: includes the island of Anegada
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm